Night+Day

wednesday
march 13
Evil Eye Though not as famous as Citizen Kane, the vision of American corruption in Orson Welles' Touch of Evil is just as timely -- and more entertaining. The film's lengthy single-shot opening bomb sequence is just one of many perverse pleasures. Others include: white-bread Charlton Heston as a Mexican; Marlene Dietrich as a prostitute; Janet Leigh's second-worst cinematic motel visit; and Mercedes McCambridge as a butch gang member who slobbers ("I want to watch") over Leigh's torture. The classic noir screens at 3:30 and 7 p.m. at UC Theatre, 2036 University, Berkeley. Tickets are $4-6.50; call (510) 843-6267.

The Windmills of Your Mind Dr. Oliver Sacks' strange neurological case studies always fascinate, but with An Anthropologist on Mars, his narration has greater emotion. Sacks allows more human detail into profiles of a surgeon with Tourette's syndrome and a painter who executes photo-perfect images of his childhood home. The book's final, title piece -- on Temple Grandin, an autistic animal scientist who has designed humane slaughterhouses and a "squeeze machine" that allows her to experience otherwise-painful touch -- is especially moving; it's also a good intro to Grandin's amazing autobiography, Thinking in Pictures. Sacks discusses his books at 8 p.m. at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, S.F. Tickets are $15; call 392-4400.

thursday
march 14
Listen to the Wind PHFFFT is the onomatopoeic title of a sound sculpture that activates nearly 200 wind instruments by computer. Accompanied by Beth Custer, Seattle noise artist Trimpin demonstrates his odd creation at an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. (the exhibit continues through April 27) at New Langton Arts, 1246 Folsom, S.F. Free; call 626-5416.

Pink Narcissus From early funding woes to scriptwriter Armistead Maupin's recent vehement criticisms of narrator Lily Tomlin, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's film version of Vito Russo's The Celluloid Closet has attracted controversy (see review in Film, Page 59). After a recent HBO showing, the historical study of gay images in the movies makes its theatrical premiere with in-person appearances by Tomlin and Lypsinka. Preceded by a champagne reception and followed by a dinner with Tomlin, the benefit screening (for Frameline) starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Castro Theatre, Castro & Market, S.F. Tickets are $20-250; call 703-8656.

Art Attack In "The Urge to Be Transported," sculptor/painter Fred Tomaselli examines how drugs -- his subject matter and material -- transform perception. In "Parabolica," Oakland artist Ed Osborn uses a model train set to broadcast a loop of "social" and "natural" sounds. In "Fibra," Celia Mu–oz studies the different meanings evoked by texture. In "Community Photo," a handful of American photographers investigate their national and global roots. All four exhibitions are on view from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (through June 2) at Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, S.F. Admission is $2-4; call 978-2787.

Dancing Dolls Dancers and singers gradually transform the skeleton of a boat into the interior of a church in How Is a Church Like the Sea ..., the latest work by choreographer Cid Pearlman and her seven-member company, Nesting Dolls. The piece -- which includes a string score by Jonathan Segel (who played with Camper Van Beethoven and studied under Norman O. Brown) and vocal arrangements by Laurie Amat -- starts at 8 p.m. (continuing through Sunday) at Theater Artaud, 450 Florida, S.F. Tickets are $12.50-14.50; call 621-7797.

Laughing With Lea Proof that gay men and lesbians have (at best) the cuddly social status of household pets on TV: Lea DeLaria is allowed to play an ambiguous prime-time character, but as herself -- an unapologetic dyke comic -- she still isn't invited on Late Night or The Tonight Show. (Comparing her to Sam Kinison, a Late Night producer claims it's DeLaria's "style" that limits her exposure.) TV or no TV, DeLaria still takes her routine to the road; she performs at 8 p.m. at the Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, S.F. Tickets are $15; call 885-0750.

friday
march 15
Animal Antics A hysterical hippo diva, a womanizing walrus director, and a rat who makes pornos are just some of the Muppets-gone-bad in Meet the Feebles, a twisted early effort by Heavenly Creatures director Peter Jackson. The movie-industry satire -- complete with musical numbers and a romance between a wombat and a poodle chorus girl -- gets a special midnight screening at UC Theatre, 2036 University, Berkeley. Tickets are $4-6.50; call (510) 843-6267.

Home Is Where the Art Is The meanings and feeling evoked by home are investigated in "Cozy: Notions of Domesticity and Safety," a new group show featuring a dozen artists. Curated by Thet Shein Win, "Cozy" includes shoe sculptures, steel hairbrushes, eight-armed stuffed bears, and crocheted rifle panels. (Mark Housley offers a cute minibed with hand-stitched pillows and a children's book called The Littlest Hustler.) An opening reception for the show (which continues through April 13) lasts 6 to 8 p.m. at Southern Exposure, 401 Alabama, S.F. Admission is free; call 863-2141.

Divine Child Two of the Grimm brothers' favorite icons -- the beautiful cherub and the grotesque hag -- cross over from fairy tale to film in Peter Greenaway's The Baby of Macon. Current Hollywood "It Girl" Julia Ormond plays a devious virgin in the 1993 flick, which contains all of Greenaway's trademarks: crazy wigs, lavish sets, and surreal hyperbole. The Baby of Macon's West Coast theatrical premiere begins at 7 and 9:40 p.m. (continuing through Sunday) at the Roxie, 3117 16th St., S.F. Tickets are $3-6; call 863-1087.