Our critics weigh in on local exhibits

Galleries

Precita Eyes Mural Center. "Adult Free-Play Art Time": Ongoing drop-in workshop with instructor Kristin Olsen; no experience necessary and no one turned away for lack of funds. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. $12. 348 Precita, 285-2287.

Amaru Gallery. "Made in the Mission": Through June 6. free. 510 Valencia (at 16th St.), 552-3787, www.amarugallery.com.

California Academy of Sciences. "Hotspot: California on the Edge": Through Aug. 31. 875 Howard (at Fifth St.), 750-7145, www.calacademy.org.

California College of the Arts/SF. Through May 13. free. 1111 Eighth St. (at Wisconsin), 703-9500.

California Historical Society Museum. "Jack London and the Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906": Through June 10. 678 Mission (at Third St.), 357-1848.

Catharine Clark Gallery. "Packard Jennings/Felipe Dulzaides": Through May 6. 49 Geary (at Kearny) (Second Fl.), 399-1439.

Hackett-Freedman Gallery. "Paul Resika: Recent Paintings": Solo exhibition. Through April 29. "Works From the Studio": Through April 29. free. 250 Sutter (at Kearny) (Fourth Fl.), 362-7152, www.hackettfreedmangallery.com.

In Color 2. "Catastrophe, Crisis, and Other Family Traditions": Through June 13. free. 2475 Third St. (at 22nd St.), 861-3997, www.incolor2.com.

San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum. "Harlem of the West: The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era": Through June 10. $25-$100. 401 Van Ness (at McAllister), 255-4800, www.sfpalm.org.

SFSU Campus/Cesar Chavez Student Center. "Outmoded": Through May 18. 1600 Holloway (at 19th Ave.), 338-2580, www.sfsustudentcenter.com.

Space 743. "APE$#!T": Through June 10. 743 Harrison (at Fourth St.), 777-9080.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. "Black Panther Rank and File": The show includes over 47 participating artists, including historical artifacts, documentary photography and film, as well as new work inspired by the movement. Through July 2. "Peer Pleasure 2": Through July 6. free-$6. 701 Mission (at Third St.), 978-2787, www.ybca.org.

Museums

Asian Art Museum. "Asian Art Museum Storytelling": Each weekend the museum leads a family-oriented tour through a particular exhibit, followed up by a retelling of stories related to the exhibits. Sundays, 1 p.m.; First Saturday of every month, 1 p.m. Free with museum admission. "The Three Gorges Project: Paintings by Liu Xiaodong": A series of monumental paintings by one of China's leading artists chronicling the Three Gorges Dam project, a massive 17-year effort to dam the Yangzi River. Through July 16. "Shadows, Masks and Music: Aspects of the Performing Arts in Asia": The museum displays a diverse collection of musical instruments, set designs, costumes, and masks that are used in Asian performances. Tuesdays-Sundays. Free with museum admission. "Elephants on Parade": Highlights include an elaborate silver howdah made for a raja's use in ceremonial processions, sculptures of caparisoned elephants, and British and Indian paintings. Through Aug. 6. "From the Fire" and "The Elegant Gathering": Through Sept. 17. "In a New Light: The Asian Art Museum Collection": A display of more than 2,500 objects from the museum's permanent collection explores the major cultures of Asia. Daily. Free with museum admission. Target Tuesday Family Program: Each month this special family program presents an activity connected with Asian art and customs. First Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m. Free with museum admission. "Family Art Encounter": Drop in to make arts and crafts pieces related to the museum's current exhibits. First Saturday of every month, 1 p.m.; First Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m. Free with museum admission. Gallery Tours: Trained museum docents offer both general introductions to the museum's collections as well as tours that highlight special exhibitions. Tuesdays-Sundays, 11, 11:30 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m. Free with museum admission. Architectural Tours: Learn about the transformation of the old San Francisco Main Public Library into the Asian Art Museum's new quarters with this regular tour. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays-Sundays, 12 & 2:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 12, 2:30 & 6:30 p.m. Free with museum admission. 200 Larkin (at McAllister), 581-3500, www.asianart.org.

Berkeley Art Museum. First Impressions: Free First Thursdays: Check out a world of art and film with free entry to the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive each month. Thursdays, 11 a.m. Free. 2626 Bancroft (at Telegraph), Berkeley, 510-642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu.

Cable Car Museum. Permanent Exhibit: Located in a historic cable car powerhouse, the museum displays a variety of cable car gear, historic photographs, installations explaining how the cars work, and several antique vehicles. Daily. Free. 1201 Mason (at Washington), 474-1887.

California Academy of Sciences. Docent Highlight Tours: Tours given by Academy docents highlight the HOTSPOT exhibit and Steinhart Aquarium. Ask the Information Desk for meeting place and times. Wednesdays-Fridays. "Illustrating the Sierra's Wildlife: The Artist's Studio Live": See first-hand the process of creating a field guide to more than 1,200 species of plants, fungi, and animals of the Sierra Nevada. Naturalist Jack Laws creates scientific illustrations inside a specially designed studio within the HOTSPOT exhibit. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Snake Feeding: Watch whip snakes feed on fish. Fridays, 2 p.m. free with museum admission. "Astrobiology: Life in the Extreme": A permanent exhibition that explores the types of environments in the universe that could support life. Daily. African Penguin Feedings: Watch an Academy biologist enter the penguin tank to toss vitamin-stuffed fish to the African penguins. Visitors can ask questions and talk to the birds' caretakers during the feeding shows. Daily, 11 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. "Hands-on Science": Visitors of all ages can examine microscopic aquatic life or study adaptations of marine animals with Academy docents and interns. Wednesdays-Fridays, 4 p.m. 875 Howard (at Fifth St.), 750-7145, www.calacademy.org.