Avery McCarthy, "destination unknown presented by Annabel Vartanian," curated by Erin Goldberger, John Morrow at Orchard Windows Gallery
Why not see some weirder stuff as the summer winds down? Avery McCarthy uses dark room environments and digital LED lights to create abstract concepts like a grain of sand or a supernova. He's shown at Phillips de Pury, James Salomon Gallery and the Chelsea Arts Museum. Sounds fun and intense. —Dan Duray
Orchard Windows Gallery, 37 Orchard Street, New York, 6-9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29

Discussion: What Happens After Animal Farm? John Reed with Eric Banks at McNally Jackson
John Reed discusses his unauthorized Animal Farm sequel, Snowball's Chance (2002), with former Bookforum editor Eric Banks. —Andrew Russeth
McNally Jackson, 52 Prince Street, New York, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30

Talk: Banu Cennetoğlu, "BAS / Bent," at Artists Space (Books & Talks)
Artist Banu Cennetoğlu will talk about how she began her BAS space in Karaköy, Istanbul, and her imprint Bent. Recommended for go-getters. —D.D. (Photo courtesy http://www.todayszaman.com/)
Artists Space, 55 Walker Street, New York, $5 donation, 7 p.m.

Screening: La Femme Nikita at MoMA
As part of its series of thrillers produced by French's Gaumont Film Company, MoMA offers up this Luc Besson classic, with Anne Parillaud who is transformed from a teenage drug addict into a shadowy elite government assassin. (Another screening will occur on Friday, Aug. 31, at 5:30 p.m.) —A.R.
Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street, New York, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Opening: David Kennedy-Cutler and Elise Ferguson at Halsey Mckay
This show brings together David Kennedy-Cutler, who makes tall Plexiglas sculptures with wild ripples and twists (he presented a nice selection at Derek Eller earlier this year), and Elise Ferguson, who makes makes paintings with the tools of a sculptor, using pigmented plaster to build up geometric abstractions. It's a doubleheader! A five-artist group show also opens at the space this evening. —A.R.
Halsey Mckay, 79 Newton Lane, East Hampton, 6–8 p.m.