At the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, curator Michael Darling organized several shows that made his name, most of all Superflat, the anime explosion. Last year, he came to head the modern and contemporary department at Seattle Art Museum, and this is his first public lecture. “Why History Matters: Context and Reference in Contemporary Sculpture” is a meaty and relevant subject: Darling will explore how the modernist traditions of the sculpture in the park live on, and mutate, in sculpture made today. (Olympic Sculpture Park Pavilion, 2901 Western Ave, 654-3100. 7:30 pm, free.)

Jen Graves (The Stranger’s former arts critic) mostly writes about things you approach with your eyeballs. But she’s also a history nerd interested in anything that needs more talking about, from male...