Ceiling frescoes and altarpieces by 18th-century virtuoso Giambattista Tiepolo grace some of the grandest churches and palaces of Europe.

See how Tiepolo used oil sketches to develop his monumental compositions—many of which have vanished forever.

You can also see drawings by Tiepolo starting May 17 in the related exhibition Light and Water: Drawing in Eighteenth-Century Venice.

The American Visions photography series kicks off with a look at two 20th-century masters.

Bold abstractions, dynamic city views, and heroic portraits emerge from the lens of modernist pioneer Paul Strand. Three Roads Taken: The Photographs of Paul Strand surveys his work through 1954.

Don't miss the related gallery course on May 19 and 26 and free point-of-view talks on May 27.

The sublime and the surreal unite in Frederick Sommer's impeccably crafted, sometimes gruesome scenes. The Photographs of Frederick Sommer: A Centennial Tribute celebrates his poetry of decay.

Poets James Ragan and Anne Waldman read from their works, focusing on how poetry changes the way we experience time. A discussion moderated by artist Elena Byrne and a reception follow.

Presented by the Getty Research Institute. Free; reservations required. Parking is free with event reservation.

Learn more and make reservations.

Haitian singer Emeline Michel fuses socially conscious lyrics with jazz, rock, samba, and Haitian rhythms. This marks her Southern California debut.

Free; reservations required.

Learn more and make reservations.

Can neighborhoods preserve their past and still have a thriving economy? English Heritage chairman Sir Neil Cossons thinks so.

Cossons will discuss recent preservation work in England and show how it is helping to build sustainable communities.

Free; reservations required.

Learn more and make reservations.

Join actors from stage and screen as they read short fiction by Charles Johnson, V.S. Pritchett, Julie Otsuka, and others about love, marriage, the single life, and the joys and struggles along the way.

Each performance features different actors, including William H. Macy, Regina King, Alec Baldwin, and Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog). Tickets $20, students/seniors $15.

Learn more about this event.

Find the artwork and solve the mystery with this free gallery activity. You'll have fun while getting to know works of art at your own pace.

Pick up Art Detective Cards at the Family Cart and the brochure rack outside the Family Room.

Learn about other free family programs at the Getty Center.

Visit our May event calendar for even more events—a panel on artists' books, music by Inara George, new research on the Bayeux Tapestry, and more.

Most events are FREE.