Calendar for the week

tuesday
december 23
Tunga: 1977-1997: His name may sound like something out of a Tarzan movie, but among the artsy cognoscenti the Brazilian artist Tunga is considered not a savage but one of the eminent members of his generation. For more than twenty years Tunga (born Antonio Jose Barros de Carvalho e Mello Mouroa) has created work that explores and challenges assumptions about the link between art and literature, reality and fiction, facts and dreams. He has also become the unofficial crown prince of cross-referencing because of the magically complex, physically striking series of installations he has produced; they meld into a developing narrative that intertwines texts and objects. The installation Lezart consists of a huge force field created by 400 pounds of magnetic filament, copper, and lead that are dragged through space by a six-foot-long metal comb. A twenty-year retrospective of Tunga's work including sculptures, drawings, installations, video, and films is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art (770 NE 125th St., North Miami) through February. Admission is four dollars. Call 893-6211 for hours. (NK)

wednesday
december 24
Matzo Ball: Are you a Jew with nothing to do on Christmas Eve? Well, you're not alone. In six other cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, and New York, young Jewish professionals are stepping out and partying the night away while everyone else is crawling into bed at home and waiting for Santa to pull up in his sled. Where are they going? The MatR>zo Ball, sponsored by the Society of Young Jewish Professionals. Miami's version of the bash will be held at 8:00 tonight at Amnesia (136 Collins Ave., Miami Beach). For $20 you can dance all night to the sounds of the house DJ, fill up on yummy hors d'oeuvres, rake in some door prizes, and just maybe meet that special someone who doesn't believe in Santa either! Call 888-633-5326. (NK)

Triumph of the Spirit: See Thursday.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Laser Show: See Saturday.
Tunga: 1977-1997: See Tuesday.