CHARLES DESMARAIS’ ART PICK

With the time-hogging, energy-sapping, 53gallery art march known as Fog Design and Art taking place at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture next week, one might be tempted to skip the exhibition simultaneously on view in various spaces around the Fort Mason campus. That would be a huge mistake.

I haven’t yet seen “They Come to Us Without a Word,” the multimedia projection and performance work by Joan Jonas that had international critics raving at the Venice Biennale in 2015. But the exhibition, which opens to the public on Thursday, Jan. 17, is reportedly a masterwork — a meditation on the natural world and our place in it, incorporating video, painting, objects and child performers.

If a visit to the Fog fair is your reason to be in San Francisco, leave time for this first American presentation of a key work by the 82-year-old Jonas. And I’m betting multiple visits before the closing March 10 will be in order.

“Joan Jonas: They Come to Us Without a Word”: Noon-8 p.m Wednesdays-Saturdays; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Thursday, Jan. 17-March 10. Free; reserve tickets at www.fortmason.org/jonas (a limited number of same-day tickets will be available). Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, 2 Marina Blvd., S.F. 415-345-7575. https://fortmason.org/event/ jonas/jonas-motl

“Moving Off the Land:”

A live performance by the pioneering artist will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan.20. $15-$20. https://fortmason.org/event/jonas/jonas-motl