This week pairs art and conversation in just about every way, from scholarly discourse and artists in person, to the most talked-about films and exhibitions of the season. Don’t miss these highlights:

John Baldessari. Hands Framing New York Harbor from Pier 18. 1971. Photograph by Shunk-Kender and János Kender. Gelatin silver print, 7 3/8 × 9 15/16″ (18.8 × 25.2 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation in honor of Jennifer Winkworth and Kynaston McShine and in memory of Harry Shunk and János Kender. © 2015 John Baldessari. Photograph: Shunk-Kender © J. Paul Getty Trust. The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles

• Today the Department of Photography hosts the MoMA Forum on Contemporary Photography, which is accessible to the public via live stream (6:00–8:00 p.m.). For this session MoMA curators, art historians, and artists discuss the relationship between photography and performance as seen in the exhibitions Art on Camera: Photographs by Shunk–Kender, 1960–1971 (May 17–October 4, 2015, at The Museum of Modern Art) and Pier 54 (November 6–December 13, 2014, organized by High Line Art at 120 Eleventh Avenue).

• MoMA PopRally celebrates The Contenders 2014 on Wednesday with a special screening of Alex Ross Perry’s Listen Up Philip. After the screening, Perry and actress Elisabeth Moss will participate in a conversation with curator Josh Siegel, followed by a reception featuring DJ Le Chev.

Trajal Harrell. In One Step are a Thousand Animals: The Practice. 2014. Photograph © 2015 The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Photo: Julieta Cervantes

• On Thursday, join choreographer and dancer Trajal Harrell for the second iteration of In one step are a thousand animals, his two-year Annenberg Research Commission Residency at MoMA, when he will engage in a public conversation with Sam Miller (President, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council) and Japanese choreographer and dancer Eiko Otake. Get tickets today

• On Friday, in conjunction with the gallery exhibition 100 Years in Post-Production: Resurrecting a Lost Landmark of Black Film History and screening as part of The Contenders 2014, The Department of Film will present the assembled footage of the first black-cast feature film, which was recently discovered in MoMA’s collection.

• As we approach the final weeks of Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, the entire Museum will stay open late (until 8:00 p.m.) on Saturday and Sunday, so that more visitors will have a chance to see this extraordinary exhibition. Timed tickets are required for nonmembers, and can be purchased in advance at MoMA.org/matissetix.

Installation view of Robert Gober: The Heart Is Not a Metaphor, The Museum of Modern Art, October 4, 2014–January 18, 2015. © 2015 The Museum of Modern Art. Photo: Thomas Griesel. All works by Robert Gober © 2015 Robert Gober

• And don’t miss the acclaimed retrospective Robert Gober: The Heart Is Not a Metaphor, which closes on Sunday.