ART BEAT : THINK TANK FOR THE ARTS.

Byline: Lori Moody

The MAK Center for Art and Architecture, L.A., opens its first exhibition to the public today at the historic R.M. Schindler House, 835 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood.

MAK Center is an arm of Austria's Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna and will serve as a think tank, research institute and research laboratory for arts and architecture. The Los Angeles center was established two years ago through an agreement between the Austrian Museum and Friends of the Schindler House, designed in 1921-22 by Rudolf M. Schindler, the famed Austrian modernist architect.

The center's opening exhibit, ``The Havana Project: Architecture Again'' features proposals for the Cuban city by international architects and architecture firms.

A secondary exhibition, ``The Garage Project,'' the first in a series of independent artists' installations, opens Saturday in the garage of the Schindler-designed Pearl M. Mackey Apartment House in the Mid-Wilshire district.

In conjunction with the opening of the MAK Center, there will be a self-guided tour of Schindler-designed buildings, including the Kallis House in Studio City and the Rodriguez House in Glendale, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. General admission is $50. A $100 ticket will include a special reception at 4 p.m. at Schindler House. Same-day tickets can be purchased at the Schindler House.

For information, call [phone].

Three free workshops

The Sunday Open Sunday series of free family art workshops ends the 1995-96 season with three programs this month, including one in Pacoima.

This Sunday, participants at the Junior Arts Center in Barnsdall Art Park will learn how to turn stencils, yarn and other media into wind mobiles with artist Elmira Adamian.

On April 21, artist Laura London will teach young artists and their parents how to make pop-up cards at the Barrington Parks and Recreation Center in West Los Angeles. On April 28, artist Jenna Cohan will instruct participants in the art of three-dimensional self-portraits at the San Fernando Gardens Service Center in Pacoima.

The workshops are held for 2 to 4 p.m. For information, call [phone].

One crafty show

More than 100 artists will show off their wares Saturday and Sunday at the 27th Warner Park Fine Artsand Crafts Show in Woodland Hills.

Ceramics, stained glass, woodwork, jewelry, soft sculpture, paintings and photography are among the works that will be presented at the park at 5900 Topanga Canyon. The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call [phone].