Have you ever wanted to run a printing press with your own two hands? Maybe we’re just nerds, but we’ve always wanted to print the way it was done before laser printers and Xerox machines. At the Starshaped Press open house this past Saturday night, we (and many other visitors) made posters and business cards, played with giant paper cutters, and had the opportunity to view and buy a wide variety of beautifully designed letterpress......

In 2004, the brother of New York University professor Wafaa Bilal (formerly a prof at SAIC) was killed by an American missile at a checkpoint in their South Iraq hometown. Not long after, Bilal's father died -- ostensibly of a broken heart. These two major losses inspired Bilal to explore the war in Iraq as a subject in his art. Tonight the Invisible Institute presents Bilal and Kari Lydersen reading from and discussing their book......

Through April 19, the Field Museum is hosting The Aztec World: an exhibition of more than 300 artifacts and artworks made during the reign of the folks known for their ingenuity in science, architecture and penchant for ripping each others' hearts out during sacrificial rituals (different strokes, etc.). The show features pieces never before displayed in the U.S. (and won't be traveling anywhere else, so be proud, Chicago!). Recently we spoke with Franck Mercurio,......

General Art Marwen, an out-of-school art education organization for Chicago youth, is holding their 3rd annual Art Fair tonight, exhibiting about 170 pieces of varying artwork by its students, alumni, staff, and teaching artists. Half of the proceeds from artwork sales will go towards the artist, and half will be donated back to the school. Marwen, 833 N Orleans St., 11/7, 6:30 – 10:00 p.m., $20 suggested donation at the door Music In commemoration of......

If it weren't for the porn actresses' bodies, rainbow-beaming vaginas and sharp social and political commentary, the works of Chicago artist Jeremy Scheuch would perfectly suit the bedroom of a four-year-old. A graduate of Kansas City Art Institute, Scheuch incorporates unicorns, rainbows and dinosaurs, among other things, to create bold paintings that express politically charged themes in a humorous light. Tonight Scheuch has work featured in Tura! Tura! Tura!: a show at the Tattoo Factory......

Conventions The 1st annual Windy City Comicon lands at the Center on Halsted this weekend: currently the only comic book convention in Chicago. The event has lined up an impressive guest list of local comic book writers, artists and creators, along with HeroClix and Magic gaming tournaments and Chicagoland comic book vendors and publishers exhibiting their wares. 3656 N Halsted, 10/25, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., 1-day pass only $5 (cash only) General Arts Deadline......

Someone told us that they once ran into the late musician Jeff Buckley carrying around a stack of phone books around and around the same block in Memphis, TN. We're pretty certain that if he were alive today, Buckley would prefer to tote copies of PHONEBOOK, the essential travel guide to artist-run centers, small/nonprofit/fringe galleries, and other exhibition and presentation projects. threewalls and Green Lantern Press will release Compadres Amores, the latest PHONEBOOK edition, at......

Tonight there's a slew of art openings to keep your eyes happy and your brains searching for the messages within the media: ALL RiSE GALLERY begins its Weekend Flings -- an exhibition series of weekend shows that open on Fridays at 7 p.m. and close on Sundays at 6 p.m. The inaugural show features a collaborative photo project by Jori Brewer & Kiley Reed-Black. 1370 W. Grand Ave. In the West Loop, the Rhona......

This simulated vintage poster, inspired by the Shedd Aqarium, is an original design by the artist and is the first in a planned series that will include the Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium. Created here in Chicago, elements of the piece are hand-applied on canvas panel board, fashioned and textured with layered strips of antique paper to give it its old-timey feel. Want it? Buy it!......

Found this waiting on my doorstep last night. It's the long-awaited Alinea book. And wouldn't you know, it's a monolith. I was literally afraid to touch it for fear that I might have a mindsplosion. I'll have a review of this 400-page, five-plus pound omnibus as soon as I can. Until then, take a look at some of the pages. These are just the opening pages.......

There's a lot of found-object artists out there these days, but KS Rives takes it one step further by incorporating bits of full-blown trash -- used cigarette butts and discarded rubber bands, for example -- to create pieces that examine various cultures' attitudes about waste. She's also half of the "Before I Die I Want to ..." project, in which she and Brooklyn-based partner Nicole Kenney ask a person what he or she wants......

General Arts This year, Around the Coyote’s fall arts festival moves to the West Loop, expanding their offerings of emerging arts talent: 132 visual artists’ booths, literary readings, film screenings and music and theater performances. Check out participating Chicago artist Danielle Klinenberg who, instead of pricing her work, is inviting an open dialog with viewers as to its perceived value, hoping to entice those who – due to current economic times – may be holding......

Chicago painter and graphic artist Joey Potts started drawing cartoons when he was a youngster, deriving inspiration from sources ranging from cartoons and stuffed animals to his father's drawings. His work features bold colors, fantastical and strange-looking characters, and confident lines. He is currently working on pieces for upcoming shows taking place on three different continents. On Friday, October 18, 32nd&urban: gallery/space (3201 S. Halsted St.) hosts the opening reception for Quest for the Cyclops......

Tennessee native and storyteller Chris Roberson integrates sayings drawn from gospel hymns, hobo graffiti, and caves -- among other sources -- to make sculptures, carvings, and collages that reflect his Southern roots. In addition to found wood and magazine pictures, his media include watercolor-like dyes that he makes himself by running walnut hulls through a coffee maker. Stop by the Country Club at 1100 N. Damen to check out Caught Fever: Works by Chris......

This Chicago artist uses actual library cards to fashion the front and back of her 3.5" by 5" journals, with 80 college-ruled pages in between. Each journal is festooned with a unique literary quote. Bilblio-cool.......

That's not a reference to Sarah Palin shooting at defenseless creatures in the Alaskan wilderness, but to the October 10 outdoor premiere of re:edit -- a video by Chicago artist Kim Alpert that explores the Internet's impact on sexual and gender identity. Alpert believes that the Internet has both sped up the process of achieving equality between the sexes and produced a backlash among folks who cling to more traditional views on gender. Her video......

The fine folks at North Shore Distillery (by the way, their Distiller's Gin No. 11, the second highest-rated American made gin— their Distiller's No. 6 is the highest rated) are looking for some good local artists to help them design some artwork for future advertising campaigns. To that end, they've decided to hold a contest to choose a winning design and want local artists to enter their best submissions. A cash prize is involved. For......

We're somewhat taken with the idea of Joe Six-Pack American: a normal guy who works like us, drinks like us, and does normal guy things like us (watch too much TV and take anti-cholesterol medication, for example). With a little more character development, Joe could become our 21st century Paul Bunyan -- a symbol of American strength and hard work, but maybe with a Labrador Retriever instead of an ox, a khaki shirt instead of......

Starting Monday, Lyric’s 13th annual Opera in the Neighborhoods program will kick off once again, bringing kiddie-friendly opera directly to young students throughout the Chicagoland area. This year’s program will present a version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, staging approximately 30 performances at different local schools and auditoriums through the beginning of November. We were glad to learn that Lyric’s education department doesn’t think that squirmy schoolchildren can be expected to sit through a long,......

It's time once again for the nonprofit Chicago Artists' Coalition's Chicago Art Open, taking place October 3-19 at the Merchandise Mart and in the West Loop's FLATFILEgalleries. This year's exhibition features 285 works representing all media, from drawing to installations. The festivities kick off Friday, October 3 with a special preview event (i.e., more expensive) from 4-6 p.m. and a general opening reception (i.e., less expensive) from 6-10 p.m. at the Merchandise Mart. Other Open......

We've thrown back many a pint at Old Town Ale House, but the recent addition of a nude painting of Sarah Palin almost made us nose our beer. Check it out for yourself [NSFW]. [via Windy Citizen]......

Giant tanks made from supermarket flyers, inflatable missiles, skulls covered with military symbols: The duo of Tom Burtonwood & Holly Holmes creates these and other works that combine pop culture and anti-war messages in surprising, memorable ways. Last weekend they unveiled this camouflage Santa Claus at artXposium 2.0 in West Chicago, and currently have a piece in Tel Aviv, Israel. Recently we spoke with Burtonwood about B&H's oeuvre, politics, and the industrial complexes that......

Happy First Day of Autumn! Fall makes us think of many things, with the most predominant being Halloween. We get easily excited about seasonal themes and events, so we made this list as much for our benefit as for yours, dear Readers. We might actually go to … all of these. The Brides of Ghost Hunter Richard Crowe Local professional ghost hunter Richard Crowe has been a collector of unusual folklore and ghostlore since 1973.......

Tonight Mess Hall hosts The Prison Poster Project, a public ed/visual art depiction of the issues faced by our nation's 2.3 million (and always, always growing) incarcerated citizens. The exhibit is the culmination of a five-year collaboration between artists and activists in the free world, and 100 prisoners. The 40+ illustrations on display are narrated through transcriptions of prisoners' writings, and cover everything from the historical roots of imprisonment to contemporary "life" behind bars. 7-9......

Film For $10 dollars, you can see The Atom Smashers tonight and get a peek into Fermilab scientists’ journey to the ultimate understanding of the atom. No lie, this story is full of twists and turns: international competition, diminished support for experimentation, crazy underground facilities. The movie screening takes place at the Museum of Science and Industry at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with scientists from the film. Music If you’re feeling kinda......

Christopher Hiltz earns his bread and Nutella as an events photographer. But in his free time, he gets more experimental, using extended exposure and camera shakes to transform his shots of everyday objects into abstract expressionist pieces. On Saturday, September 20, Hiltz's first solo exhibition, "Everyday Ago," opens at Believe Inn, the cozy Bucktown Gallery run by ITSOK mastermind Sighn and Multi-Polar Projects. As part of the action, Hiltz will deposit around 100 of his......

It doesn't bear repeating, but we're doing it, anyway. Here at Chicagoist we're big fans of the Art of the Cocktail. If you aren't getting your fix from the "Properly Sauced" series, you can taste for yourself impeccably crafted cocktails while watching silk screen exhibitions and enjoying artwork. Starting Thursday night and running through October 9, Campari and Swindle Magazine are teaming up to host "The Art of the Cocktail" exhibitions throughout the city. The......

Mark your calendars, public art fans: Improv Everywhere is taking its spectacle-making show on the road. The annual "mp3 experiment," in which participants all download the same mp3 and convene to follow its dance-y, peaceful instructions, is coming to town. The Chicago leg of the tour is October 5, place and time TBD. Fun! Mp3 Experiment Four: Part One from ImprovEverywhere on Vimeo. Improv Everywhere is the group behind the annual "no pants" subway ride......

Yeargh, this stuff sells out fast. Local outfit Orange Beautiful's limited edition "Motivate Prints" are back. The set of four includes "get your sh*t together," "get on with it already," "quit your bellyaching" and "do something about it." But if your nesting instinct leans more to the love-love than the tough-love..........

Thanks to the Sun-Times for putting together this great list of ways to save on tickets to local live theater. Harris Theater’s price reduction on tickets for the upcoming ballet is mentioned, as well as the fairly well-known daily drawing for front row seats at Wicked (we won once!) but otherwise it’s a pretty thorough list – recommending both general and theater-specific tactics to help you save money. Chicagoist racked our brains to try and......