Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Sunday, October 6
Before she wrote a surprise best-seller (Gaper’s Block Book Club June 2005 pick The Time Traveler’s Wife), Audrey Niffenegger was known as a visual artist, and a selection of her paintings, drawings, and prints is being shown at the Printworks Gallery through October 15. 311 W. Superior Street, Ste. 105. For more information, call Printworks Gallery at 312/664.9407 or visit the website.
Independent film Green Street Hooligans premieres tonight at three theaters: River East 21, Webster Place 11, and the Century Evanston 21. Having been passed over by Hollywood studios, the film's producers are forging their own way and releasing the movie on their own. Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam and Claire Forlani act in the movie directed by Lexi Alexander. Check your local listings for showtimes.
Porchlight Music Theatre, the ambitious off-Loop musical theatre company, opens their revival of Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, and Jule Styne's Gypsy. Jeff Citation winner and Porchlight resident chanteuse Rebecca Finnegan stars as Mama Rose. Opens tonight at 7:45pm. Continues Fri-Sat at 7:45 and Sun at 3pm through October 30. Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W Belmont. Tickets are $27-30; call 773-327-5252 or visit Ticketmaster.
Can't wait for that last Sunday of the month for the Chicago Antiques Market? Then head down in your van, to the river for the Chicago River Market September 8-10 from 11am to 7pm. There'll be arts, antiques and collectibles along Chicago's second shoreline. Stroll along the river, and browse a unique market featuring memorabilia and collectibles from the past and local art from today. The market takes place on Upper Wacker Drive between Franklin St. and Michigan Ave. For more information call (312) 951-9939.
Four of Chicago's top comedy theatres are donating a portion of their proceeds from performances this week to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Tonight's event is Pent, the 8pm show of long-form improv at I.O. Tickets $14, call 773-880-0199. 3541 N Clark St. Full bar.
This Wicker Park/Bucktown arts festival features hundreds of painters, photographers, actors, performers and more in an opportunity to exhibit and sell their work to visitors from all over the country. Coordinated by Around the Coyote, the Fall Arts Festival transforms local studios and businesses into galleries and the long weekend will be filled with scheduled and spontaneous performances. Tickets are available at the door, but passes for groups of 15 or more can be purchased by calling 773-324-6777. Visit the website for schedules and more information on the festival. Friday 6pm-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, Sunday 10am-6pm.
For the first time 4Art Gallery is hosting an exclusive six month group show that will showcase the artwork of more than a dozen local artists. New work will be presented each month as the show's goal is to display the creation and evolution of these artists' work. At tonight's opening reception the artists will demonstrate their skills with live performances. From 6-10pm, you'll get to see those performances, listen to music by violinist Jason Loveall and get the first look at this continuing show of printmaking, scultpure, abstract art, digital photography and much more. 4Art Gallery is located at 1932 S. Halsted, #100. Call 312-850-1816 for more information.
Here’s a terrific excuse to wander around Chicago’s terrific Fine Arts Building. The Fine Arts Building Gallery is hosting an opening reception for a new exhibit of work by member artist Frank Vodvarka from 5 PM to 8 PM tonight. Take what might be the last manned elevator in the city to the 4th floor, or—better yet—take it up higher and soak up the artistic, musical, and choreographic vibes as you explore your way back down. 410 S. Michigan, Suite 433. For more information, call 312-913-0537, or visit the website.
"Urban, Rural, Wild" is part exhibition and part platform to investigate the divisions between the urban, the rural and the wild and where these divisions break down. The exhibition presents workby eight artists focusing on the historical and modern relationships between the urban Chicago and the rural downstate Illinois. The show will run through October 22. Tonight, from 5-7pm, the show will hold their opening reception at I space Gallery, 230 W. Superior. For more information, contact Sarah Kanouse at kanouse[at]siu[dot]edu.