Another week, another round of art. I am busy, busy, busy, but going out and seeing the work is an essential part of it. Time is of the essence. Shows to see, my friends…

1. The Exhibitionist at Co-Prosperity Sphere

Work by Tom Torluemke.

Co-Prosperity Sphere is located at 3219 S. Morgan St. Reception Friday, 6-11pm.

2. Ron Artist: MVP (Malleability vs. Preservation) at Noble & Superior Projects

Work by Lindsay Apatow, Ben Balcom, April Behnke, Luis Miguel Bendaña, Joey Carr, Emilie Crewe, Matt Cummings, Lori Felker, Yasi Ghanbari, Samuel Gove, Jordan Grimes, Jeriah Hildwine, Randy Sterling Hunter, Seth Hunter, Tom McCormack, Ross Meckfessel, Josh Sampson, Kristen Stokes, Vincent Uribe and Corrine Webb.

Noble & Superior Projects is located at 1418 W. Superior St. Reception Friday, 8-11pm.

3. Basement Show at Parking Space

Work by Brandon Warren Alvendia, Caroline Polachek, Daniel Sullivan, Eleni Ann Kelaidis, Justin Thomas Schaefer, Marion Ramos, Michael Thibault, Scott Reeder and Tyson Reeder.

Parking Space is located at 2246 W. 19th St. 3R. Reception Friday, 6-10pm.

4. Girls at The Hills Esthetic Center

Work by Caitlin Arnold.

The Hills Esthetic Center is located at 128 N. Campbell Ave., Unit G. Reception Friday, 8-11pm.

5. Book Release Party at Golden Age

Release party for Can I Come Over to Your House: The First Ten Years of The Suburban.

Golden Age is located at 119 N Peoria St, 2D. Release party Saturday, 6-9pm.

Holy shit, I left you hanging on the busiest gallery weekend ogfthe year! Well, I made about a thousand maps, all of which were posted over at Chicago Art Magazine, and between those, working on the annual Renaissance Society benefit auction, teaching, art making, blah blah blah, I totally missed my weekend picks. Stupid me! Oh well, I’m back. This weekend, I’m actually going to be out of town, shooting out in Ohio (both kinds, to answer the inevitable question), but there are some great shows ya’ll should hit while I’m gone, I sure as shit want to hit ‘em when I get back. That is all…

1. To Peach at Donald Young Gallery

Work by Laura Letinsky

Donald Young Gallery is located at 224 S. Michigan Ave., suite 266. Reception  Friday 5-7pm.

2. It’s Good to See You at Rotofugi Gallery

Work by Steve Seely

Rotofugi Gallery is located at 2780 N. Lincoln Ave. Reception Friday 7-10pm.

3. The Blanket Paintings at iceberg

Work by Bernard Williams

iceberg projects is located at 7714 N Sheridan Rd. Reception Saturday 6-9pm.

4. GroupSOLO: The Sequel at Swimming Pool Project Space

Work by Matthew Schlagbaum, Chris Bradley, Clare Rosean, and Shannon Goff

Swimming Pool Project Space is located at 2858 W. Montrose Ave. Reception Saturday 6-10pm.

5. Talk Video To Me at LVL3

Work by Will Goss & Jessica Bardsley, Daniel Eatock, Clint Enns, Justin Kemp, Je Je Jiyeon Lim, Andrew Norman Wilson, Jon Rafman

LVL3 is located at 1452 N Milwaukee Ave, 3. Reception is Sunday at 6pm.

1. Street Anatomy at International Museum of Surgical Science

The most recent installment of Anatomy in the Gallery. This round is a group exhibition curated by local artist Vanessa Ruiz and features artists from around the country, including CAKE (New York), Heather Tompkins (San Francisco), Robyn Roth (Kentucky), Jason Freeny (New York), David Foox (New Zealand), Emilio Garcia (Spain), Noah Scalin (Virginia), and Stephen J. Shanabrook.

International Museum of Surgical Science is located at 1524 N. Lake Shore Dr. Reception Friday from 5-9pm.

2. From the Wash at Antena

The first of a pair of introspective, desert themed shows opening this weekend. This one, featuring the work of Pilsen resident Mark Nelson, explores the desert of Arizona through video and installation.

Antena is located at 1765 S Laflin St. Reception Friday from 6-10pm.

3. 12 x 12: Ben Russell at the MCA

The second desert work opening this weekend, Ben Russell’s Trypps. The show consists of a series of screenings of Russell’s Trypps series, included the featured image above, Trypps #7 (Badlands) which, “charts, through an intimate long-take, a young woman’s LSD trip in the Badlands National Park before descending into a psychedelic, formal abstraction of the expansive desert landscape.” Opening is during First Fridays, so get yourself comped in, or wait till after the meat market to see the show.

Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 220 E. Chicago Ave. Reception Friday from 6-10pm.

4. Bare Squared and Bedtime Stories at OhNo!Doom Gallery

Something on the cutely morbid side to lighten your weekend.  Not exactly critical work, but fun. Half the show (Bare Squared) features the work of bro-sis duo Max and Zoë Bare. The other half (Bedtime Stories) features monsters by Amanda Louise Spayd.

OhNo!Doom Gallery is located at 1800 N. Milwaukee Ave. Reception Saturday from 6-10pm.

5. Autumn Ramsey at Julius Cæsar

Wrap up your weekend at one of Chicago’s awesome alternative spaces, Julius Cæsar. Another kind of creature feature, the paintings at JC by artist Autumn Ramsey reference art history and mythology.

Julius Cæsar is located at 3144 W Carroll Ave, 2G. Reception Sunday from 4-7pm.

1. Playboy Redux: Contemporary Artists Interpret the Iconic Playboy Bunny at Rotofugi

Group show at the new location.

Rotofugi is located at 2780 N Lincoln Ave. Reception Friday, from 7-10pm.

2. Beach Party at The Hills Esthetic Center

Work by Caitlin Arnold, Michael Boles, Jessica Taylor Caponigro, Olivia Ciummo, Sarica Douglas, Deep Earth, Ron Ewert, Michael Hunter, Leo Kaplan, Katy Keefe, Nicole Kita, Michael Kloss, Ben Marcus, Joseph Mohan, Sara Mosk, DJ Rad Pitt, Dustin Ruegger, Margaret Taylor, Frank Van Duerm, Kate Walsh and Lauren Walsh.

The Hills Esthetic Center is located at 128 N. Campbell Ave., Unit G. Reception Saturday, from 8-11pm.

3. Uncrumpling This Much Crumpled Thing at The Exhibition Agency

Work by Gina Beavers, Chris Bradley, Andrew Guenther, Anna Krachey, Elisa Lendvay, Tim Louis Graham, and Eliza Myrie.

The Exhibition Agency is located at 2351 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd fl. Reception Saturday, from 7-10pm.

4. Kabinett 1 + 2 at devening projects + editions

Work by Richard Rezac and Gary Stephan.

devening projects + editions is located at 3039 W Carroll Ave. Reception Sunday, from 4-7pm.

5. The Chromatic number of objects in a room at What It Is

Work by Susan Garguilo and Troy Hagenbart.

What It Is is located at 1155 S Lyman Ave, Oak Park. Reception Sunday, from 3-8pm.

Another round of weekend picks, brought to you by…well…me. Enjoy!

1. Caras de Mexico at 33 Collective Gallery

Work by photographer Joe Compean.

33 Collective Gallery is located at 1029 W. 35th St. Reception is Friday, from 7-10pm.

2. Corazón Grafico/Corazón Urbano at Co-Prosperity Sphere

New mixed media works by Gabriel Villa.

Co-Prosperity Sphere is located at 3219 S Morgan St. Reception is Friday, from 7-11pm.

3. Love Letters to Antarctica at Swimming Pool Project Space

Works by Annie Heckman and Lorien Jordan.

Swimming Pool Project Space is located at 2858 W. Montrose Ave. Reception is Saturday, from 7-10pm.

4. Practice Makes Purpose at Monument 2 Gallery

New works by Justin Thomas Schaefer.

Monument 2 Gallery is located at 2007 N. Point St. Reception is Saturday, from 6-10pm.

5. Yard Salad at Old Gold

Two days of art auctions to clear out Old Gold before its peeps move out to LA.

Old Gold is located at 3102 W Palmer Blvd. Auction Saturday and Sunday, from 11am-5pm.