theater
A WALK IN THE WOODS. True Brew Cafe, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Lee Blessing's political comedy/drama centered on an American negotiator and an eccentric Soviet diplomat. Perry Martin directs Bob Edes and Randy Cheramie. Tickets $21, $31 for A Walk in the Woods and Sea Marks. Performances 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and 6 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 24.
FLAMING IDIOTS. Columbia Players, 1320 N. Morrison Blvd., Hammond, 542-9243. Tom Rooney's comedy about two postal workers who open a disaster-ridden restaurant. Mary Beth Ridgel and Selena Ray co-direct. Tickets $10 general, $8 seniors and children. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Feb. 23.
JAR THE FLOOR. Anthony Bean Community Theatre, 1333 S. Carrollton, 862-PLAY. Cheryl West's comedy tells the story of a quartet of African-American women spanning four generations as they gather to celebrate the matriarch's ninetieth birthday. Tickets $15 general, $13 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, Directors Studio, 616 St. Peter St., 522-2081. The "Sister" teaches an adult catechism class and alternately rewards and chastises her students. Amanda Hebert stars. Tickets $21 Thursday and Sunday; $26 Friday and Saturday. Performances 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Open run.
MIDGETS FROM URANUS. Cowpokes Theatre Space, 1030 Marigny St., 947-0505. Comedy about a blue-haired woman kidnapped by aliens from Uranus, operating under the assumption that a lesbian can save their planet. Performed with Sexy Music Again. Call for tickets. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday
SEA MARKS. True Brew Cafe, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Gardner McKay's Irish comedy/drama about star-crossed lovers. Stars Dane Rhodes and Mary Lee Gibbons. Tickets $21, $31 for Sea Marks and A Walk in the Woods. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday, 9:30 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 24.
VALLEY SONG. Neighborhood Gallery Theatre, 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 524-8800. South African playwright Athol Fugard's metaphorical story probes the push and pull of the country's past and future as told through the eyes of a farmer, his granddaughter and a white landowner. Jimmy Walker directs Fahnlohnee Harris and Bert Pigg. Limited seating. Tickets $10. Performances 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sunday and Monday, through Feb. 20.
WHEN YA SMILIN'. North Star Theatre, 347 Gerard Street, Mandeville, (800) 924-5538. Ricky Graham and Becky Allen star in Ricky Graham's comedy about growing up in New Orleans. Tickets $23.50. Performances 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday.
art
Venues preceded by an asterisk are celebrating opening receptions this week. Call each space for information.
A Gallery For Fine Photography 322 Royal St., 568-1313 -- Snaps, photographs by Elliot Erwitt, through Feb. 28.
ABITA ART GALLERY 72078 Maple St., Abita Springs, (985) 867-3323 -- Group show of gallery artists, featuring Mardi Gras originals and etchings, through Feb. 2002.
Academy Gallery New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 5256 Magazine St., 899-8111 -- 2002 Faculty Exhibition, through Feb. 25.
ACME GALLERY 5700 Magazine St., 891-0357 -- Comic book art by Vernon Smith, through February.
Ariodante 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Painted wooden bowls by Karen Morava, through February.
Arthur Roger Gallery 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Constructions by Al Souza, paintings by Matthew Sontheimer, through February.
*Barrister's Gallery 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- In Your F***in' Face, recent paintings by Roy Ferdinand, through February; The Devil and the Bird of Love, group show, through March 15.
Bassetti Fine Art Photographs 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- Group show of gallery artists featuring David Halliday and new work by Jack Spencer, through March.
bergeron Studio & Gallery 516 Natchez St., 522-7503 -- Vintage Mardi Gras photography by Michael P. Smith and C.F. Weber, through Feb. 15.
BOGDANOFF GALLERY 936 Royal St., 299-1500 -- Frescoes by Steve Bogdanoff, through February.
Bryant Galleries 316 Royal St., 525-5584 -- Mardi Gras paintings by Carol Katchen, through February.
CAMERON JONES 2127 Magazine St., 524-3119 -- Group show by 12 local artists including George Ufford, Marcel Flisiuk, Ruth Marie Wright, and Chris Clark, through February.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Two Continents: the African Tradition in Contemporary American Art, featuring African art from Kenya and Chad, through February.
Carol Robinson Gallery 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- Group show by gallery artists, through February.
cole pratt gallery 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Pastel paintings by Ed Dyer, organic abstractions and acrylic on paper by Amanda Talley, through February.
Contemporary Arts Center 900 Camp St., 523-1216 -- Expanding Universe: The Recent Paintings of Al Held; Bodyworks: An Exhibition by Studio Matrixx, featuring works by Ila Berman and Michelle Fornabai, through March 24.
CRESCENT GALLERY 531 Wilkinson Row, 525-5255 -- European Exhibition, new paintings by Grace Newburger, through Feb. 14.
DELGADO FINE ARTS GALLERY 615 City Park Ave., 483-4512 -- Return to New Orleans, paintings by Gilbert Fletcher, through Feb. 28.
d.o.c.s. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Sculpture by Allen Wynn, paintings by Michael Fee, through Feb. 28.
du Monde Gallery 318 Royal St., 523-0078 -- New paintings by Kathe Calhoun and gallery artists, through February.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- Paintings by Janet McGreal and Auguste Garufi, through February.
FRENCHY GALLERY 319 Royal St., 561-5885 -- Second Month, Second Line, second line photographs by Michelle Elmore, through February.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- New work by August Martens, JoAnn Saucier, Carroll Becker, and MacDonald Eaton, through March.
GALERIE LAFItTE 533 St. Louis St., 524-0105 -- New paintings by Gustavo Duque, through February.
Galerie Simonne Stern 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- Paintings by George Dunbar, through Feb. 27.
Hanson Gallery 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- Super Show 2002, featuring works by Peter Max, Leroy Neiman, Frederick E. Hart, Luigi Rocca, and Raymond Douillet-Chevoleau, through Feb. 15; In Tribute, TL Lange 1965-2002, through February.
Heriard-Cimino Gallery 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- On Imagined Occasions, paintings by Carlos deVillasante, through Feb. 23.
J. Pierre fine art gallery 1562 Magazine St., suite 5, 586-1997 -- Paintings, sculptures and monoprints by Jamar Pierre, through February.
JOHN PRODUCT GALLERY 2027 Magazine St., 581-5280 -- Amazing Color, group show, through Feb. 15.
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Louisiana Landscapes and Surreal Settings, paintings by Roberto Ortiz, through Feb. 13.
Kurt E. Schon 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Paintings of children by Austrian, English and French artists, through February.
LALLYBROCH 240 Pelican Ave., Old Algiers Point, 362-2226 -- Mardi Gras memorabilia from Blaine Kern's studio; 40 hand-painted Carnival masks by Elizabeth Becket, Neil & Kim Allen, Robin Fraser-Orr, and others (proceeds benefit art programs at the Holy Name of Mary school), through February.
LeMieux Galleries 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- Axis of Passion, new work by metal artist Thomas Mann, through Feb. 26.
lms fine art & antiques 729 Royal St., 529-3774 -- The Best of Russia and America, featuring paintings by Valery Kosorukov and sculpture by Raymond Wiger, through March.
Marguerite Oestreicher Fine Arts 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Wood engravings and paintings by Orren Kickliter, through February.
mario villa gallery 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- New glass work by Mario Villa; Oil and Water, paintings by Melissa Bonin, through February.
MARTIN LAWRENCE GALLERY 709 Royal St., 588-9020; 433 Royal St., 299-9055 -- Modern Masters Exhibition, featuring rare and unique works by Picasso, Chagall, Miro and Renoir, through February.
McINNIS fine art 404 Chartres St., 581-3608 -- Mardi Gras Daze, new oil paintings by Nicki Flynn, Claude Dussell, Peter Wood and others, through February.
Newcomb Art Gallery Tulane University, 865-5328 -- Materials of Africa: African Art from New Orleans Collections, through Feb. 17.
RIVERTOWN FINE ARTS GALLERY 409 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231 -- Works by Annie Strack and Cheryl Gautier, through March 6.
STEVE MARTIN STUDIO/GALLERY 624 Julia St., 566-1390 -- Paintings by Tanya Lantier, through February.
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Fourth Annual Mardi Gras Invitational featuring works by Robert Warrens, Tony Green, and others; works by Kathleen Banton and Patricia Fairfield, through February.
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS FINE ART GALLERY 2000 Lakeshore Drive, 280-6493 -- Mixed media works by Tim Frisby, through Feb. 21.
VINTAGE 429 429 Royal St., 529-2288 -- Commemorative Super Bowl XXXVI artwork by Charles Fazzino, through Feb. 28.
Visual Jazz incorporated 2337 St. Claude Ave., 949-9822 -- Featuring Richard Thomas' We Too Sing America, the 2002 Zulu poster saluting African-American patriotism, through Feb. 15.
waiting room gallery 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Recent paintings by Daniel Finnigan, through April 6.
WILLIAMS & JOSEPH GALLERY 713 Royal St., 566-7009 -- The Writing's on the Wall, poetry vessels and paintings by Bradley Bowers, through February.
Wyndy Morehead FIne Arts 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Paintings by Jim Pennington, through February.
museums
New Orleans Museum of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- O Say Can You See: Great American Photographs from NOMA; The Sport of Life and Death: the Mesoamerican Ballgame, through April 28.
OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART 603 Julia St., 539-9600 -- Then & Now: 1941-2001, exhibition of Southern artists' work on war and peace, through March 1.
*SLIDELL CULTURAL CENTER 444 Erlanger St., Slidell, (985) 646-4375 --Reflections of Cuba, photographs by Charles Longton, through Feb. 23.
books
Thursday 14
ENRICO BRUSCHINI. Academy of the Sacred Heart, 4521 St. Charles Ave. Author of In the Footsteps of Popes: A Spirited Guide to the Treasures of the Vatican will discuss his book. Free admission. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 16
BOOK CLUB. Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St., 899-READ. Group discusses Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery by John Gregory Brown. Free admission. 10:30 a.m.
ROBERT OLEN BUTLER. Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St.,899-READ. Pulitzer prize-winning author signs and discusses Fair Warning. Free admission. 1 p.m.
CHRISTOPHER RICE. Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266. Author signs The Snow Garden. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
