Arts & Entertainment
Mexican Folk Art and a Zine Fest: 4 Arts Picks for Your Week
National Museum of Mexican Art (WTTW News)
Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.
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The Chicago White Sox are having an exciting run in the MLB postseason. Elsewhere, the Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their NHL campaign, the Chicago Fire are making a solid push to secure a spot in the MLS playoffs and the Chicago Bulls commenced the NBA preseason Wednesday. A lot’s going on sports-wise in the city, but the same can be said for its arts community. Below, check out everything from film to theater.
Theater: “A Strange Loop”– Raven Theatre
The premise of “A Strange Loop,” a Pulitzer-winning musical coming to Edgewater’s Raven Theatre, is pretty heady and extremely meta: “Usher is a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. He spends his nights struggling to write an original musical about a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway.” Consider us sold. This semi-autobiographical story by Michael R. Jackson runs until Nov. 8. Buy tickets here.
Film: “The Revolution Is My Boyfriend: the Films of Bruce LaBruce” — Facets
The cozy Lincoln Park arthouse cinema is hosting a 10-film retrospective of Bruce LaBruce’s uncompromising and subversive films. The Canadian director is a pioneer of “queercore cinema,” the DIY and radical 1980s genre. His sprawling catalog of features and shorts combines punk sensibilities, leftist politics, pervasive nudity, kink subcultures and a gleeful exploration of taboos. LaBruce will be in attendance throughout the series curated by Raphael Jose Martinez. You can buy a full pass, or purchase single screening tickets, which include a Friday showing of “Super 8 ½” followed by a Q&A between LaBruce and filmmaker Joe Swanberg.
Art: Chicago Zine Fest 2026 — Harold Washington Library Center
Head to the Harold Washington Library Center this Saturday for the 2026 edition of Chicago Zine Fest. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., you’ll find nearly 100 small-press publishers and zine-makers showcasing their DIY publications. Alongside the fair, there are workshops, panels and more to explore. It’s free and open to the public. Click here for more info, its schedule and a full list of vendors.
Art: Festival del Arte Popular — National Museum of Mexican Art
From Tuesday through Oct. 18, the National Museum of Mexican Art is hosting its annual Festival del Arte Popular (Mexican Folk Art Festival) in Pilsen. As the event page says, “Meet some of Mexico’s finest folk artists, watch live demonstrations, and get an early start on holiday shopping.” For more info, click here.
WTTW News arts coverage is supported by the JCS Arts, Health & Education Fund of the DuPage Foundation.
