In time for Black History Month, the Museum of Science and Industry opened its annual Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition. Encompassing pieces from professional and amateur artists and teens, the show, which has been in existence since 1970, highlights a vast array of works in painting, sculpture, ceramics, and more. Shown above is "Lumiere" by Leslie Adkins.

Runs through April 23

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Opening this week at The Art Institute is an exhibition of rarely seen woodblock prints by Brazilian artist Lygia Pape (1927-2004). Tecelares is an iteration of a word coined by the artist that loosely translates to "weavings" and references the unique, layered approach to her work. The Art Institute will also open a Salvador Dalí show next week for those hoping to catch both exhibitions in one visit.

Runs: February 11 to June 5

Vibrant patterns of lines, organic forms, and matrices compose the boldly geometric works of Chicago's Raúl Ortiz. The artist's solo show, Manipulated Motifs, features an array of his vividly layered compositions at Harper College's gallery in Palatine.

Runs through March 9

1. Sisyphus Eternally Pushes a Boulder Up a Mechanical Incline in Ross McSweeney’s Nimble Automata
   
2. Miniature Ships Sail Atop Asya Kozina’s Extravagant Baroque Wigs of White Paper
   
3. Explore Hundreds of Exquisite Botanical Collages Created by an 18th-Century Septuagenarian Artist
   
4. The Astonishing Biodiversity of Fungi Blooms in Max Mudie’s Macro Photographs
   
5. Commuters Go Wild in Matthew Grabelsky’s Uncanny Subway Paintings 

Those up for a short drive can find Carey Watters' iconographic collages on view at OS Projects in Racine. Often centering on women, the cut-paper works explore those with under-appreciated or unrecognized legacies.

Runs: February 11 to April 8

Bridgeport Art Center is hosting an open call for its 11th Annual Art Competition and Exhibition, which will run from May 19 to July 7. Works in a wide variety of mediums are eligible, and artists must live in the city. Find application details on the center's site and more opportunities for artists and designers on Colossal.

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on April 4

What if QWERTY wasn’t the standard keyboard layout? A forthcoming book—which met its Kickstarter goal in just a few hours—by Chicago-based designer and writer Marcin Wichary examines the now-ubiquitous format.

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