Friday 2.1
Jasper Johns: The Prints
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, through April 13. Preview: 5:30-8 pm. Art talk by Bill Goldston: 7 pm
Johns established himself as one of America's most important artists beginning in the late 1950s with distinctive images of flags, maps and targets. This retrospective features works made between 1960 and 2007 -- the largest collection of Johns' prints ever displayed in the Midwest.
Books & Other Works
Grace Chosy Gallery, through Feb. 23. Reception: 6-8 pm
Susan Gardels, Ladislav Hanka and JoAnna Poehlmann offer three versions of the handmade, limited-edition artist book.
Wisconsin Union Galleries
UW Memorial Union. Reception: 7 pm
The meaty new exhibitions include "Desire for Normality," featuring seven Phoenix sculptors; Jim Huberty's "Revolution's Wallpaper," based on posters and leaflets from the UW's student-protest period in the 1960s; abstract works by Madison's late avant-gardist ellsworth snyder; and Ralph Sandler's images from artist residencies at the Union Theater in the 1970s and '80s.
Cirque-Works Birdhouse Factory
Overture Center's Overture Hall, 8 pm. Also Thursday, Jan. 31, 7:30 pm
Former members of Cirque du Soleil and the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe present a show combining awesome acrobats and fantastical machines. The storyline finds a factory changed when a bird flies into its gears.
Jazzworks Dance Company
Middleton-Cross Plains Area Performing Arts Center, 8 pm. Also Saturday, Feb. 2, 8 pm
The snappy local troupe delves into jazz dance, modern dance and contemporary ballet in a program called "Short Stories."
The Karps
Mills Hall in the UW Humanities Bldg., 8 pm
The UW music faculty's dynasty -- Parry on cello, Howard and Frances on piano -- perform music by Robert Kahn and Joel Hoffman.
Mark Croft
Brink Lounge, 9 pm
Croft isn't afraid of strong rhythms, which is part of the reason his polished singer-songwriter material is ready for prime time. The Mike Mangione Band is also on the bill.
Dillinger Four
Club 770 in UW Union South, 9:30 pm
The estimable Minneapolis band kicks off a good week for punk rock with a sweaty T.G.I.F. session.
Johnny Fiasco and Shaka 23
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
A legend of the Chicago house scene, in-demand DJ/producer/remixer Johnny Fiasco knows exactly how to pack the floor with party people. Electro queen Shaka 23 opens.
Saturday 2.2
Madison Winter Festival
Capitol Square; also Sunday, Feb. 3
You can't beat the cold and snow, so join it. Along with races featuring elite skiiers, the festival offers public skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice-sculpting and other family events.
Orchid Quest
Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 10 am-5 pm. Also Sunday, Feb. 3, 10 am-4 pm
Madison's Orchid Guild puts the petal to the metal in this show and sale.
Ancora String Quartet
First Unitarian Society, 7:30 pm
The First Unitarian Society's string quartet in residence gets into a Romantic mood with Schubert's "Quartettsatz" and Verdi's "String Quartet in G Minor."
Olympia Dukakis
Wisconsin Union Theater, 8 pm
The forceful film and Broadway actress presents Martin Sherman's one-woman play Rose, in which an 80-year-old Jew recalls a life that took her from the Ukraine to World War II's Warsaw ghetto to Miami Beach. On Friday, Feb. 1, Dukakis talks about herself and her work at 4:15 pm in UW Vilas Hall's Mitchell Theatre.
Vienna, City of Contradictions
Mills Hall in the UW Humanities Bldg., 8 pm
Pianist Catherine Kautsky and other UW musicians delve into Vienna's rich heritage with works by Gustav Mahler, Alban Berg, Richard Strauss and Johann Strauss. Readings from the likes of Rilke and Schnitzler fill out the civic portrait.
Frostiball
Overture Center, 9 pm
Once a year, Madison puts on its fancy duds for this benefit for Downtown Madison Inc. Your pricey ticket includes hors d'oeuvres, desserts, drinks, live music and fast company.
Studebaker John & the Hawks
Brink Lounge, 9 pm
Even though he's no stranger to rocked-up arrangements, you can hear the history of Chicago blues in Studebaker John's slide playing and growling harmonica work.
Darrin James Band
Annex, 9:30 pm
Bluesy New York singer-songwriter James strolls down some of the same back alleys and dusty country highways that inspired Springsteen and Dylan. He's a comer. Dormlife opens.
Ra Ra Riot
Club 770 in UW Union South, 9:30 pm
Ra Ra Riot's dynamic chamber pop requires a better room than the acoustically challenged Club 770. On the other hand, the price is right: free.
The Rousers
Harmony Bar, 9:45 pm
The Harmony's annual Mardi Gras soiree is sure to get a kick in the pants from the local roots-rock vets. When you're tired of dancing, you can always chow down on the ample Cajun buffet.
Know Boundaries
High Noon Saloon, 10 pm
After coming out on top in several rounds of the national Bodog Battle of the Bands competition, the local hip-hop-influenced rockers get a shot at the regional finals next month in Chicago. Kanser and Rob Dz open.
Sunday 2.3
If You Give a Pig a Party
Overture Center's Capitol Theater, 1 & 3 pm
Dallas Children's Theatre adapts the children's book about a girl who...well, the title says it all. Recommended for ages 2-9.
Chanterai por Mon Courage
Luther Memorial Church, 3 pm
The Madison Early Music Festival teams up with Early Music Now for a program that combines music and text from the 7th to 13th centuries, emphasizing the era of the Crusades. The performers are soprano Anne Azéma and string player Shira Kammen.