This week’s things to try and see this weekend. The standouts all happen to fall on this Saturday, but make sure to check out these two links for all kinds of more listings.

Jessica Labbatte, UBS 12×12 @ MCA

Jessica Labbatte‘s still life photographs are just excellent, and its no surprise to see the MCA’s UBS curators agree. Check out the  exhibition (and congratulate the program on its 100th artist shown) starting this Saturday, December 4th, @ the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave.

Jessica Labatte, Untitled (Poster)

Jason Benson and Joel Dean @ Monument2

With a title sourced from William Carlos Williams’ Asphodel, That Greeny Flower, Jason Benson and Joel Dean‘s But the sea which no one tends is also a garden is no doubt a critique on the intimacy of aging, and of the sublime beauty found in abstract chaos of time and nature. Or just new work from the artists – it’s hard to tell. Find out if I was right this Saturday, December 4th, from 6-9PM @ Monument2, 2007 N Point St.

Joel Dean, Untitled

Isolated Fictions @ Green Lantern Gallery

The team at the Green Lantern Gallery has put together another exhibition around a fascinating subject, this time following the industrious war on misery waged by Captain William Parry and crew during the ice-locked arctic winter of 1821. Artists include Deb Sokolow, Carmen Price, Jason Dunda, Amanda Browder, Nadine Nakanishi, Rebecca Mir and Nick Butcher. Perfect timing, too, this Saturday, December 4th, from 7-10PM @ Green Lantern Gallery, 2542 W Chicago Ave.

Rebecca Mir, kissing/st. ann's (from A Long Distance Relationship with the Ocean)

sympathetically shrinking