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The Wall Street Journal just published a flattering review of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s soon to open marquee exhibition Van Gogh Up Close, featuring more than 40 of the close-up works the masterful artist crafted in his later years. The writer describes the exhibit as “full of revelations” and “brief moments of peace in a turbulent life” as much for the artist 130 years ago and the viewer today. Check it out for yourself once the exhibition opens to the public on February 1. [Wall Street Journal]

Theatre Confetti, which recently celebrated a successful re-launch party, is unveiling Martha Undressed, a Martha Graham Cracker cabaret performance from Dito van Reigersberg of Pig Iron Theatre Company.

The February 2 song and dance production begins at 8 p.m. at Chez Colette in The Sofitel.

In addition to the stripped-down drag queen act, guests can give their own performances in the blog booth designed by Fanny Allie of Creme Design, the creative team behind the re-launch party.

As Martha puts it, “Madness will ensue.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $10 or at the door for $15.

Martha Undressed
Where: Chez Colette at The Sofitel, 120 S. 17th Street
When: Thursday, February 2, 8 p.m.
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at door
More info: www.theatreconfetti.com

The Philadelphia Art Alliance presents three exciting contemporary exhibitions opening in Winter 2012. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Art Alliance)

Join the Philadelphia Art Alliance at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 2 for a free opening reception for three exciting new exhibitions.

In the First Floor Galleries, the Art Alliance presents two solo exhibitions, Sondra Sherman: “Found Subjects,” and Andrea Donnelly: “Binary.”

“Found Subjects” is the first solo Philadelphia exhibition by Philly-born and California-based metalsmith Sondra Sherman. Sherman has carved hollows into the pages of twelve vintage books and placed a unique piece of jewelry into the empty spaces.

It’s also be the first solo exhibit in Philadelphia for Richmond-based artist Andrea Donnelly, who creates large-scale woven works. She applies a monoprint to hand-woven cloth, then reweaves it into two separate mirror images.

In the Second Floor Galleries, the Art Alliance presents “A Sense of Place,” a group exhibition of eight women textile artists exploring the theme of location understood as both a physical space and as a site in memory and experience. This exhibition is being presented as a featured exhibition of the FiberPhiladelphia 2012 festival.

In honor of all this great new work, the Art Alliance will host a gallery tour and talk led by Chief Curator Sarah Archer and exhibiting artists, followed by a reception with refreshments.

Philadelphia Art Alliance Opening Reception of Three New Winter Exhibits
When: Thursday, February 2, 5:30 p.m.
Where: 251 S. 18th Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.philartalliance.org

Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater Kinney) from IFC’s hit original comedy Portlandia are embarking on a unique limited tour bringing the romanticized and dreamy rendering of Portland, OR to life for fans across the country.

They’re heading to Philadelphia for two shows in one night on Sunday, February 19 at The Trocadero. The first show is already sold out, but The Troc has added a late night show at 10:30 p.m.

“Portlandia: The Tour” will feature Armisen and Brownstein, the co-creators, writers and stars of Portlandia, performing live music, presenting sneak-peek clips from the show’s second season and sharing personal anecdotes about the creation and inspiration of Portlandia and its variety of eccentric characters.

“Portlandia: The Tour” began (where else?) in Portland, OR, on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 and is making its way around the country.

The TV show has been a critical success, and it’s sure to be a hilarious evening.

“Portlandia: The Tour” at The Trocadero
When: Sunday, February 19, 8 and 10:30 p.m.
Where: 1003 Arch Street
Cost: $30
More info: www.thetroc.com

Discover the life and art of pioneering African-American artist Henry O. Tanner at PAFA's major new exhibition Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit, on display starting January 28. (Photos by T. Scheid for GPTMC)

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, an artistic gem in Center City, boasts treasures by local and national luminaries such as Charles Willson Peale (founder of the Academy), Thomas Eakins (who taught at PAFA) and Violet Oakley.

This winter and spring, PAFA complements its luminous collection with Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit an exhibition of more than 100 works by the PAFA-taught artist Henry Tanner (Eakins was one of his instructors; Tanner studied at PAFA from 1879-1885).

The collection includes 12 paintings never shown in a Tanner retrospective, the only two known sculptures Tanner completed as well as his career-making Resurrection of Lazarus from the collection of the Musée d’Orsay which has never before crossed the Atlantic.

Visitors can purchase the most complete scholarly publication on Henry O. Tanner to date as well as the first-ever children’s book about Tanner, written and illustrated by renowned artist-author Faith Ringgold and published by PAFA.

After its premiere at PAFA, Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit will continue on a national tour, with stops in Cincinnati and Houston.

Keep in mind PAFA has free admission on Sundays and extended hours every Wednesday evening.

Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit
When: January 28-April 15
Where: Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts, Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad Street
Cost: Adults $15, Seniors (60+) and students $8, Youth (13–18) $6, Children (12 and under) Free
More info: www.pafa.org

View more than forty works by Vincent van Gogh — never before seen together — during Van Gogh Up Close.
(Photo courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art)

On the heels of the splashy Zoe Strauss photo exhibition still on display at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art comes another blockbuster art exhibition opening February 1.

It’s called Van Gogh Up Close and it features more than 40 of the close-up works the masterful artist crafted in his later years.

In reducing the depth of field and maximizing the expressive impact of his brushwork and color, Van Gogh painted intimately focused views of clumps of iris, tangles of almond branches and other audacious still lifes that manifest the power of this painter.

Look out for great programming presented in conjunction with the exhibition, including a curator-led tour on March 9, a special film series starting February 26 and an art history course on Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.

Bonus: travelers coming to Philadelphia to catch the exhibition can choose from the Best Western Center City Hotel, the Radisson Plaza-VVarwick Hotel, the Rittenhouse Hotel and the Four Seasons for Van Gogh-inspired travel accommodations that combine a premier overnight experience with tickets to the post-Impressionist feast for the eyes at the museurn, 15% off Amtrak tickets, 10% off in the museum store and a special celebratory Van Gogh dessert at Granite Hill restaurant.

Plus: after you’ve experienced the stunning landscapes on display, take a trip to the isles of Hawaii during the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Special combo ticket packages begin at $50 and include one adult admission to Van Gogh and one adult admission to the Flower Show. Call (215) 235-SHOW (7469) for more info.

Get advance tickets online.

Van Gogh Up Close at The Philadelphia Museum Of Art
When: February 1-May 6
Where: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, ages 13-18 $20, 5012 $12, kids under 4 Free
More info: www.philamuseum.org

Spanish artists María Jesús González and Patricia Gómez have created large-scale prints, photographs and related videos during their artist residency at the now decommissioned Holmesburg Prison in Northeast Philadelphia. (Photo courtesy Philagrafika)

Here’s something for anyone who’s ever walked the empty halls of Eastern State Penitentiary: “Doing Time | Depth of Surface,” a print exhibition of the drawings, paintings and graffiti left behind on the walls of the historic, abandoned Holmesburg Prison.

After operating for nearly 100 years, the Northeast Philadelphia prison closed in 1995, leaving behind remarkable records of the lives of its inmates and prison guards.

In 2011, Philagrafika, which promotes the art of printmaking through collaborative print exhibitions, invited Spanish artists Patricia Gómez and María Jesús González to document the writing on Holmesburg’s walls.

Gómez and González gained recognition in their home country after completing two similar projects documenting the written messages and images on the walls of abandoned prisons in Spain.

The exhibit’s opening reception will be held this Friday, January 27. There will also be a special Artist and Curator Brunch this Saturday, January 28 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. that’s free and open to the public.

Staff-guided tours will be led on Saturdays starting February 4 from noon-12:30 p.m. and 1-1:30 p.m., and will include stories about the artists, their experiences in the prison and the extraordinary prison itself.

Philagrafika presents “Doing Time | Depth of Surface” at Moore College
When: Opening Reception Friday, January 27, 6-8 p.m., exhibit runs through March 17
Where: 20th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free
More info: www.thegalleriesatmoore.org

Support the Pig Iron Theatre Company this Friday at their annual benefit cabaret and auction. (Photo courtesy Trocadero)

Philly-based Pig Iron Theatre Company, which tours both nationally and internationally with wildly entertaining clown-and-dance performances, is throwing their annual fundraiser, The Aporkalypse, at The Trocadero on Friday, January 27.

Managing director John Frisbee says viewers can expect to experience “a hybrid of rock concert, cabaret and 19th century variety show” when the curtain rises at 8 p.m. for the approximately two hour long event.

The vignettes of acts will feature not only appearances from Pig Iron but from guests alike the theatrical pogoniasis group The Bearded Ladies, who held a series of performances at The Wilma recently; the Twelfth Night Gypsy Band; and a step team from Temple University.

Prior to showtime, ticket-holders can take part in the benefit’s silent and live vendue which begins at 7 p.m. and includes treats like a weekend in Atlantic City with tickets to see Liza Minelli live, a membership to the Mutter Museum, jewelry and restaurant gift certificates.

Advance, VIP and table seating tickets can be purchased online, while tickets at the door will cost $30 each.

Pig Iron Theatre Company’s The Aporkalypse
Where: The Trocadero, 1003 Arch Street
When: Friday, January 27, 7 p.m. auction, 8 p.m. showtime
Cost: $25 advance, $30 door, $75 VIP, $600 table for 6
More info: www.pigiron.org

The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Year of Dickens, a 2012 celebration of Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday, comes to a head in February, the month of the author’s actual birth.

Among events planned, including literary salons at the library and two rare works exhibitions, are special book readings on Sundays throughout February at, appropriately, Stephen Starr’s British pub The Dandelion.

On Sundays, February 5, 12, 19 and 26 The Dandelion will host two readings at 10 a.m. and noon of the Charles Dickens children adaptations, “A Boy Called Dickens” and “Usborne Illustrated Stories from Dickens,” by the fireside.

Children will receive complimentary tea cakes and scones. The Dandelion will also offer an English Breakfast special.

Bonus: each session will have a $20 gift card drawing!

Make reservations by calling (215) 558-2500.

Charles Dickens Readings at The Dandelion
When: Sundays, February 5, 12, 19 and 26, 10 a.m. and noon
Where: 124 S. 18th Street
Cost: Free to attend; English Breakfast is $13 ($20 with a 20 oz. cask beer)
More info: www.thedandelionpub.com

Get a taste of spring this Thursday as the International House previews their spring programming for free. (Photo courtesy International House)

Head over to University City to check out The International House’s Spring Arts Preview this Thursday, January 26 at 7 p.m.

The free season-opening party will feature food, drinks, a live performance by musical duo Blues Control, spotlighting a unique combination of keyboards, guitar and tape manipulation, as well as a multimedia presentatin of upcoming events at The International House.

Plus, you’ll be treated to a series of surprise animated 16mm films and screening of Jean Vigo’s 1933 classic Zero For Conduct, in a new 35mm print by Janus Films.

To RSVP for the event, click here.

Spring Arts Preview at International House Philadelphia
When: Thursday, January 26, 7 p.m.
Where: 3701 Chestnut Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.ihousephilly.org