Cannonball Press and new Chicago galleries | Art and Design this week

Installation view of Susan Giles, Crumpled Spire, 2011.

Photo: Kip Wilkinson

In this week's Art and Design section, I profile three new local galleries: Alderman Exhibitions, Hinge Gallery and the Mission. OK, "new" is an exaggeration: These spaces opened last year. But you probably haven't visited all three, and they're promoting artists in novel ways. (Think horror movies and reading groups.) Read more about what to see and do this week after the jump.I also review Cannonball Press's exhibition at Columbia College's Leviton A+D Gallery: "Turnin' the Tip: Simp Heisters, Flukum, & the Put'n'Take." I have no idea what the title means, either.

There are more than 115 Art and Design exhibitions and events happening this week. Check our listings for details. Here are a few that look particularly exciting:

Creatives at Work: How To Do Things in Public Spaces, Chicago Cultural Center, Thu 26 at 6pm, FREE.
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events only just announced the lineup for this panel discussion, which is moderated by former MCA curator Tricia Van Eck, founder of 6018 North and the Happiness Project. The other speakers are Nathan Mason, curator of special projects, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture; Lou Mallozzi, Experimental Sound Studio; Carron Little, Walkabout Theater Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art; and Chuck Thurow, former executive director of the Hyde Park Art Center.

Thomas Heatherwick, Crown Hall, IIT, Thu 26 at 6pm, FREE.
Heatherwick, the English designer best known for his UK Pavilion (a.k.a. the Seed Cathedral) at the 2010 Shanghai Expo, speaks about his current work.

"Society of the Spectacular," Co-Prosperity Sphere, Fri 27, 7–11pm, FREE.
Eric Fleischauer, Jesse McLean and several other artists consider how virtual worlds and digital social networks shape what we perceive as reality. Volcano, American Draft and Turntable.fm provide musical accompaniment for this show curated by Jake Myers and the Octagon Gallery.

Volume Gallery: Temperature 2012, Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Sat 28, 4–7pm, FREE.
Chicago's roving Volume Gallery has a launch party for its first publication, Temperature 2012, described as a "diagnostic of American contemporary design."

Opening reception for "Joshua Abelow: Songs From a Room" and "Alexander Valentine: Blonder Tongue Audio Baton," devening projects + editions, Sun 29, 4–7pm, FREE.
This party celebrating New York–based artist Abelow's paintings and SAIC grad Valentine's prints gets a boost from ONE FOR ONE FOR ONE, a collaborative soundtrack project and DJ set that Valentine organized. The DJs include Jocelyn Brown (Clerical Error), Brian Case (Disappears), Aay Preston-Myint (Chances), Beau Wanzer (Hot on the Heels of Love), Joe Proulx (Smith's Night), Emily Elhaj (Implodes), Laura Deutsch (Three of Cups), Seth Sher (Ga'an), Jordan Williams (Flagrant Monday) and Alfredo Nogueira.