Celebrating Valentine's Day through art, performance in Elgin

Celebrate all that's good - and bad, and ugly - about Valentine's Day with Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin this month.

The festivities will kick off Friday, Feb. 5, with the opening of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," a visual art pop-up exhibition featuring a variety of works from artists from all over the region, including Jamey Bouwmeester, Erin Grupp, Frances Hernandez, Sarah Manata, Chris Palm, David and Ella Pohlmeier, Aaron Wooten, and more.

The exhibition will be on display in the gallery Friday, Feb. 5, through Saturday, Feb. 13. An artist reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5. This event is free and open to the public.

Elgin Fringe Festival and SSSA will present: "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A Tribute to St. Valentine's Day," a variety show featuring 2015 EFF artists Kelly Bolton, David Boyle, and Captain Ambivalent. This one-night-only performance will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. Suggested donation tickets are $12 or $10 with your 2015 EFF button.

For the second year, SSSA will present "Backwards Broadway," a role-reversal musical revue featuring area performing artists, including Boyle, Julie Bradon, Katherine Dalin, Rachel Elizabeth Maley, Valerie Meachum and Richard Pahl, in support of Youth Outlook, an agency in DuPage, Kane, and DeKalb counties serving LGBTQ youth. This one-night-only performance will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. Suggested donation tickets are $12.

Side Street Studio Arts at 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin, under the direction of Amanda Harris, Tanner Melvin and Erin Rehberg, provides educational and creative resources and an accessible space, run by artists. Side Street's mission is to support the artist and artistic journey through collaboration. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Contact Side Street Studio Arts at (847) 429-2276, or visit www.SideStreetStudioArts.org.