In what will be the largest collection of Edward Hopper works outside of NYC in the past 25 years, the Art Institute of Chicago will feature the works of Edward Hopper, opening February 16, 2008.

Hopper, known for such works as Nighthawks, Room in Brooklyn, and Chop Suey (seen here), was one of America’s most beloved artists.

The show will feature prints, watercolors, and oil paintings from Hopper. Tickets can be purchased at the Art Institute of Chicago.

A video to help avoid a potentially uncomfortable situation (click to view):

Last night while shopping for Mother’s Day, I came across a Galileo Thermometer (defined by Wikipedia). In case you’ve never had the chance to see one of these, here’s a pic (pic by Wikipedia).

The thermometer is a cylinder filled with liquid and colorful spheres that float. Each sphere has a temperature indicator. The spheres float to the top of the cylinder and the sphere indicating the actual temperature, floats at the bottom of the group. As the temperature changes the spheres jostle up and down to indicate the temp. The spheres themselves actually contract slightly at higher temperatures, allowing the spheres to rise and fall accordingly. Pretty cool.

The Galileo thermometer serves as a functional piece (thermometer), but also as a great art piece. It looks great on my coffee table and I’m sure it’ll spark some conversations.

If you’re planning on visiting Chicago during the month of February, be sure and head over to the Art Institute of Chicago. Between February 1 and 21st, general admission is free. Yes, you read it correctly, free!

If you’re new to the world of art, head over on February 3rd and check out Q&Art, where you can have all your questions about art answered.

Help us kick off our February Free Hours at Q&Art, where you can learn everything you wanted to know about art but were afraid to ask. Don’t know the difference between Manet and Monet, Expressionism and Impressionism, or Song and Tang China? Now is the time to find out! Meet curators, conservators, and educators who will be available all day throughout the galleries to give informed talks and answer questions.

The highly regarded exhibit Cezanne to Picassoopens February 17, featuring masterworks from not only Cezanne and Picasso but also Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, and other masters of modernism.

Sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon in Chicago.