Judy Ledgerwood, January 10– February 21. A mid-career survey of Chicago painter Judy Ledgerwood’s work, this exhibit moves from ’80s paintings that reference romantic landscapes and modernist abstracts to recent works using color and shape to explore femininity and power. Renaissance Society; call 773/702-8670.

Hillel Fradkin, January 20 at 4:30 p.m. Hillel Fradkin, a professor at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., explores Israel’s national character and its prospects for democracy in the near and distant future as part of the John M. Olin Center lecture series. Social Sciences Research Building; call 773/702-3423.

Aldo Abreu, University Symphony Orchestra. January 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. The first night, Venezuelan recorder virtuoso Aldo Abreu performs with the Chicago Baroque Ensemble through the Howard Mayer Brown International Early Music Series. The second night, he joins the University Symphony Orchestra’s concert, featuring works by Vaughan Williams, Hindemith, and U of C graduate student Ricardo Lorenz. Mandel Hall; call 773/702-8068.

“The Creative Person and the Creative Context,” February 16 at 5:30 p.m. In this Cityfront Forum lecture, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, AB’60, PhD’65, summarizes more than 35 years of research to explain the characteristics of the creative individuals who shape culture. He also comments on the mental processes and the social and institutional supports needed for creativity. Gleacher Center; call 773/702-2150.