Taking its name from the landmark in which it resides, the Fine Arts Building Gallery features traditional and contemporary works. Located among a maze of galleries, ask the elevator operator for the fourth floor, walk past the piano and violin studios to the neo-Classical pillars and you've arrived.

Exhibits in the main and side galleries typically open on the first Friday of the month; a third gallery showcases the work of its 24 member artists, and the adjacent Italian-style courtyard provides a summer respite. Expect to see recent work by local artists in a variety of media, with an emphasis on painting.

The FAB Gallery is a for-profit corporation that has been consistently profitable. Member shareholders steer the organization, maintain a clean and attractive space where they present their own work and reach out to exhibit talented non-members. Membership is open to Chicagoland artists willing to pay dues, attend meetings, gallery sit, and assume organization and funding for their shows. In exchange, artists enjoy a wide array of benefits: space in the member gallery, opportunities for solo shows, publicity, insurance, administrative support and a healthy share of their art sales.

The building and the gallery have remained largely unaltered since the turn of the last century when artists started utilizing the space. Plenty of institutions exhibit contemporary artwork; very few allow us to travel through time. When you leave, send the elevator to the tenth floor and enjoy a few of the building's original mural paintings.

Centerstage Reviewer: Justin Sondak