James Graham. “Untitled.” 2023. Oil on canvas. 60” x 48”. Part of the “Tenacious” exhibit in Portland. Image courtesy of the University of New England Art Gallery

‘Tenacious’
Noon to 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. Through June 11. University of New England Art Gallery, 716 Stevens Ave., Portland. library.une.edu/art-galleries
“Tenacious” is the latest exhibit at the University of New England Art Gallery on the Portland campus. The show’s thread is one of non-objective abstraction as a means of visual communication, and themes include aging, chronic illness, mental health and the artists’ response as expressed in their work. You’ll see pieces by James Graham, Karen Jelenfy, James Bradley Marshall  and Ian Trask. The show’s curator is Tilly Laskey from the Maine Historical Society.

All things Irish will be celebrated on Saturday night in Portland. Marekuliasz/Shutterstock.com

Irish Voices: An Evening of Irish Poetry, Art & Music
7 p.m. Saturday. Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St., Portland, $25. maineirish.com
The Irish American Club of Maine, The Café Review (Portland-based quarterly journal of poetry and art), Footbridge Brewery and the Maine Irish Heritage Center present an enchanted evening of Irish poetry, music and visual art. Six Irish poets will be reading their work virtually, and six regional poets will be sharing their writing live. You’ll also hear traditional Irish music and see local artwork on display.

Gimme Gimme Disco is a DJ dance party at Portland’s State Theatre on Saturday. Kraft74/Shutterstock.com

Gimme Gimme Disco
9 p.m. Saturday. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $17 in advance, $20 at the door. statetheatreportland.com
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life at the Gimme Gimme Disco dance party. DJs will be spinning the ABBA songs you know and love as well as tracks by the likes of Donna Summer and The Bee Gees. Saturday night fever indeed! So if you’re still free, take a chance on this fabulous night and throw on your dancing threads because you’re gonna feel the city of Portland breakin’ and everybody shakin’.

The Peking Acrobats bring their show to Merrill Auditorium on Feb. 27. Photo courtesy of The Peking Acrobats

The Peking Acrobats
7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $22 to $62. porttix.com
For a gravity-defying evening of high-flying entertainment, head to Merrill Auditorium for a performance by The Peking Acrobats featuring The Shanghai Circus. The show includes feats atop chairs, trick-cycling, upper-level juggling, phenomenal tumbling and more eye-popping entertainment. The show is based on hundreds of years of Chinese history and folk art and promises to be an inspiring spectacle of artistry and balance.