Jack Hanley Gallery: Alexandre Singh - Assembly Instructions.

Comment by AB: New York artist Alexandre Singh tells me his complex diagramatic full-gallery installation consisting of over 100 black and white collages is a blend of dreams, fantasy, reality, and free association, systematically progressing from one subconscious manifestation to the next, connected by fine straight lines of black dots from beginning to end. One of the best shows I've seen at Jack Hanley in some time-- a cornucopia of all kinds of stuff I expect in good art-- hard work, organization, sound premise, articulate explanatory, cohesive coherent story line, attention to detail, technical mastery. Plus they're affordable. And that's right; you guessed it. I'm slappin' a special mid-month Pick on this baby. Go see.

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Iceberger Gallery: Alex Lukas - In Defense of Home, In Defense of Industry.

Comment by AB: Alex Lucas combines paint, book illustrations, and silkscreen to conjure cataclysmic images of our precariously uncertain future-- floods, fire, explosions, and not a human in sight. The glory of horror, you might say. I'd keep an eye on this dude-- he's improving fast. Note to mercenary collectors-- maybe even buy a piece on spec. Good show; go see.

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Femina Potens: Morbid Fantasies.

Artists: KuKula, Sita Rupe, Brittany Howard.

Comment by AB: The art's competent and not nearly as gruesome or depressing as you might think, given the show's title. And the award for affordability goes to Sita Rupe for her $75 mixed-media photo, acrylic, screenprint, and resin amalgams.

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The Garage Biennale: Jennifer Locke and Daniel Blomquist - Felo De Se.

Comment by AB: According to the preamble, we gather to ruminate on that icon of the American West, the cowboy, here presented as stripped to the waste, seated cross legged in a small concrete cell, hands tied behind his back, and bolted to the wall by a rigid metal collar around his neck. Complementing the endeavor are performances by Locke and Blomquist-- she gets her head shaved and he gets branded. Frankly, the gambit's a mite gratuitous for my tastes, however if you're that itchy to make a point, then this might be considered an effective way to make it.

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Megan Wilson: Home, 1996-2008.

Comment by AB: Artist Megan Wilson opens her home (aka art installation) to the public from November 3-26, 2008 from 2-5pm, Monday-Wednesday. If you like kicky interiors and a 100% artified domicile, then stop by and have yourself a gander. She's been working on it for 12 years and her dedication shows. Plus I believe a number of her eminently creative furnishings and decorative accessories are for sale.

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The Shooting Gallery: Ron English - The Secret History of Kiss.

Comment by AB: Ron English takes classic masterworks, most notably the high-sap romanticisms of nineteenth century academic realist of William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and repaints 'em with Kiss (the rock group) faces. High camp and well done. Priced $18-$35K.

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White Walls Gallery: Richard Colman and Jim Houser - Awful Mountain.

Comment by AB: You got riotous electrified kaleidoscopic escapades by Richard Coleman in the front gallery offset by mellow precision blends of text, numbers, symbols, patterns, and caricature in paintings and installations by Jim Houser in the rear gallery. Coleman's prices range $4.5-$15K; Houser's run $500-$5000 (something for everyone).