New Year, New Art

There's plenty of gallery action this weekend to kick off 2001. Lisa Sette Gallery continues its season with two shows -- "the center of gravity," which features works by Marie Navarre; and "Traces and Shadows," with works by Maurizio Pellegrin. Both of these photography-based mixed-media artists are favorites at the space.

Navarre's austere, usually monochromatic images, frequently given uncluttered presentation in boxes or steel frames, explore the idea of existence at its most uninflected and agenda-less. Pellegrin's work is different. The Venice, Italy, native's "constellations of objects," things like slingshots or wooden sticks carefully arranged around hanging photographs, have a dramatic, primal, almost crazy quality. His work is all agenda -- said agenda being, we are told, his belief that "representative imagery of linear modes of communication cannot describe or define the ambiguities of interior experience."

The shows open, Navarre's in the Main Gallery and Pellegrin's "through the arch," with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, January 4, at the gallery, 4142 North Marshall Way in Scottsdale, and continue through Saturday, January 27. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays (and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays), noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. For details call 480-990-7342.

From such heady themes as Navarre's and Pellegrin's, we move to the dirty pictures down at 11 East Ashland. Guest jurored by Art One director Kraig Foote, the fourth annual "For Adults Only" exhibition, featuring salacious works of sculpture, photography, video and mixed media by more than 40 artists from 18 states -- and one, Marlene Stauffer, from Switzerland -- opens with a formal reception, at which some of the artists will be present, from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, January 6. The show continues through Saturday, February 24, at 11 East Ashland, the gallery located at the address of the same name (off Central, two blocks south of Virginia).

The exhibit features works of "strong adult content" (cool!), thus no one under 18 will be admitted without an adult; the policy, says the gallery, will be strictly enforced. Music at the reception will be performed by Valley musician Leon Santiago. Regular gallery hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 to 10 p.m. during "First Friday" events. Call 602-257-8543 for details.

Opening the same day, back in Scottsdale, is a show of works by painter Elias Rivera titled "The Americas -- Central & South," at Riva Yares Gallery. The preview and reception are scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 6, at the gallery, 3625 North Bishop Lane in Scottsdale. The show continues through Wednesday, January 31. For hours and details call 480-947-3251.