Cincinnati Art Museum’s China Design Now and Contemporary Arts Center’s Maria Lassnig and Carlos Amorales shows have been at the top of the list for contemporary art followers for quite some time. But now that they're both open and (hopefully) seen, it's a good chance to turn to some smaller but interesting gallery shows around town.—-
While CityBeat has positively reviewed the Lynda Benglis retrospective at Carl Solway Gallery, the second show there — the meticulously detailed, folksy-fantastical narrative paintings of Tom Shelton — is well worth your attention, too. His show is called History Lessons: Paintings and is up through Dec. 13. Visit www.solwaygallery.com for info.
At Creative Gallery (1315 Main St. in Over-the-Rhine), Matthew Dayler is celebrating some new wall drawings and screened printed panels that he's worked on with graffiti artists Gamble, Five and Erabik. The opening reception, which coincides with Scribble Jam, starts at 6 p.m. Friday and the show is up through Nov. 14.
Also touting a Scribble Jam connection is group show Up in the Air at AVS Gallery (315 W. Fourth St., Downtown). Featuring work by 40 graffiti artists from around the country, the AVS show will have a special event from 7-10 p.m. Thursday, featuring live graffiti art and DJs playing House and Techno. The show stays up through Oct. 30; visit www.avsart.com for more info.
