Prolific local artist Rachel Allen recently passed away, but neither Allen nor her art will be forgotten by her admirers and friends anytime soon. She will be missed. A memorial exhibit of her attractively eccentric work opens this Friday, Nov. 5, at the New Grounds Print Workshop (3812 Central SE) with a reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. during which a silent auction of Allen's art will be held. All proceeds will go towards a printmaking scholarship. The exhibit, called Open Your Heart, will also include work by other members of the workshop. The show runs through Nov. 27. 268-8952.
Culture Shock
UNM art professor Steve Barry is famous for creating works of art that only achieve completion with assistance from the public. Such is the case with his latest art project, P.O.D. (Practicing Our Democracy). Barry says, “P.O.D. does not exist. It is a proposal offered in the form of a flower.” The flower in question is a 10-foot-in-diameter clear plastic lotus constructed from the same material used to make riot shields. Much like American society itself, what P.O.D. becomes will be determined by those who opt to participate.
Barry's project opens at the Donkey Gallery (1415 Fourth Street SW) on Friday, Nov. 5, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Expect good grub and live tunes. Do your civic duty and attend. A second component of Barry's experiment will consist of a Free Speech Symposium on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 6:45 p.m. at the gallery. Both events are, of course, open to the public. 242-7504.
