Rainbow Bears

In recognition of co-director Steve Zavattero, Heather Marx Gallery now goes by the name Marx and Zavattero. Its inaugural exhibit under the new name, perhaps commenting on a ruthless art scene that can prompt such measures, is "Bear Hunting," which features large, fleshy mammals engaged in … wait, scratch that: The show is about gay men. Local artist James Gobel takes as his muse the iconic bearded male, specifically one on the hunt. In colorful paintings that leap off the canvas, made both familiar and snuggly with the judicious use of yarn and felt, we find bears among baroque, gilded furniture in front of patterned wallpaper, holding candles, looking like they've found themselves in a murder mystery or more likely a game of love. In other pieces he veers into surrealist territory, celebrating his bears as disembodied heads, Zeus-like in their glory and sometimes mirrored by twins, amid abstract surroundings and floating stars. Prowling the canvas in hipster shirts, colorful flannel, and police boots — and in one case a head of rainbow hair — Gobel's bears can't fail to attract.

An opening reception starts today at 5 p.m.
Feb. 16-March 29, 2008