Alumni Exhibition
Rachel Denny works with photography and sculptural assemblage. Erinn Kennedy's flat-toned, minimally mod paintings of beads looked great this summer at Pulliam Deffenbaugh, and their kitschy abstract geometry contain just enough adolescent narrative to keep it from being totally saccharine. Erik Stoik's untitled accordion fold book is an unbelievably well drafted scene of the apocalypse that I haven't been able to shake. The dead bodies, lynchings, animal corpses, and burning buildings were presented either in a distant background, or a hard, claustrophobic foreground that left little breathing room for the viewer. CHAS BOWIE Pacific Northwest College of Art , 1241 NW Johnson, 226-4391, Through Jan 2

Andrea Schwartz-Feit, David Geiser
Andrea makes Wax Works, vibrant abstract paintings and wax figures; Geiser does a paper-project room installation which includes some fossil-like, crinkly delicate shell things. Butters Gallery, 520 NW Davis St, 248-9378, Through Jan 4

Bhavesh Jivanlal Parekh
Originally from Bombay, Portland artist Bhavesh brings a multicultural aspect to his drawing (India ink, gouache). Mandala Arts Portland, 1607 NE Alberta, Opens Thurs Dec 26, 6-8 pm

Cary Leibowitz
NY art elite Cary Leibowitz presents faggy faggy boom boom, which includes a purchasable "Liza Minelli for President" rain poncho! So brilliant! So gay!!! Soundvision, 625 NW Everett #108, 238-7007, Through Jan 11

Dharma Strasser
Last chance to check out Strasser's ceramics: Dec 28! Augen Gallery, 817 SW 2nd Ave, 224-8182

Edie Tsong
Tsong's wall mural/video installation, Dream of the Homeland, examines commonly accepted standards of beauty with a big wall of cut-up fashion mags, and a video of Tsong walking around in a Miss America outfit. Field, 328 NW Broadway #114, 503 810 4788, Through Jan 10

Viva Filete!
Traditional filete paintings--an artform that almost vanished after the '80s--presented by Argentinian filete master Remedios Rapoport. Waterstone, 424 NW 12th, 226-6196, Through Dec 31

Katie Holly
Minimalist paintings, colored with texture and chutzpah. Neon, 328 NW Broadway #115, Through Jan 1

Kevin Wildemuth
Wildermuth digitally squares up 32 of his snapshots per piece of art--they are made up of grab shots of water fountains, French fries, neckties, flip flops, and gumballs. His eye is drawn to the comically banal, the unnatural colors of display and sales, and the simply absurd. Looking at Wildermuth's photographs is like taking a tour of a foreign planet--the jumbles and jumbles of information can be overwhelming. CHAS BOWIE Blue Sky Photography Gallery, 1231 NW Hoyt St, 225-0210, Through Jan

Kwanzaa Celebration
As usual, the IFCC exhibits fascinating art that magnifies the point where culture and humanity meet. Kwanzaa-related mixed media by a large assortment of local African American artists. And on Dec 31 at noon, a Kuumba Celebration will commence, which includes storytelling, and Raymond Alexander shall teach you to make special zawadi. Drumming, snacks, beverages... so much fun. IFCC, 5340 N Interstate Ave, 780-1886

Masao Yamamoto
Masao Yamamoto's photographs are like vignettes of imagined memories--hazy, familiar, and uncannily private. CHAS BOWIE SK Josefsberg, 403 NW 11 Ave, 241-9112, Through Jan 11

Non, Pars
Pars applies a graffiti influence to the cute-faced, Japanese-influenced art that is this generation's paint by numbers, and makes it a little creepy. Refreshing since it's meant to be Cute. Non's paintings look like Street Fighter vs. a Sandman comic. Compound, 11 NW 2nd, Through Dec 28

Pierre Bendine-Boucar
From Nimes, France, Bendine-Boucar brings his oh-so-fanciful Fleurs--urban floral paintings. Gavin Shettler Gallery, 625 NW Everett #106, 481-7450, Through Dec

Sam Klein, Peter Greaver
Mixed media on wood; fanciful fantasy paintings, not unlike the dragon/faerie murals seen on many low-rider bicycles. Another Moon, 618 NW Flanders St, 223.9332