9th Annual October Show
Artist's studios are essentially extensions of childhood clubhouses—rollicking alternate domiciles intended for responsibility-free escapism. Oh yeah, sometimes artists create work there, too. 333 Studios is a multi-studio compound where artists like Stephen Hayes, David Eckard, and John Brodie hang out when it's time to get out of the house. Every October they open their doors to the public with an exhibition of what all the residents have been working on for the past year. Studio 333, 333 NE Hancock, Sat 4-9 pm; Sun 12-4 pm

German Photography: Influence of the Bechers
German photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher are responsible for one of the three dominant photography trends of the day. The Becher style is comprised of deadpan, emotionless portraits of generic vacancy, and has been pursued relentlessly by their own students, many of whom have become veritable artworld powerhouses in their own right. Pulliam Deffenbaugh, 929 NW Flanders, 228-6665, Closes Sat

Ryan McGinness
We're happy that PICA is stepping up its lecture series, bringing in Raymond Pettibon, Justine Kurland, and that guy who wrote the book about Willem DeKooning, but at some point, we will have to collectively make it clear to PICA that slideshows are no substitute for actual, you know, art shows! New York painter and installation artist Ryan McGinness, fresh off of PS1's Greater New York exhibition, would make a great candidate for a Portland solo show. Instead, we get another lecture, which is not bad in and of itself, but it is rather ridiculous to pay three times as much to hear the guy talk as it would have cost to see his actual work at the old PICA gallery. PICA, 224 NW 13th, 242-1419, Thurs Oct 27, 7 pm, $8-10

Tom Cramer Selected Works 1974-2005
The appeal of Cramer's gilded, carved-wood paintings has always eluded me, but his drawings and works on paper, many of which exist as studies for the aforementioned works, are fun and funky studies in ink lines. Mark Woolley at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, through Nov 26