Grand Trunk

Fri 1/2
Opening a gallery is like training an elephant: no easy task. But this didn't sway performance artist JRC and his partner Stephanie Carrico, who felt that downtown needed a space that encompassed all art forms. So the former Paper Heart employees decided to open up The Trunk Space, a gallery that doesn't show only the standards, like paintings and photography, but also incorporates theater, performance art and music. The concept was to make the gallery a community resource for downtown, as well as a place where artists can meet and hang out, says JRC.

To inaugurate its opening during First Friday, the gallery, 1030 Grand Avenue, presents work by Julian Vandercook, Randy Slack, Steve Yazzie and Roberta Hancock, as well as poetry readings out front.

Call 602-462-1030 or visit www.thetrunkspace.com. - Eric Schandel

The Sin Crowd

It's a tribute to all that is rock downtown

Fri 1/2
Good things always come in threes. Indulge in thrice the vice at "The Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll Show," firing up Friday, January 2, at the Paper Heart. Revelers will raise the proverbial roof with music by Tripwire, live body painting by Mark Greenawalt, and arresting artworks, including photography by Bill Bailey and Leslie Ross, digital prints by Holly Cole, paintings by Richard Bledsoe, and mixed-media works by JA Jurewicz and Jen Sanders. The third annual carnival of the carnal begins at 7 p.m. at the gallery/studio, 222 North Fifth Avenue. Call 602-262-2020 or see www.thepaperheart.com for more information. - Jill Koch

And the Banned Play On

Censured cartoons are on display

Fri 1/7
It was a yabba dabba don't. Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble shilled for Winston Cigarettes in a 1962 commercial. Think that's in bad taste? How about Popeye's You're a Sap, Mr. Jap, or Merrie Melodies' Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs? Snow White and the Seven Little People would be horrified.

South Park and The Simpsonshave nothing on these crass cartoons, set to hit the screen this Friday, January 2, at Crisis Gallery's "Banned Cartoon Festival." Part of the opening reception for "Seeing Is Believing" -- a collection of Jeff Falk's mixed-media works and Moises Salcedo's neo-pop paintings -- the fest features animation ranging "from the insensitively humorous to blatantly offensive," says Crisis Gallery's Pete Petrisko. "Cartoon icons were used to sell everything from cigarettes to war -- often sinking into racial stereotyping for the questionable purposes of propaganda and entertainment.

"Is the festival meant to be offensive?" Petrisko asks. "To some extent, yes. That's kind of the point. Either remember history or repeat the class."

The reception runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the gallery, 316 West McDowell, #100. Call 602-462-5541. - Jill Koch