Paintings by Scooter LaForge at Antoine Proulx Design Studio: As far as turnoffs go, self-absorbed pretension is right up there with stained teeth and halitosis. And sadly, our art scene is rampant with artists who take themselves too seriously. But Scooter LaForge is the equivalent to tooth bleach and a bottle of mouthwash, as evidenced by his zany and hilarious paintings. His humorously morbid approach to subject matter, from popular Hollywood icons to everyday urban scenes, reflects the ease with which he approaches art. Admission is free and art will be rotated as sold at 3320 N. 44th St. in Phoenix. Call 602-952-1580 or visit www.antoineproulx.com.
"On the Ball" at Sky Harbor Airport Terminal 4, Level 3 Gallery: With millions of travelers passing through Sky Harbor every year, the art displays surely need to approach crowd-pleasing topics. And whats more crowd-pleasing than American sports? After all, they cause spectators to passionately scream their brains out on a regular basis. Most of this show is what one would expect — paintings and sculpture of people doing sporty things. There are two artists that really outshine the rest. Keith Stanton has a pretty rad photography trick in which he sets up a scene in miniature and shoots with a macro lens to create the illusion of true-to-life scale. The photos are convincing at first glance, but because of their bright colors and miniature-model quality, they have a surrealistic edge. The other artist worth your time is Denise Currier, who basically paints with fabric. Its safe to assume that this woman has made some kickass quilts in her time, as evidenced by the stellar construction of pieced fabrics combined with gorgeous decorative stitching. She creates beautiful plush scenes of golf course landscapes. Admission is free. The show runs through March 30 at 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd. Call 602-273-2105 or visit phoenix.gov/skyharborairport.
Paintings by Barbara Ann Roether at Zest Spirited Dining: If you happened to be a surly teenage girl in the 90s, chances are you blasted Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco in your bedroom while the rest of the family ate dinner together in peace. And though you may have gotten over the adolescent angst, you probably still have a soft spot for anything brutally feminine. If so, you may want to check out Barbara Ann Roethers paintings in the back dining room of Zest. The acrylic paintings are all over the map — from ethereal pretty mermaids to scratched and splattered portraits — all of women. Blusher shows a woman with a huge head and spindly body. Violent, quick strokes of red paint cover her face — its not pretty, but its honest. Roether shows her softer side with Holding Up, a super-up-close fleshy painting of a womans eyes and nose. One eye is dramatically larger that the other and is cupped by an elongated hand — tears pool in the palm. The aesthetics arent always stellar, but the energy in which the works are created is compelling. Admission is free. Through November 30. 4117 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Open during lunch and dinner hours. 602-274-7442. www.zestspiriteddining.com.
Paintings by Moises at Barrio Caf: With Barrio Cafés modern Mexican cuisine and Spanish-language music, artist Moises is the perfect fit. Moises paints bright and lively subject matter inspired by, well, the barrio. The works are punchy and loud — accomplished by applying fluorescent colors using short, quick, and thin brush strokes. Que Onda Perito is a portrait of a surly and road-hard Chihuahua. This head shot, complete with cigarette hanging from the mouth and a black bandanna headband shows a pooch with some major street cred. Admission is free. Through November 30 at 2814 N. 16th St., Phoenix. Open lunch and dinner hours. 602-636-0240. www.barriocafe.com.
