Story last updated at 2:13 PM EST on February 14, 2008

GALLERY HOPPING

"Abrakadoodle" art classes are under way for budding Picassos from 20 months to 12 years old through March 7 at the Taylor Recreation Center, 22805 Goddard Road.

The art education classes focus on child creativity using a wide variety of three-dimensional art experiences, including sculpting, painting and mosaics.

Register for the six-week sessions at the recreation center. Classes are $75 with a $12 materials fee.

Classes include "Twoosy Doodlers" for children 20 months to 3 years old; "Mini Doodlers" for ages 3 1/2 to 5; and "Doodlers" for ages 6 to 12.

All materials used in the classes are non-toxic and washable. Artwork will be framed and displayed to family and friends at a special gallery showing.

Call the Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation for more information at 1-734-374-3906.

"What's It Got to Do With Love" features the works of three artists at Biddle Gallery, 2840 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, through Feb. 29.

Mrrranda Tarrow, Eric Krimmel and Joey Merchant display their unique artistic styles, which include paintings, photographs and handmade plush accessories.

This cuff bracelet by Heather Fagan of BirdsGather, who gains her influence from natural materials and a love of the outdoors, will be one of the pieces on display during a "Craft Uprising" today and tomorrow at Biddle Gallery in Wyandotte. Photo courtesy of Biddle Gallery

A "Craft Uprising" takes place at the gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Buy directly from the artists during the showcase of Detroit's indie crafters.

Artists include jewelry designer Heather Fagan, Boh Bon Soap Company, bead artist Beth Stone and crafters Taryn Boyd, Barbara Powers and Merchant.

Call the gallery at 1-734-281-4779 for more information.

River's Edge Gallery, 3024 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, is hosting "Underexposed," two floors featuring work by 12 underexposed artists ranging from sculptors and painters to photographers and potters.

Photographer Marianne Letasi's exhibit, "A Life," is featured upstairs in the Patricia Izzo Fine Art Photography Studio and Gallery.

The show runs through March 14. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information, call 1-734-246-9880.

"An Uncommon Life: The Still Life Paintings of Margie Guyot" and "Brian Buck: Points of View," two new exhibits at the Downriver Council for the Arts, conclude today.

Guyot, of Charlevoix, who uses oil paints to depict still life paintings that evoke a lush and hypercolorful world, has her works displayed in the Home Gallery.

Buck, of Kentwood, uses a fine-point technical pen to create intricate, detailed drawings of the natural world. Buck's pen-and-ink pointillism drawings are in the Skylight Gallery.

The exhibit is one of several events planned in celebration of the DCA's 30th anniversary.

The DCA is at 20904 North Line Road, Taylor. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays during the exhibit.

Black Americana artist Annie Lee is paying a special visit to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in honor of Black History Month.

Lee, known for her realistic portrayals of contemporary African American family life, will autograph her works from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 23.

Call the museum at 1-313-494-5800 or e-mail charleshwright@charleshwrightmuseum.net for more details.

Artist Ron English's take on how the automobile has influenced art and humanity in this painting, which was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night," is part of "Carnivora — The Dark Art of the Automobile," on display through Feb. 27 at ©POP Gallery in Detroit. Photo courtesy of ©POP Gallery

"Carnivora — The Dark Art of the Automobile," a shadowy realm where flesh and machine coalesce into humanity's greatest technical achievement — the automobile — is on display through Feb. 27 at ©POP Gallery, 4160 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

More than 60 artists, including Robert Crumb, Mark Mothersbaugh and Niagara, contributed a piece of work for the exhibit and for a book of the same name.

Gallery hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 1-313-833-9901 or visit www.cpop.com for more details.

"Our Throwaway Society," an art exhibition exploring the stigma of mental illness, homelessness and poverty, is on display through March 16 at the Madonna University Exhibit Gallery, 36600 Schoolcraft, Livonia.

An opening reception and poetry reading is set for 6 to 9 p.m. today.

For more information, call exhibit curator Nancy Paton at 1-734-276-9376.

Holy Hip-Hop! New Paintings by Alex Melamid" is on display through Wednesday at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

The show features life-sized portraits of 12 hip-hop icons, including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Reverend Run and Russell Simmons.

"ReFUSING FASHION: Rei Kawakubo," an exhibit of the unique clothing by Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo, runs through April 20 at the museum. The installation includes more than 40 key pieces, along with photographs and runway footage.

The museum is at 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 1-313-832-6622 or visit www.mocadetroit.org.

Pianist Randy Weston adds a musical note to the evening at 7 and 8:30 p.m.

Tomorrow, adults can paint portraits or the full figure in oil or acrylic using draped or undraped models during the six-session "Life Drawing" series from 3:30 to 7 p.m. for a $210 member fee or $252 non-member fee.

A drop-in workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. focuses on printmaking, while color mixing and expressive brushwork techniques are covered from 10 a.m. to noon in "Paint the Sky Introduction to Painting" for ages nine to 12. The fee is $20 for members and $24 for non-members. Call 1-313-833-4249 to register.

Detroit native LaKela Brown will demonstrate her artistic style from 1 to 5 p.m.

Target Family Sunday features a drop-in workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. teaching Senufo painting, a West African art form of painting on fabric.

From 1 to 5 p.m., "Drawing in the Galleries for Youth and Adults" and "Adventures in Drawing" repeat.

Storyteller Madelyn Porter weaves tales of joy and wisdom at 2 p.m. in honor of Black History Month.

All programs are free with museum admission unless otherwise noted. The DIA is at 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. For more information, call 1-313-833-7900.

"Soup to Nuts: Special Dishes for Everyday Use," featuring the work of artists such as Lucy Breslin, Scott Lykens and Gwen Yoppolo, runs through March 7 at Pewabic Pottery, 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Visit pewabic.org or call 1-313-822-0954 for more information.

"Drawing in Space: An Installation by Sheila Pepe" and "Weaving With Light and Shadow: Paintings by Janet Hamrick" are being shown through March 7 at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, 480 W. Hancock, Detroit, on the Wayne State University campus.

New York artist Pepe creates knotted, crocheted, tied and draped domestic and industrial materials to initiate profound interrogations of sculptural space while engaging the viewer in the process of her art.

Hamrick, a Detroit artist, will exhibit 12 abstract oil paintings weaving intricate patterns in monochrome fields reminiscent of woven jacquards.

Also on display in the Community Arts Gallery Feb. 29 through April 4 is "MFA Thesis Exhibition II: Erica Bartels, Carol Tomasso and Darcie Trame."

The insightful and finely crafted works sum up the experiences of three of WSU's Master of Fine Arts students.

Call the gallery at 1-313-993-7813 for more information. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays.