Your Second Saturday Guide, Now with 40 Percent More Art Gluttony

Start massaging your art belly because this weekend's buffet of openings is going to stretch your ocular capacity. (Mixed metaphor disaster...Campbell McGrath, I have failed you!)

Tomorrow is the first Second Saturday of the fall season, as gallery owners and artists return from vacations, fellowships, etc., and the schedule is packed. In essence, September is Art Basel Miami for locals--most places are putting their best foot forward now...and their best commercial foot forward in December.

So without further ado or YouTube, on to our recommended stops!

Charest-Weinberg (250 NW 23rd St., Space 408) - The plucky French-Canadian Eric Charest-Weinberg is mounting an all-Miami superstar show, actually two shows combined into one. "Spitpolishing a Starless Sky/Outer Space" is two simultaneous exhibitions hung with no attempt to fuse the two. The work is by several locals who should need no introduction: Bhakti Baxter, Nicholas Lobo, Gean Moreno, Daniel Newman, Ernesto Oroza, and Gavin Perry. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Bas Fisher Invitational (180 NE 39th St., Suite 210) - Naomi, Jim, Kathryn and Agatha host that guy you've seen walking around with the giant yellow ball for a head. His name's Andrew Strasser, AKA "Bad Brilliance" and his show is appropriately named "Bad Brilliance in Miami." The work he's showing is brand-new--made here while he's been staying at the Fountainhead residency. There will also be a video by JESSWEOS, screen painting by JASPER, and DJing by Romulo Del Castillo. 7 p.m.

Edge Zones (47 NE 25 St) - Titled "Art of Uncertainty - Miami '09", this exhibit says it aims to explore the concept of uncertainty in art. The show, curated by Charo Oquet, features multiple local artists, including Emmy Mathis and Brian Reedy. Reception: 7 - 10 p.m.

David Castillo Gallery (2234 NW 2nd Ave) - In the main space, David's exhibiting a solo show called "You might sleep but you will never dream" by Leyden Rodriguez-Casanova, who previously created work for the Scholl collection. In the Annex space, Amir H. Fallah has built a tower out of local found materials as part of an exhibition called "Flowers and Terrorists."

Bernice Steinbaum (3550 N Miami Ave) - Bernice is exhibiting a solo show by sculptor Joe Walters entitled "Tableaux." Opening reception is from 7 - 10 p.m.

Freedom Tower (Miami-Dade College) - Open this Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Freedom Tower exhibition space will feature work by late Cuban master Cundo Bermúdez.

Dorsch (151 NW 24 St) - Take a pink pedi cab over and check out three different solo shows curated by Brook and Tyler: "Ergo Gnomic" by Peter Barrett; "Marginalia" by Amanda Burnham; and "Between the Valleys" by Michelle Hailey.

Artseen (2215 NW 2nd Ave) - Called "INT_R PLAY", this exhibit says "Make it yer damn self!" in the best way possible. Show up to Artseen - the Wynwood space for the New World School of the Arts - and you'll get free drinks, white walls, and a bucket of chalk. What happens next is up to you.

Artformz (171 NW 23rd St.) - Exhibition by Ray Paul and P.J. Mills, 7-10 p.m.

Bakehouse (561 NW 32nd St.) - FYI: Their opening is tonight, Friday, so hopefully you're reading this now and on Saturday morning. 7 - 10 p.m. Two exhibitions totalling 70 resident artists. Free music, free parking, free drinks. What else do you need in life?

Gallery Diet (174 NE 23rd St.)- At 1 p.m., my organization University of Wynwood is hosting a panel discussion featuring FIU Literature professor Ana Lusczcynska, Ph.D. She'll be discussing an about the poet Paul Celan, "Rams - Between Two Infinities, the Poem" written by Jacques Derrida, whose work is a major inspiration for Miller & Shellabarger, the arist duo from Chicago who are opening a new show that evening called "Dolos." As part of the panel, Miller & Shellabarger will be doing a live performance of "Untitled (Pink Tube)". Come back at 7 p.m. for the official opening of the show, which will also include an exhibition by Hills Snyder in the project room.

Miami Poetry Collective (Garden Lounge, Design District) - More (semi-) self promotion. My cohorts will be out in front of the garden lounge on 40th Street (adjacent to the Moore Building and Sra. Martinez) writing poems for money on their manual typewriters. You can also buy a copy of Four Cent Journal: A Modern Anthology of Miami Poets. Head over at 7 p.m.