OPENINGS/RECEPTIONS Openings/Receptions A Taste of Art 147 Duane St. ...

A Taste of Art 147 Duane St. (W. B'way), 212-964-5493, www.atasteofart.com Mon.-Fri. 12-8; Sat. 12-6, Free "Izak," fashion-y ink drawings of sexy people [reception 1/21 from 7-9, through 2/23].

Blue Mountain Gallery 530 W. 25th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 646-486-4730. Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "Marilyn Honigman: Transmigration," paintings on the horrors of war & other instances showing the dark moods of humanity [reception 1/29 from 5:30-8, through 2/21].

Daniel Reich 537 A W. 23rd St. (10th Ave.), 212-924-4949. Tues.-Sat. 11-6. "Tyson Reeder: Milwaukee," "a dreamlike melange of lingering impressions and playful anecdotes" [through 2/1].

DCA Gallery 525 W. 22nd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-255-5511, www.dcagallery.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Leif Kath: At the Last Moment," paintings & works on paper building on 'vibrating lines & random dots'?sounds trippy [reception 1/24 from 6-8, through 2/21].

The Drawing Center 35 Wooster St. (betw. Broome & Grand Sts.), 212-219-2166, www.drawingcenter.org Tues.-Fri. 10-6; Sat. 11-6, Free "Helena Almeida: Inhabited Drawings," 'innovative approach' to drawing can lead to many things incl. your forehead buried in charcoal on the floor... [through 3/6].

The Gallery at the American Bible Society 1865 B'way (betw. 61st & 62nd Sts.), 212-408-1500, www.americanbible.org/gallery Mon.-Weds. Fri. 10-6; Thurs. 10-7; Sat. 10-5, Free "Threads of Faith," quilt show of 54 pieces made by the members of the "Women of Color Quilters Network" [opens 1/23, through 4/17].

Henry St. Settlement Abrons Arts Center 466 Grand St. (Pitt St.), 212-598-0400, www.henrystreet.org Mon.-Sat. 10-6. "Balancing Act," Group exhibition of "artists working on both sides of the world" [reception 1/21 from 6-8, through 2/24]..

St. Augustine's Episcopal Church 290 Henry St. (betw. Gouverneur & Jackson Sts.), 212-673-5300 1-4, $10 sugg. don. "The St. Augustine's Slave Galleries Project," from shackles, iron collars, auction tags to branding irons, no, we are not speaking about the hamburger industry but the horrors that people?slaves had to endure even in the 'liberal' North of this country back in the olden days.

Galleries

Apexart 291 Church St. (White St.), 212-431-5270, www.apexart.org Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "Looking Awry," exhibit, organized by Zagreb based arts collective, What, How & for Whom, takes a twisted perspective on things [through 2/7].

Bonni Benrubi Gallery 52 E. 76th St. (betw. Park & Madison Aves.), 212-517-3766, www.bonnibenrubi.com Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "Timeless Places," artists Richard Ehrlich & David Fokos take us away to places without time?maybe they can tell us how it came to be 2004 [through 2/21].

Briggs Robinson Gallery 527 W. 29th St (betw. 10th & 11th Aves), 212-560-9075, www.briggsrobinson.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Hans Fohan," paintings created w/minute splatters of oil on canvas [through 2/14].

Bruce Silverstein Gallery 504 W. 22nd St. (10th Ave.), 212-627-3930, www.brucesilverstein.com Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "KNOCKOUT!," Kathy Suder's photo show on boxing knocks you out?or so mama said [through 3/13].

Caren Golden Fine Art 526 W. 26th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Sts.), 212-727-8304, www.carengoldenfineart.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Susanna Starr, McKendree Key," two solo shows, only one stop. Ms. Starr is showing sculptural pieces that 'straddle the line between sculpture & abstract painting'?she stacks paint-soaked sponges. Ms. Key's work investigates the natural vs. artificial, in installation of 15,000 red balls [through 2/21].

Cheim & Read 547 W. 25th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-242-7727, www.artnet.com/cheim-read.html Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Jack Pierson: New Work," wall drawings on the themes sex, drug & 'the vicissitudes of longing in general' [through 2/14]. "William Eggelston: Precolor" early photos in b&w by an artist usually noted for his color work [through 2/7].

Claire Oliver Fine Art 529 W. 20th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-929-5949, www.cofa.info Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "Harri Larjosto: Wicked Suites," gallery, in conjunction w/the Finnish Museum of Photography, pres. survey of 15 years worth of photos & videos [through 2/1].

ClampArt 531 W. 25th St. (10th Ave.), 646-230-0020, www.clampart.com Tues.-Fri. 11-6, Free "The Atrocity Exhibition: Photographs by Jojo Whilden & John Gilliland," photos building on the theme of near accidents, from skid marks to scrapes on freeway divides [through 2/14]. "Bill Armstrong: Spirit," crazy collages give way to fuzzy photos that may put you in a zen-like trance [through 2/28].

D'Amelio Terras 525 W. 22nd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-352-9460. Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Le Cabinet des Collages," eighth annual group exhibition in the spirit of Surrealist collage [through 2/14].

David Findlay Jr. Fine Art Fuller Bldg. 41 E. 57th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-486-7660, www.findlayart.com Mon.-Sat. 10-5:30. "Twelve," Catherine Redmond pres. 12 "complex works," revealing a world which "makes its own rules & follows them down unexpected paths".

David Zwirner Gallery 43 Greene St. (betw. Grand & Broome Sts.), 212-966-9074, www.davidzwirner.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Marcel Dzama," shows works on paper depicting singing cats, blowjobs, hangings & beastiality?but don't worry, it's all very cute [through 2/15].

DCA Gallery 525 W. 22nd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-255-5511, www.dcagallery.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Eye Fall," let your eyes tumble on Danish artist Michael Kvium's creepy oil on canvas works [through 2/28].

Dia:Chelsea 548 W. 22nd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-840-7470, www.diacenter.org Wed.-Sun. 12-6, $6, $3 st./s.c., child. under 12 free "Prototype," Jorge Pardo shows an environment-adaptable plywood structure. Also showing, Rosemarie Trockel's Spleen & Robert Whitman's Playback [through 2/29].

Doctors Without Borders 333 7th Ave. 2nd fl. (betw. 28th & 29th Sts.), 212-679-6800, www.doctorswithoutborders.org Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 3-6 p.m., Free "AIDS Treatment: The South African Struggle," special World AIDS Day exhibit contrasts the lives of S. Africans living w/AIDS & the political struggle of activists throughout the country [through 2/3].

The Dollhaus 37 B'way (betw. Dunham Pl. & Wythe Ave.), Williamsburg, 718-384-6139, www.dollhaus.org Weds.-Sun. Call for hours, Free "Big Top Bizarro," a circus event/art installation by Mary Doyle [through 2/14].

Eyebeam Gallery 540 W. 21st St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 718-222-3982, www.eyebeam.org Tues.-Sat. 12-6, Free "Beta Launch: Artists in Residence '03," big group show, lots of cool stuff [through 1/31].

Gagosian Gallery 980 Madison Ave. (76th & 77th Sts.), 212-744-2313, www.gagosian.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Just Hit The Mark: Works From the Speck Collection," also called Jeder Griff Muss Sitzen, second installment of work by Joseph Beuys incl. a diverse group of sculptural pieces [through 2/14].

Gagosian Gallery 555 W. 24th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-741-1111, www.gagosian.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Franz Gertsch," paintings & large scale woodcuts, incl. some of Patti Smith in concert [through 2/28].

Guild & Greyshkul 22 Wooster St. (betw. Grand & Canal Sts.), 212-625-9224, www.guildgreyshkul.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "MUTE!," Lisa Rosendahl curates exhibit about sound & image, feat. Pierre Bismuth, Ceal Floyer, Douglas Gordon, Jonathan Monk & Fernando Ortega [through 2/21].

Haim Chanin Fine Arts 210 11th Ave. 2nd fl. (betw. 24th & 25th Sts.), 646-230-7200, www.haimchanin.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Winds," group show w/one common element (guess what it is) incl. video pieces, wax & oil paintings, soot on glass paintings & paintings done by trees [through 3/13].

Hirschl & Adler Galleries 21 E. 70th St. (Madison Ave.), 212-535-8810, www.hirschlandadler.com Tues.-Fri. 9:30-5:15; Sat. 9:30-4:45, Free "Looking Back to Beauty: A Selection of European Masterworks, 1800-1900," focusing on the classical ideals of beauty, harmony & humanism this show feat. 50 paintings by Europeans & Impressionists [through 2/11].

Howard Scott Gallery 529 W. 20th St. 7th fl. (betw. 10th &11th Aves.), 646-486-7004. Tues.-Sat. 10:30-6, Free "Francisco Castro Leñero: Displacements," geometric compositions by Mexico City based artist [through 2/23].

KIN at Local Project 21-36 44 Rd. (23rd St.), LIC, 718-433-2779. Call for times. "KIN," 20 color photographs from 10 artists on the theme "family"?we especially recommend Marni Horwitz's (photos & family) [through 2/5].

Lehmann Maupin Gallery 540 W. 26th St. (10th & 11th Aves.), 212-255-2923, www.lehmannmaupin.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Jennifer Steinkamp: Dervish," new media & computer animation created art that explores concepts of space, architecture & motion?in conjunction w/"Sadegh Tirafkan," photographs of ruined buildings & branded bodies [through 2/14].

Littlejohn Contemporary 41 E. 57th St. (Madison Ave.), 212-980-2323, www.littlejohncontemporary.com Tues.-Sat. 10-5:30, Free "Eric Blum," artists uses layers of pigment & wax to suspend images on his canvas in a way that suggests 'celestial skies.' Also opening, "Jeremy Kidd," show of architecturally based digital works?which is kind of a mouthful, but should prove to be interesting & surreal paintings. "David Kroll," feat. recent paintings by a 'master artificer' who copies lush landscapes & still life objects onto canvas [through 1/31].

Paul Kasmin Gallery 293 10th Ave. (27th St.), 212-563-4474, www.paulkasmingallery.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Unhinged," new box paintings by Joe Zucker in a simple yet multi-textured style [through 2/7].

Paul Rodgers/9W Gallery 529 W. 20th St. (10th Ave.), 212-414-9810, www.paulrodgers9w.com Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "The Break In: Dynamics of Graffiti," the graf world invades quiet Chelsea w/such big phat names as Shepard Fairey (do as he says), Dalek (crazy monkey), Doze (cousin of snooze), the Tats Cru (da bronx) & Ewok (not furry) [through 2/14].

The Prince Street Gallery 530 W. 25th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 646-230-0246, www.princestreetgallery.com Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "Nandu Vadakkath: Paintings," large colorful oil-on-canvas pieces in a impressionistic style [through 2/7].

Puffin Room 435 Broome St. (betw. B'way & Crosby St.), 212-343-2881, www.puffinroom.org Weds.-Sun. 1-7, Free "Dance On Camera Festival," 2004 Winter Dance Project pres. photographs by dancers Mike Van Sleen, Meital Hershkovitz, Julie Lemberger & Lina Jang [through 2/8].

Ricco Maresca Gallery 529 W. 20th St. 3rd fl. (10th Ave.), 212-627-4819, www.riccomaresca.com Tues.-Sat. 11-6. "Cut It Out: Collaged Works by American Self-Taught Artists," calling the next Henry Darger [through 2/7].

Robert Mann Gallery 210 11th Ave., 10th fl. (betw. 24th & 25th Sts.), 212-989-7600, www.robertmann.com Tues.-Sat. 11-6, Free "Joe Deal: The Fault Zone & Other Work 1976-1986," vintage silver prints of American landscapes in b&w [through 1/31].

Ronald Feldman Fine Arts Gallery 31 Mercer St. (Grand St.), 212-226-3232, www.feldmangallery.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Graeco-Roman Colossi 1959-1964 + Erotica, etc., 2000-2003," exhibit of two series w/similar sexy themes; the first shows 'hunks of physicality' & the second, 'interludes of the erotic' [through 2/7].

SculptureCenter 44-19 Purves St. (Jackson Ave.), L.I.C., 718-361-1750, www.sculpture-center.org Thurs.-Tues. 12-6, Free "In Practice Projects," works commissioned through the In Practice program, created to support works by innovative emerging artists [through 4/11].

Socrates Sculpture Park B'way (Vernon Blvd.), LIC, 718-956-1819, www.socratessculpturepark.org. "Winter Light," illuminating light-based works to guide your way through the winter's darkness?projects viewable from across the water & outside the park only [through 2/29].

Thomas Erben Gallery 516 W. 20th St. (10th & 11th Aves.), 212-645-8701, www.thomaserben.com Tues.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Fang Lijun: Woodcuts," world renowned Chinese artist brings his gorgeous, yet painful woodcuts to our city [through 2/21].

VertexList 138 Bayard St. (betw. Manhattan & Graham Aves.), Bklyn, 718-599-6877, www.vertexlist.net Fri.-Sun. 2-7, Free "LOADING," installation of 'loading' rotating & interactive digital stuff for you to play with [through 2/7].

Museums/Cultural Inst.

American Museum of Natural History Central Park W. (79th St.), 212-769-5100, www.amnh.org Daily 10-5:45, $12, $9 st./s.c., $7 child "Milstein Hall of Ocean Life," you have to see the redone hall of fishy life. "Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites," wear protective head gear to the hall dedicated to rocks that rain down from the sky?Chicken-Little was right! "Petra: Lost City of Stone," once upon a time, the Nabateans created a city called Petra, then they lost it, now we've found it [through 7/4].

The Asian American Arts Centre 26 Bowery St., 3rd fl. (betw. Bayard & Canal Sts.), 212-233-2154. Mon.-Weds. Fri. 12:30-6:30; Thurs. 12:30-7:30, Free. Don. req. "dream so much 2," group show on street culture, expression & its effect on Japanese youth. Artists incl. Dalek of space monkey character fame [through 2/20].

Cooper Hewitt's National Design Museum 2 E. 91st St. (5th Ave.), 212-849-8380, ndm.si.edu Tues.-Thurs. 10-5; Fri. 10-9; Sat. 10-6; Sun. 12-6, $8, $5 st./s.c., child. under 12 free "National Design Triennial: Inside Design Now," overview of last three years of American architectural & design progress [through 1/25].

Humanities and Social Sciences Library, New York Public Library 5th Ave. (42nd St.), 212-930-0803, www.nypl.org Tues.-Weds. 11-7:30; Thurs.-Sat. 10-6, Free "Russia Engages the World," explore the realm of the Muscovy in exhibit incl. books, manuscripts, prints, fine art items & artifacts [through 1/31].

International Center of Photography 1133 6th Ave. (43rd St.), 212-857-0000, www.icp.org Tues.-Thurs. 10-5; Fri. 10-8; Sat. & Sun. 10-6, $10, $7 st./s.c. "Only Skin Deep: Changing Visions of the American Self," group show curated by Coco Fusco & Bran Wallis, incl. works by Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans & Cindy Sherman [through 3/28].

Japan Society 333 E. 47th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-832-1155, www.jpnsoc.org Tues.-Fri. 11-6; Sat. & Sun. 11-5, $5, $3 st./s.c. "Isamu Noguchi & Modern Japanese Ceramics," survey of Isamu & his Japanese contemporaries' postwar ceramics [through 2/29].

Jewish Museum 1109 5th Ave. (92nd St.), 212-423-3200, www.thejewishmuseum.org Sun.-Weds. 11-5:45; Thurs. 11-8; Fri. 11-3, $10, $7.50 st./s.c., child. under 12 free. Pay-what-you-wish Thurs. after 5 "Schoenberg, Kandinsky, and the Blue Rider," work by the acclaimed artists?at 10, a cousin took us to see a Kandinsky show & we were bored out of our minds, we hope you have a better time [through 4/1].

Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-535-7710, www.metmuseum.org Tues.-Thurs. Sun. 9:30-5:30; Fri. & Sat. 9:30-9, $12, $7 st./s.c., child. under 12 free w/adult "Chuck Close Prints: Process & Collaboration," retrospective of more than 100 pieces, incl. Chuck's first ever print, intaglios, woodcuts, silk screens, lithos & editioned pulp paper pieces (say that three times fast) [through 4/18]. "Dreams of Yellow Mountain: Landscapes of Survival in Seventeenth-Century China," focusing on the Yellow Mountain, a symbol of survival, resistance & reclusion to the 'leftover subjects' of the Ming Dynasty [through 1/25]. "Braveheart: Men in Skirts," exhibit searches out men without pants through the ages & across different cultures?see how the boys look when they show a little leg [through 2/8].

Metropolitan Museum of Art Grace Rainey Rogers Aud. 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-570-3949. Tues.-Thurs. & Sun. 9:30-5:30; Fri. & Sat. 9:30-9, $12, $7 st./s.c., child. under 12 free "Celebrating Saint Petersburg," oodles of Russian & European art from the 1700s through the early 20th century, for the 300th anniversary of the 'Burg [through 3/14].

MOMA QNS 33rd St. (Queens Blvd.), L.I.C., 212-708-9400, www.moma.org Thurs. & Sun. 10-5; Fri. & Sat. 10-9, $12, $8.50 st./s.c., Fri. after 4 pay-what-you-wish "Kiki Smith: Prints, Books, and Things," a survey of this print masters achievements from lithographs & etchings to books [through 3/8].

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology 7th Ave. (27th St.), 212-217-5800, www.fitnyc.suny.edu Tues.-Fri. 12-8; Sat. 10-5, Free "Dressed For Thrills," see costumes w/photos by Phyllis Galembo [through 2/19].

Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art 32 Union Sq. E. #600 (betw. 15th & 16th), 212-254-3511, www.moccany.org Mon. & Fri. 11-6; selected Sat. 10-6, pay-what-you-wish "Tarzan: Images of an Icon," the vine swinger as interpreted by a bunch of wild comic & cartoon artists [through 1/21].

Museum of Jewish Heritage 36 Battery Place (betw. 1st Pl. & B'way), 646-437-4200, www.mjhnyc.org, $7, $5 st./s.c., child. under 5 free "Ours to Fight For: American Jews in the Second World War," inaugural exhibition of the new wing at the museum looks at the part Jewish men & women played in the American war effort abroad [through 10/26].

Museum of the City of New York 1220 5th Ave. (103rd St.), 212-534-1672, www.mcny.org Weds.-Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5, $7, $4 st./s.c./child., $12 families "Glass and Glamour: Steuben's Modern Moment, 1930-1960," first exhibition ever to explore the avant-garde chapter in the story of the glass maker, Steuben [through 6/20].

National Academy of Design 1083 5th Ave. (betw. 89th & 90th Sts.), 212-369-4880, www.nationalacademy.org Weds. & Thurs. 12-5; Fri.-Sun. 11-6, $8, $5 st./s.c. "George Innes and the Visionary Landscape," 40 beautiful & enthralling landscapes by Innes [through 2/22].

New Museum of Contemporary Art 583 B'way (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-219-1222, www.newmuseum.org Tues.-Sun. 12-6; Thurs. 12-8. $3 Thurs. 6-8, $6, $3 st./s.c., child. under 18 free "Trisha Brown: Dance and Art in Dialogue, 1961-2001," if you think Britney & Wade have got the moves come check out Trisha Brown & her talents as a dancer/choreographer [through 1/24].

The New-York Historical Society 2 W. 77th St. (Central Park W.), 212-873-3400, www.nyhistory.org Tues.-Sun. 11-6., $8, $5 st./s.c., child. under 12 free "Children at Risk: Protecting New York City's Youths 1653-2003," save the children! Exhibit documents the last 350 years of efforts to help NY's kids?you'd think they'd be alright by now [through 4/4].