Art: Jim Denomie: Brown Eyed Rabbit

Continuing: Minnesota artist Jim Denomie gives his ironic sense of humor free rein in more than 25 colorful, neo-primitive paintings on view at Bockley Gallery in Minneapolis. Tapping into his American Indian heritage, Denomie often depicts humorous and improbable encounters between Indians and whites. In "Edward Curtis Paparazzi -- Black Hills Golf and Country Club," shown here, he depicts the erstwhile photographer puttering about on a red "Hardly" motorbike in a fauvist landscape of lilac putting greens and purple mountains through which charges a herd of buffalo pursued by Indians on pink and green horses. A hot air balloon sails overhead and Leghorn chickens (instead of native birds) flutter about. Elsewhere in the exhibit he riffs on characters named "Koochie and Tuffy," and lights into the Minnesota state seal in a painting called "Show Me the Money." (Ends Dec. 29, free. Bockley Gallery, 2123 W. 21st St., Mpls. 612-377-4669 or www.bockleygallery.com)

MARY ABBE