New Works is another selection of artists that would appear to have little in common, but after my walk-around with Rachel Koper, spent talking about the work, somehow a thread of connection can be found. It floats between the thick colorful farm animal patterns of George Zupp and the subtle manipulation of palette that Jeanne Hospod works into landscapes, tree outlines and accurate self-portraits. Gallery Lombardi is always a great place to go see the output of all strata of local and regional artists. There are mixed media drawings covered in hand-made paper and embroidery by Phyllis Boyd, depicting her family in Thailand and here in the States.

Deborah Webb has created a series of three-dimensional paintings, each with a square cut-out of the upper quadrant with graphic cartoon images of the "city" that correspond with the iconic personages, all decked out in executive wear below in some altered and cruel state in her "Urban Isolation" pieces.

There are site-specific drawings created by Sam DeLaRosa, in coordination with the installation of dozens of his drawings and illustrations that dip back and forth in the political and politically incorrect radar. Although the majority of us have the social training or lack the nerve to bring up such touchy subjects as ugly girlfriends, retarded children, fat girls with acne and gay policeman sex in a loud, obvious public manner, his work reminds us that these things still happen. Some of it is sad and a lot of it is hilarious. Pettibon meets Mike Judge for a lunch of chicken pot pies.

Across from Sam's work are huge painted panels by Jaime Zuverza that seem to have a Saint Sebastian theme, with beautiful background patterns in deep reds tinged with green that are broken up by his use of tacky black/brown roof tar to create the figures, the thorny halos that surround them, and the dense bottom layer that grounds them to the floor below. Somehow all these artists come together in a classy co-op situation, where everyone has their own little room, but they all share the common space in the middle, where varied styles and palette come together to reflect, compare notes and occasionally compete with one another.

GALLERY LOMBARDI - 910 WEST THIRD STREET - 512.481.1088