ART | Holiday Group Shows 

In case the influx of commercials and ads haven't tipped you off, we're full swing into the holiday shopping season. Whether you want to support local and handmade art, you're looking for a unique gift for that special someone, or you just don't want to brave the purgatory known as the mall, go check out this week's holiday group art shows, and celebrate the shopping-est season with your community. Here are a few choice selections, but keep an eye on our calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com for more events in this vein.

The annual Members Show at Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Ave.) takes place December 6-January 13, and includes hundreds of artworks for every taste. The opening reception takes place Thursday, December 6, 6-10 p.m., at which you can hear a special announcement about the future of RoCo at 8 p.m. The gallery will also be open for First Friday on December 7 6-10 p.m. Admission is $1 for non-members. Dozens of back-to-back artists' talks will take place December 8-9. For more information, call 461-2222, or visit rochestercontemporary.org.

The Rochester Arc & Flame Center (125 Fedex Way) will host a Holiday Open House, Show, and Sale on Friday, December 7, 5-10 p.m., and Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free, and the event will feature local artisans selling unique handmade items, in-house instructors demonstrating glass blowing, glass-bead making, glass fusing, metal welding, and blacksmithing. For more information, call 349-7110 or visit rocafc.com.

Studio 34 Creative Arts Center and Gallery (34 Elton St.) will host its 11th Annual Holiday Open House, featuring a faculty and student exhibit, studio tours, demos of glass blowing, and more on Friday, December 7, 5-9 p.m. Admission is free; for more info, call 737-5858, or visit studio34jewelryartslearningcenter.com.

I-Square Visions Art Gallery (693 Titus Ave.) will present "All That Glitters," a holiday pop-up trunk show featuring two local jewelry artists, on Saturday, December 8, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Lisa Rouse and Jacqueline Salsbury create unique works with sterling silver and precious stones. Admission is free. For more information, contact Jacqueline Salsbury at [email protected].

Black Radish Studio (274 N. Goodman St., Ste. 501) will host "Le Petit Black Radish," a small-format art exhibition and local vendor sale, December 7-31. The opening reception and vendor sale takes place Friday, December 7, 6-10 p.m., and will feature more than thirty artists from around the country, with matted and unmatted 5"x7" works available for buyers to take home, same day, for less than $75. Admission is free. For more information, call 413-1278.

Cat Clay Studio (Hungerford Building, 1115 E. Main St., Suite 225) will present a holiday show with sweet handmade works by Maggi Bartlett and Amy Brand (pictured), as well as new ceramic work by Melinda Friday, Marie Verlinde Nye, and Sabra Wood, December 7-22, with receptions taking place on Friday, December 7, 5-9 p.m., and Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 764-9055, or visit catclay.com.