Hop a Trolley

Colombian artist Pedro Ruiz combines lush crimson poppy fields with military might in his provocative show opening at 7 p.m. Friday at The Americas Collection (2440 Ponce de Leon Blvd.) in Coral Gables. “Love Is in the Air” captures the Colombian landscape in its buzzing glory while conveying the devastating social and ecological impact of the illicit drug trade. Some paintings portray streaking jets fumigating vast poppy flower fields. Others, such as These Boots Were Made for Walking, depict a camouflage-garbed soldier covered in bloody poppy buds that wickedly clash with his M-16. Ruiz literally wants to paint the City Beautiful red during this month’s gallery walk, inviting visitors to don a scarlet garment to his giddy affair. Call 305-446-5578, or visit www.americascollection.com.

Jorge M. Sori Fine Art (2970 Ponce de Leon Blvd.) features works by Spanish artists Joaquin Hidalgo and Iban Navarro. Hidalgo, whose lengthy career spans a half-century, creates oil-on-canvas paintings of the female figure, rustic bodegones, and mysterious mimes, while the younger Navarro hews to hyperrealism in his landscape scenes. Call 305-567-3151.
Fri., May 2, 2008