Also this issue: High Notes Princeton’s summer opera festival enters its 20th season, with a bold lineup and some rising stars. -David Shengold Robert Dodge: Chairs -- A Singular Vision and Jimmy Clark: Shards of the Wissahickon Two shows at the airport may make you miss your flight. -Susan Hagen artsquicks More stuff going on this week... Davy Rothbart -Patrick Rapa Puppetry of the Penis -A.D. Amorosi Heaven and Hell -Dana Procaccino Opera on the Square -David Shengold The Comedy of Errors -Char Vandermeer

June 26-July 2, 2003

artpicks

Momentum

Jeff Cylkowski knows from creating art on the fly. In his 27 years, he's been a dancer, skater and graffiti artist -- all art forms requiring a certain amount of speed and grace under pressure. His new mixed-media show at the Asian Arts Initiative has given him the freedom to fuse the spirit of all three into a bold, colorful whole. The walls and floor of the space become a visual representation of "b-boy mechanics" -- in other words, huge expanses of aerosol- and acrylic-painted walls and canvases adorned with text and designs clearly influenced by street art, break dancing and music; the walls and floors are united by fat, graffiti-inspired sculptural arrows. "For me, because I come from a dance background, it's a way of creating movement -- movement through color and line," he says. "I put on music and dance, and I put on music and paint." He says his style comes from a comfort with spray paint, and an ability to adapt it to work with acrylics and other media to create eye-popping colors: "I use a lot of bright colors that bounce off each other." Appropriately, Cylkowski will perform a dance piece with Chi Tu at the opening reception, while DJ Phillee Blunt of Ill Vibe Collective spins records old-school style.

“Momentum,” June 26-Aug. 15; reception, Thu., June 26, 6-9 p.m., $3 requested donation, Asian Arts Initiative, 1315 Cherry St., second floor, 215-557-0455.

—Lori Hill