A show featuring the conceptual photography of Michael Dax Iacovone opens at the gallery at Flashpoint this Saturday.

>> It may just be that we're in Conner Contemporary withdrawal, since they shuttered up their Dupont space last year and won't open in their new Atlas neighborhood venue until December, but our pick of the week has to be Academy 2008. With a temporary space at 1341 H Street NE, donated by Taurus Development, Conner's annual student show won't miss a beat while venues are in limbo. Check out the work of 21 artists from local colleges during the opening reception on Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. Afterward, head down the street to SOVA, where one Academy artist, Diane F. Ramos, curated her own show of five GWU first-year MFA students in Definition.

>> We're highly intrigued by the concept photography (pictured above) Michael Dax Iacovone is bringing to the gallery at Flashpoint this Saturday. The Numbers Behind features multiple exposure Holga images, but as the title suggests, it's more complicated than that. Using mathematical algorhithms, Iacovone creates blueprints that lead him around D.C., while the places he ends up become "vaporous and disorienting in the resulting photographs." See them at the reception on Saturday, 6 to 8 p.m.

>> This go around of the annual DCAC 1460 Wall Mountables exhibit nearly snuck up on us. Grab your best 2' x 2' (or smaller) artwork and head over between July 16 and 18 to reserve your square for $15. This fun show is almost a mini-Artomatic (except Wall Mountables is in its 18th year), with all kinds of media and skill levels represented. We'll remind you about the July 18 opening reception when it comes up. DCAC will also host a closing reception this Sunday for Kid Mutiny, 7 to 9 p.m.

Gas Station by Tema Stauffer, at Randall Scott Gallery

>> Randall Scott of the eponymous gallery tracked down 8 emerging photographers around the world whose work "managed to make the hair on the back of [his] neck stand up." Instead of throwing them together in one big show, 8 will run two photographers every two weeks, giving us a marathon of a photography show to make it through the summer. Kicking things off are Kyoko Hamada and Tema Stauffer; check out their work at the opening reception Friday, 7 to 9 p.m. While you're at it, sign up for notification of Scott's new art flashmob project, Video Smack, bringing underground film to an undetermined location near you at, well, an undetermined time this summer.

>> The finalists for the 2008 Trawick Prize were announced a couple weeks ago with, as usual, a line-up of killer local talent. We have to wait until September to hear the winner of the prestigious prize, but in the meantime, head down to the Fraser Gallery this Friday for an exhibit of former Trawick Prize winners. Part of the second Friday Bethesda Art Walk, 6 to 9 p.m.

>> G Fine Art opens Water, Water, featuring the works of eight artists, including two of this year's Trawick finalists, Maggie Micheal and Dan Steinhilber. Stop by the opening reception tonight between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

>> We're big fans of art-for-a-cause, so stop by Curator's Office for their new exhibit, Mixology I: Paintings and Works on Paper, featuring a slew of artists like Jiha Moon and Cory Oberndorfer, who've covered every inch of space in the tiny venue. The gallery hopes to raise $5,500 for Doctors Without Borders, enough for an emergency health kit to care for 10,000 displaced people for three months. Stop by the opening reception Saturday, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

>> Hillyer Art Space opens three new shows in their big gallery space. With a variety of painting and drawing styles, the artwork of Mandy Burrow, Ben Tolman, and duo Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin will be featured. See them at the opening reception Friday, 6 to 9 p.m with music by DJ Deep Sang and catering by Marvin. While you're in Dupont, swing by Foundry Gallery for the opening of Duel Reality with work by Ann and Philip Bennet, Friday 6 to 8 p.m.

>> Touchstone Gallery opens My Space on 7th, featuring a first-come, first-serve exhibit of over 50 artists who responded to their call for entries. Head over and see if one of these new artists is ready for the big time. Angela Kleis, who had two winning photographs in the 2008 DCist Exposed show, has a series of work in the show. Opening reception is Friday, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Oil paintings by John Collier open at Art Whino on Saturday

>> The Pyramid Atlantic Art Center is getting into the retail business. They're opening "A Community Arts Store" at 924 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring that will feature affordable art of all kinds: prints, ceramics, jewelry and other crafts. The grand opening is at 5 p.m. tomorrow; the store regularly be open Thursdays through Saturdays. Speaking of Pyramid Atlanic, the Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music will be there this Sunday.

>> The Smithsonian International Gallery opens Jim Henson's Fantastic World this Saturday. You may know Henson came up with his muppets around the corner, while a student at the University of Maryland. Featuring art exhibits, theater, and kids workshops, the exhibit is spread out through the Gallery, the Smithsonian Discovery Theater, and the AFI Silver Theater. Check out the web site for all events.

Art Notes:

• Long View Gallery opens with New Work by Richard Currier on Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Smithsonian Magazine recently announced their 5th Annual Photo Contest winners; get inspired and enter your own for the next round, starting August 1.
• Director of the Hand Print Workshop International, Dennis O'Neil, will talk at Civilian Art Projects tonight about the challenges of screenprinting, to accompany their ongoing Screams and Screens exhibit. 7 p.m., RSVP info @ civilianartprojects.com
• If you're in NYC this weekend, make a stop by the Anna Kustera Gallery in Chelsea for The Worlds Smallest Art Fair. Itty bitty artworks from 50 galleries around the world are there, including our own Curator's Office and Randall Scott Gallery. Reception tonight, exhibition runs through August 1.
• The Ballston Arts & Crafts Market continues this month, on Saturday starting at 10 a.m.