Harry Potter illustrator Mary GrandPré's "Cinderella" is on display at Closson's Weston Gallery on Hyde Park Square.

Make sure to stop by CLOSSON'S PHYLLIS J. WESTON GALLERY (2643 Erie Ave., Hyde Park) for a glimpse of Miretsky + Miretsky, an exhibit of painting and sculpture by father/daughter artists DAVID MIRETSKY and ANYA MIRETSKY. His work focuses on people as they go about their daily life. "The character of a human being interests me greatly, especially the social aspect," David says. Using brilliant colors to depict his characters at various leisure destinations, including at the beach, the dance club and the park, he captures the essence of each family within an ordinary setting, making the viewer a part of the scene, perhaps looking on from the background. He zeroes in on the precise details of accessories on the women in his paintings -- earrings, necklaces and rings are a focal point, as are perfectly manicured fingernails, providing a beautifully meticulous effect. Anya Miretsky's pieces reference the human body, particularly the heart, and provide a strange appeal: Using white paint on a pink and red background, she softens the glaring physical specimen of the heart. Her mixed media sculptures and dolls provide the true fascination, stemming from her distorted depiction of the human body: long legs and large hips, but miniature torsos, arms and heads. The effect is unsettling, but oddly alluring. Reward yourself with a visit. Through July 3. ...

A return visit to LINDA SCHWARTZ GALLERY (315 W. Fourth St., Downtown) proved just as impressive as my previous visit. This time, video artist DEREK FANSLER captured my attention with his video installation, Abduction. A humorous and witty tribute to the often abhorred but nevertheless necessary symbiotic relationship between corporations and artists, Fansler's 22-second video chronicles the act of an artist being swallowed up by corporate institution. The video begins with an artist in his studio, abducted by a band of corporate "suits" who distract him from his studio, and eventually, art-making altogether. As the video ends, the artist has been engulfed by the corporate identity. Working for a Chicago-based advertising firm, Fansler has a close connection to the theories he upholds in his video. Despite its humor and sarcasm, Abduction strikes a chord as the viewer watches the violent and unexpected arrival of the "corporation" upon the artist. Brief, yet powerful, the video touches on the struggle many artists face that carry a job to continue their art. Stop by: It's only 22 seconds. Through July 31. ...

Even if you're not a Harry Potter fan, you won't want to miss The Art of Storytelling, an exhibit of original paintings by artist MARY GRANDPRÉ, next Friday at CLOSSON'S PHYLLIS J. WESTON ART GALLERY in Hyde Park. GrandPré has earned international recognition for her illustrations in the Harry Potter book series. She graces the Cincinnati arts scene for this special exhibition, a portion of whose proceeds benefit the Cincinnati Opera. The Opera commissioned GrandPré for a painting of Carmen for the 2004 season; it's included in the show. Watch next week's CityBeat for more details. Opening reception: 5-8 p.m. July 9. Through July 31.

MINI REVIEWS
In a reverent, almost humorous nod (bow?) to ideas that influenced him, SANFORD BIGGERS presents cultural fusion in both/and not either/or at the CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER. Biggers' fusion of Hip Hop culture and Japanese spiritualism in the multimedia piece, "In Fond Memory of Hip Hop," sparkles with wit and serenity. Other works in both/and portray Biggers' fascination with cross-cultural parallels. Some of these parallels, especially the coupling of instructional dance steps with a disco ball representing slave communication dances (Calenda), are kind of a stretch, but Biggers seems to delight in stretching assumptions. Check out his fusions through Aug. 15. -- STACEY RECHT Grade: B