Sarah Intemann's "Self-Portrait #3" is on display at Manifest Gallery through April 22.

Prepare to be surprised and impressed when you visit MANIFEST CREATIVE RESEARCH GALLERY AND DRAWING CENTER (2727 Woodburn Ave, East Walnut Hills) for its latest exhibition, Rites of Passage. Surprised because it doesn't look like student work -- and impressed because it is. The exhibition, featuring mostly works on paper, showcases work by senior art students ANDREW DAILEY, SARAH INTEMANN, IAN O'PHELAN and CARLY NICOLE WITMER. A two-part series, the Rites of Passage exhibition was conceived to support student excellence by offering a public venue for display of artwork. I don't know what I expected to find, but the diversity of subject matter from these four artists, each of whom exhibit drawings, amazes me. Working in tandem, Dailey and Intemann offer renditions of the human figure in graphite and charcoal. Their subjects, always seated, appear troubled and restless, the effect created with soft graphite lines interspersed with dark and bold charcoal strokes. Witmer uses a combination of graphite, ink, acrylic and colored pencil to create a type of "scientific diagram" that could represent anything -- blueprints, mathematical equations -- it's left up to the viewer. Her pieces are paired, appropriately, with O'Phelan's own diagrams, human anatomical drawings that could be part of a textbook, except for one intriguing feature: each contains a fragment of a map, as if the drawings provide us with a "guide" to the human body. Don't pass this up. There are only have a few days left. Through April 22 ...

If you're dying to get out of town, how about a visit to Cuba -- through photographs, of course. Living on Cuban Tiempo, the latest exhibition at ARTWORKS TIME WARNER CABLE GALLERY (811 Race St., Downtown) features a retrospective of photographs taken in Cuba over the last 20 years by father-and-son photographers JON and SEAN HUGHES. (Sean is CityBeat's art director.) Mostly black-and-white photos, they capture the spirit and warmth of the Cuban people in ordinary settings -- children playing, people working, a musician playing a saxophone. The Hughes capture their subjects' passion and energy with inspiring accuracy. The action shots make you feel like you're part of the scene: My favorites are the "Diver" shots, where you can almost feel the spray of the ocean as the girls dive. Take this trip soon. Through April 29 ...

It's that time of year: spring means senior thesis exhibitions time. Naturally, you'll want to head to the ART ACADEMY (951 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams) for In All Seriousness, a thesis exhibition featuring work by AMY GREENE, KATIE GREENE, and KIM FLORA. The artists merge three approaches to painting, which include traditional oil paint, a combination of blown glass and paint, and a blend of collage, fashion and painting. Take the time to see these artists as they introduce their artistic voice. Opening reception is 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Through April 29 ...

Visit the JIM AMANN GALLERY (30 West Pike St., Covington) for a new kind of dialogue. Visual Conversations opens Friday, featuring work from the artists of ENGINE 22 and POWERHOUSE FACTORIES. Both are groups of multi-disciplined artists who create a multitude of work, including fine and commercial art. The exhibition will offer a variety of two- and three-dimensional works in diverse media. To find out more, you'll have to go. Opening reception is 8-11 p.m. Friday. Through May 27.

MINI REVIEWS
The CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM (953 Eden Park Drive) is currently exhibiting The Making of Coney Island, color screen prints by Harry Shokler. On view are process prints, final works and sketches of Coney Island and surrounding areas of New York City. The exhibition is a real glimpse into an era of Americana. Each print contains energy and action found in color choices and line work. The work is whimsical and employs understated degrees of complexity and sophistication. Shokler urges viewers and artists alike to see beyond the subject matter, taking a step further to understand the process involved in silk screening. Through July 31. (Jacquelyn Vaughn) Grade: B+