Owner, Artist Both Carve Out A Niche

Rivas uses everyday penknives to cut his designs. As he goes, he exposes layers of the drywall, which consists of two sheets of heavy paper encasing a thick layer of plaster. In some areas the artist peels up exposed paper so that it curls, adding additional flourish to an acanthus leaf. In other areas he allows brittle plaster to crack and fall to the floor, mimicking a crumbling ruin.

Though the show consists mostly of "canvases," Rivas carved one work directly into the gallery wall. In it, a meander pattern snakes down the wall, bumping into a line of acanthus leaves. The work's mix of violence and playfulness is very much attuned to the space and works well here. Of course, some drywall is going to need replacing come April 30.

Douzoglou says she's using the cycle of constantly changing venues to her advantage. Every new space, borrowed or rented, will accommodate some artists better than others. Douzoglou thinks the current digs suit Rivas's work perfectly. Other artists in her stable, however, may not work so well. "I don't know if other artists would fit here," she says.

Seems the permanent gallery, so painstakingly designed to accommodate as many media and ideas as possible, may prove an inflexible thing of the past. If all artists could show in spaces best suited to their work, what heaven that would be.

Problem is, most other Douz and Mille artists are stuck showing in booths 10 to 20 feet wide that are packed with people and art. That's not an ideal space for contemplation.

But if the main goal is the sale -- and that's what the roving art fairs seem to indicate -- why worry about context? Just sell the work off the wall and hang more. Hang as much as people are willing to buy.

Tomás Rivas: Left to My Own Devices at Douz and Mille, 625-27 E St. NW, Tuesday-Sunday noon-6 p.m., to April 30. 301-980-9574. http://www.douzandmille.com.