At Govinda, John and Yoko (And Chris and Annie)

Up next? A book called "Soul Rebel," featuring David Burnett's photographs of Bob Marley.

Murray, who is also editing books about gardening and Cuban photography, says he pursues photographers, not rock stars, to determine the subjects of his books.

"It's more than identifying who will be the next star," Murray says. "It's more about which photographers are getting the work done."

Her Work Is All Wet

Artist Emily Christenson's painting process starts out normally enough. She primes one side of her canvas. She applies thick glossy paint, usually with her hands instead of a brush. Then, she dunks the whole thing in water. The Mississippi River and Lake Superior have both served as co-artists.

Christenson's new works go on display Saturday at Georgetown's Fine Art & Artists Gallery. They look like watercolors with blurry patches of color, interrupted with the occasional brush stroke of oil paint, which she applies in the studio. She also uses rocks and sticks on her paintings -- look closely to see wrinkles, bumps and scrapes on the canvas.

Her previous paintings were also abstract, but when Christenson, 27, told Brian Benavides, the owner of Fine Art & Artists, about her new technique, "his jaw just kind of dropped," she says.

The Moline, Ill.-based artist started using water in her paintings when she was studying in Ireland six years ago. Tired of being trapped in the studio by rainy weather, Christenson walked into a nearby field, determined to work on her watercolor painting outdoors.

"Some of the drops came through and the rain starting moving things around," she says. "The experience changed how I feel about capturing the moment."

Christenson grew up surrounded by art and nature. Her mother is an artist, and as a child Christenson was always "making things with mud" in a nearby park. As a lover of nature, she's uses only nontoxic, water-soluble oil paints.

The Fine Art & Artists exhibition marks her first solo show in Washington. Some of her non-water works will be on display as well.

"I'm excited about the juxtaposition of these paintings that are so much about the wilderness in such a cosmopolitan setting," she says.

John & Yoko: A New York Love Story is on view through Nov. 10 at Govinda Gallery, 1227 34th St. NW. Free. 202-333-1180. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The accompanying book is $45.

Emily Christenson's Blue Currents opens Saturday at 7 p.m. at Fine Art & Artists Gallery, 2920 M St. NW. Free. RSVP suggested for opening reception, 202-965-0780. On view through Nov. 10. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.