He's The Man

Who is Philip Barlow? He's that hulking, otherwise nondescript local collector with a sweet spot for Washington artists, 15 of whom decided to pay him tribute. The resulting show of slight, though heartfelt, images in paint, video and sculpture veers from the tender to the wry to the unflattering -- see what I mean in the fleshy paint of A.B. Miner's picture, or the lyrics of Amanda Kleinman's "Sesame Street"-style video portrait. Some take the measure of the man -- literally, as in Jeff Spaulding's 6-foot-4-inch tower of Lego doll heads with shoulder-length plastic hair the same style as Barlow's. As with much portraiture, the muse takes second place to the artist's vision. So the question remains: Who is Philip Barlow?

"15 for Philip: Fifteen Artists Look at Arts Patron Philip Barlow" at Curator's Office, 1515 14th St. NW, Wednesday-Saturday noon-6 p.m., 202-387-1008, to Feb. 16; http://www.curatorsoffice.com.

Piecing Together Old Art Into New

Washington artist Joe Mills produces yet another suite of surrealist photo collages, which are affixed, as in his previous work, to found wood slabs that he lacquers to a mirror shine. Though Mills made a reputation with street photography, this group relies more heavily on reproductions from art history, both high and low. In one picture, Mills attached the bottom half of Jan Vermeer's picture of a lacemaker to the bottom half of an equestrian portrait; neither horse nor rider nor seamstress has a head. The surrealist play intends to provoke a chill and, presumably, a chuckle. Also on view: John Alexander's portraits of woodpeckers, egrets and business suit-clad warthogs.

Joe Mills and John Alexander at Hemphill Fine Arts, 1515 14th St. NW, Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 202-234-5601, to March 1;http://www.hemphillfinearts.com.

Check Out This 'Property'

What, you mean you're not in "Intellectual Property," Meat Market's latest show? Anyone could submit an exhibition proposal to this exhibition of exhibition proposals. Follow? Basically, a group of anonymous artists mailed blank application forms to artists and art schools, 70 of which were returned (some with tiny mock-ups) and are now on view in the gallery. The result is a show of utopian -- and dystopian -- ideas for future Meat Market shows, none restricted by the usual limits of finance, ethics or the laws of physics. Yes, it's all very meta. But it ranks among the most entertaining shows Washington has seen in years.

"Intellectual Property" at Meat Market Gallery, 1636 17th St. NW, Monday-Saturday noon-6 p.m., Sunday noon-3 p.m., 202-328-6328, to Feb. 3;http://www.meatmarketgallery.com.

Poetry, Embellished

Pyramid Atlantic recently revamped its second floor gallery space into a professional-grade white-walled affair. On view are poems -- by the likes of bawdy Charles Bukowski and renegade Emily Dickinson -- illustrated by etching, engraving and drawing. In one memorable collaboration, artist Jim Dine scatters toothbrushes around Ted Berrigan's verse, underscoring the intimacy of Berrigan's poem. Also on view, David Carlson's "Five Minute God," a video that braids slivers of faces and voices into a single, incoherent whole. The result is an occasionally mesmerizing jumble.

"Art & Poetry: The Power of the Broadside" and "Five Minute God" at Pyramid Atlantic, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 301-608-9101, to Feb. 10;http://www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org.

Flights (and a Flop) of Fantasy

Buoyed by fantasy and fits of imagination, the group show "Chasing Tales" collects eight artists who create alternate, mythic realities. Jan Dunning refers to tales of transformation through multiple exposure photography; Nancy Baker creates anachronisms in oil paint (fighter jets flying over crenellated castles). The show missteps only once, but royally: Anthony Goicolea's video work "The Septemberists" attaches designer-clad young men to a slim narrative that's really just an extended ad for fashion designer Thom Browne. What with the film's three separate credits for its actors' hair, Goicolea did indeed Bumble and Bumble.

"Chasing Tales" at Project 4, 903 U St. NW, Wednesday-Friday 2-6 p.m., Saturday noon-6 p.m., 202-232-4340, to Jan. 26;http://www.project4gallery.com.

Portraits Beyond the Pedestrian

At G, eight international artists expand the definitions of portraiture. Rineke Dijkstra transforms two girls in a city park; the pair become muses lounging in Arcadia, as if Dijkstra were updating Giorgione's Renaissance idylls. Beat Streuli captures pedestrians on city streets as if by surveillance camera. His large-scale photo transparencies attached to the gallery's window wall leave a lasting impression: Backlit by the sun, Streuli's pedestrians bring streetscapes into the gallery; at night, when gallery lights go on, the same figures hover like pedestrian patron saints over 14th Street sidewalks.

"Portraits" at G Fine Art, 1515 14th St. NW, Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 202-462-1601, to March 1;http://www.gfineartdc.com.