We're only through week one and a half of CONTACT and there's still plenty of exhibits that haven't yet opened. Here are my picks for some of the launch parties to fit in your schedule this Friday and Saturday.

May 11th (Tonight!)

Tonight is all about Ossington or just off Ossington. My first stop will be Gallery TPW where Winnipeg artist Dominique Ray's Selling Venus / Venus au miroir presents a portrait of exotic dancers, and of the artist herself taking on the role of a stripper, at the Crazy Horse dance club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I stopped by the gallery yesterday for a preview and I have to say it's the best put together exhibit I've seen in the new TPW space yet.

Down the street Interaccess also unveils their latest exhibit and around the corner on Queen, Toronto artist Suzy Lake is opening at Paul Petro. And while it's not an official CONTACT exhibit, it's only a small walk up to Dundas to Le Gallery to see New Works on Paper by Lukas Geronimus and Niall McClelland.

May 12th

On Saturday I'm going to catch up on many of the shows I haven't seen yet. If you're thinking of doing the same, I'd highly recommend MOCCA (pictured above). I know it's an obvious choice but it's definitely one of the better collections of photographs I've seen so far. Plus, there's a bus!

As for the openings, I'll probably stop by New Tribe Tattoing and Piercing to squirm in front of their collection of photos chronicling scarification in tribal Africa. And if I'm feeling like cobblestones, I just might end up at fashion and design store Distill in the Distillery District for Edith Maybin's The Mother-Daughter Construct. Could be a good lead up to Mother's Day.