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One of the highlights of tonight’s monthly ArtHop in the downtown and Tower District is a juried exhibition at Gallery 25 called “Centralism 2.” I have a piece in Thursday’s Life section that talks a little about the show. The idea: Stand in the middle of it all, take a broad look at trends and styles in the art world, give a sweeping view of the current scene without taking any stand or involving a bias of one’s own.

Organizer Edward Gillum coined the term for last year’s first “Centralism” show:

“We are not necessarily trying to create a new ‘ism’ as much as offering an open sense of appreciating all ‘isms’ within the concept of Centralism,” Gillum says. “Being located in the Central Valley and seeking to have as diverse a representation of art being made today serve as the motivation for this show.”

More of my ArtHop picks for this month after the jump. Artists and patrons: Feel free to plug a favorite show in the comments.

OTHER ARTHOP PICKS

Just down the street at Fig Tree Gallery, 644 Van Ness Ave., Iris Duarte has a show titled “Reflections and Transition” featuring paintings and mixed media. Duarte is known for her use of the encaustic technique, a process involving molten beeswax and resin, which are fused to a surface to create a lustrous enamel effect. figtreeartgallery.com, (559) 485-0460.

If you’re looking for a young, eclectic vibe, the Gorgon Isle Gallery, 665 Fulton St., is worth checking out. A new show titled “Off the Wall” features urban and graffiti art. The evening includes live painting by local aerosol artists.Details: ric_cs@live.com.

At the K-Jewel Art Gallery, 1415 Fulton St., guest artist is Dale Oftedal, above, a fine oil artist, designer, illustratorand sign painter. Along with his two-dimensional works, there will be an added bonus, says curator Karl Kallmann: “Through the years he has restored and customized many cars and cycles. I am going to have one of his rigid frame, customized Harley choppers with loads of chrome and intricate paint sitting in the middle of the gallery.” Details: kjwl.com, (559) 259-2418.

At Spectrum Art Gallery, 608 E. Olive Ave., there’s a pair of shows that sound intriguing. Mark Bosch’s “Selective Focus” consists of everyday images taken in the United States and abroad using a Lensbaby Composer lens, draws the viewer to a confined, or precisely placed, focal point within the overall image. And Richard Harrison’s photographic study “People of the Middle Kingdom” is an ambitious project focusing on the residents of the Valley’s smaller towns. Over a few years, he photographed 25 towns, all within a relatively short distance from Fresno. Details: spectrum photogallery.org, (559) 266-0691.