Two superlative art shows are on exhibit in Alexandria during the month of February 1996. One show pushes the definition of photography and the other offers an alternative art solution to a common vandalism problem.

"New Photographs," is a show of new darkroom work by Elizabeth Chucker at Gallery West (205 S. Union St), on display until February 25. This is a terrific, innovative show by this recent Corcoran graduate, who once again proves that the qualities which an artist needs to possess in order to deliver good art is a mixture of raw talent, hard work and technical skill rather than gimmicks or shock as it is more common these days.

Chucker's darkroom technique uses a photo-sensitive emulsion painted in broad strokes on watercolor paper. This process, especially when done in the broad, wide strokes favored by Chucker, deliver an almost sensual surface which marry well with the subjects chosen by Chucker for this show, which include many figure studies.

Although she claims that working with the figure is new for her, my favorite pieces in the show were the figure studies, especially the self portraits, which oddly enough do not look like the photographer at all, but manage to capture a rather dark mood, bordering on the erotic or the upsetting. There is much darkroom skill present in these pieces, and Chucker prints her own work and uses friends to model for her.

The hours spent in the dark room are well worth the effort, as her skills with the enlarger certainly deliver a show well worth a visit. The framed pieces range in price from $300-$500 each. Two opening receptions are scheduled for the photographer, Feb. 7, 6-8 PM and Feb. 9, 1-4 PM.

Two blocks from Gallery West, inside the Torpedo Factory (105 N. Union St), we find "Painting with Air: Graffiti Inspired Art", at the Target Gallery.

On exhibition are huge, graffiti-inspired pieces by students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Ballou High School and Virginia Commonwealth University. The show, which has raised quite a bit of controversy from a city which spends a considerable amount of money cleaning up graffiti, is a powerful positive statement which (if pursued further by the city fathers) could offer some solutions (art rather than vandalism) rather than glorify the defacing of walls, as it has unjustly been accused of doing.

There are lots of empty walls in Alexandria, which (in a controlled environment) could benefit from having art murals in them; oddly enough, once an empty wall is decorated with art, the true graffiti vandals seem to respect it and stay away from it. As art, most of the pieces in the Target show suffer from that common graffiti technique-gone-awry called "horror vacuuii" or fear of empty space, and the pieces are so overwhelmingly filled with paint and words and designs that it takes the visual senses for a spin.

As such, the simple, almost elegant pieces by Ikuko Yoshida stand out by their sheer simplicity and deliver their poignant message with a power unequaled in the other pieces. This is one of those rare shows, which although I did not frankly enjoy in a full sense, is nonetheless a courageous reason why tax-supported art spaces like Target are essential in the cultural round-up of Alexandria's art scene.

My compliments to the Target Gallery for a brave show!

The author is a regional art critic for several art magazines and local newspapers.