Art spotlight: 'El Circo', portraits by Xavier Tavera

Opening Thursday: Without yet having checked out the newish Runner Runner Gallery, their shows (this is the second) seem promising enough to tout. Independent curator Luke Erickson, who formerly worked at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, has tapped into proven talent with a new exhibit of color portraits by Xavier Tavera, including the circus picture shown here, and Midwestern landscapes by Peter Latner. The combination of images may be a little strange, but both photographers have ample talent and well-defined turf. Tavera has tapped into multiple identities with portraits of Latino wrestlers, gang members, circus performers and Carleton College students. Latner is rightly known for his quiet documentation of Midwestern highways and byways, of quirky motels and small-town diners, graveled roads and cornfields with big skies. The gallery adjacent to a warehouse/office is brought to you by Runner Runner, a small company with big ideas that produces TV commercials, music videos and lots of attitude. A place that boasts it is a "bad ass content producer by day, fun house by night" has a lot to recommend it. (Opening 6-9 p.m. Thu., free. 218 N. 2nd St., Mpls. Ends May 20. 612-332-9692 or www.runner-runner.com/gallery.)