FlUorescent Glaucoma in a Christmas Terrarium

Opening Saturday: Michael Gaughan’s daffy title hints that his Christmas-in-July show may play a few amusing tricks on the tired trope of unseasonable art. A guy whose meticulous watercolors have been shown in galleries from Portland to New York City and the Dutch city of Rotterdam, Gaughan returns to the Twin Cities with grand ambitions. “I want to create a euphoric, positive sensation for the viewer,” he insists. What’s not to like about midsummer euphoria? At nearly 4 feet wide, “Burst” (shown here) is an extravagantly detailed and illusionistic plunge into the beauty of a Christmas tree whose feathery bristles are gaily decorated with twinkling lights and sparkly baubles. Prepare to be charmed by more than two dozen of Gaughan’s dazzling pictures. (Opening reception 6-9 p.m. Sat., July 18. Free. Burnet Gallery, Le Méredien Chambers, 901 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. Open daily through Aug. 30. 612-767-6900 or www.burnetgallery.com)