Mark Newport

Knitting rocks. Or knitters rock. Or rockers sometimes knit. Michigan artist Mark Newport combines yarn and heavy metal in his sewn superhero suits and photographs. Life-size and meant to be worn, the multicolored costumes are a bit like Mexican luchador getups, castoffs from the dressing room of KISS, or prototypes for Marvel comic-book heroes who never made their way into print. (Behold the power of Valueman! Able to clip coupons and find great bargains at tag sales!) The suits are soft and non-threatening, like fuzzy long underwear, and also suggest old Halloween costumes from childhood—stored in a shoebox that you can’t quite bear to throw away. Their loose, handmade texture isn’t meant for men of steel or leaping over tall buildings, but for more domestic feats after a long day of fighting crime (or rocking out). Because even superheroes like to snuggle. BRIAN MILLER

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Starts: Jan. 8. Continues through Feb. 13, 2010