“Is pissing your pants as a kid the same as losing your job as an adult?” ask Fred Muram and Mike Simi in their new show “Fire Retard Ants.” On the heels of SOIL and Punch’s International Juried exhibition, which found themes in both trash and Jesus, Muram’s and Simi’s work tackles “everything” that occurs in childhood. For this pair, one who was a daydreaming rebel and the other a conformist, that includes “growing pubic hair, fighting ninjas, and eating Cheez Whiz, all while maintaining a C+ average, so their parents will take them to Pizza Hut.” This photography show considers the guys’ early social interactions and how those memories influence adult life—it’s ultimately about their belief that hanging on to the exuberance of youth, even through nostalgic means, is a valuable vehicle for creativity. In the backspace: photographs by Brian Heileson. Reception: 6-9 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 3. Show ends Jan. 27.

Jan. 3-27, 2008