"Viva la Vida"

"Death is everywhere, so you have to stop worrying about it," says artist Armando Rodriguez in press materials. The end of life is among the subjects Rodriguez tackles in "Viva la Vida", b> his solo exhibit at Canal Street Gallery. The theme of the show is "La muerte no anda en coche," , a loose translation of the Spanish-language phrase "Death doesn't drive a car," a popular saying in Rodriguez's native Mexico. "It's something you say to someone who is always worried that something bad might happen," he says. "Dealing with death becomes a celebration of life." Although his subject might strike some as dark, his paintings are not. His work is made up of bright colors and bold, fluid lines. Some show faces, while others show butterflies. And a few self-portraits make it into the mix. By appointment Tuesdays through Saturdays. Through November 28. 2219 Canal Street. For information, call 713-724-0709 or visit www.canalstreetgallery.com. Free.
Tuesdays-Saturdays. Starts: Nov. 3. Continues through Nov. 28, 2009