CHARLES DESMARAIS’ ART PICKS
“Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire”: Organized in collaboration with Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, “Teotihuacan” presents a wide selection of art and artifacts, including new discoveries, from the grandest of Mexico’s pre-Columbian cities. Through Feb. 11. $13-$28. De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, S.F. (415) 750-3600. http://deyoung.famsf.org
Ramekon O’Arwisters: “Mending”: O’Arwisters has brought the venerable craft of crochet into the realm of high art. In this new work, he builds his soft sculpture around broken bits of pottery, mourning their damage and attempting — futilely, as it turns out — to heal them at the same time. Free. Through Feb. 10. Patricia Sweetow Gallery, 315 Potrero Ave. S.F. (510) 788-5860. www. patriciasweetowgallery.com
“Art and Vinyl: Artists & the Record Album from Picasso to the Present”: A Josef Albers record jacket that looks like the percussion on the LP inside must sound: That’s just one of the terrific, mostly rare objects in this lighthearted review of designs by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sophie Calle, Jean Dubuffet, Marlene Dumas, Yves Klein, Barbara Kruger, Sol LeWitt, Chris Ofili, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol and many others. Free. Through March 3. Fraenkel Gallery, 49 Geary St., Fourth Floor, S.F. (415) 981-2661. https://fraenkel gallery.com
Michael E. Smith: At 500 Capp St. is a historic house with a major twist: The entire place is a work of art, carefully shaped and curated from top to bottom by one of the founders of Bay Area conceptual art. For this exhibition, Detroit artist Smith has made the most gentle of interventions — a loving caress of a major monument. $10-$20 (check website or call for options). Closes Feb. 3. David Ireland House, 500 Capp St., S.F. (415) 8729240. http://500cappstreet.org
Sarah Morris: Morris is an exciting abstract painter who has received wide notice, but this is her first West Coast exhibition. A long and confounding film in the lower-level gallery will require attention if you want the full treatment, but the gutsy, vivid paintings are worth the visit on their own. Free. Through Feb. 17. Berggruen Gallery, 10 Hawthorne St., S.F. (415) 781-4629. www.berggruen.com