CHARLES DESMARAIS’ ART PICK

Opening night of any major museum exhibition can be a heady experience. Everything seems fresh, people are excited, the galleries glitter with rare and beautiful objects under focused track lights. At the first-night reception celebrating “Contemporary Muslim Fashions” at the de Young Museum, however, attendees sensed something more. It was a small but palpable tectonic tremor in the cultural landscape.

The idea of high but modest fashion was a revelation to me, as it was to probably two-thirds of the audience. The other third was proudly wearing such clothing, each example more innovative and luxurious than the last. Mannequins draped in sumptuous fabrics, cut to ingenious designs created by the leading houses internationally, are complemented by photographs, videos and texts that provide a view into a culture vital to a quarter of the world, but of which the rest of us are largely ignorant.

It’s a gloriously absorbing exhibition, and an essential one for our time.

“Contemporary Muslim Fashions”:

9:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays. Through Jan. 6. $13-$28. De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, S.F. 415-7503600. https://deyoung.famsf.org www.caldwellsnyder.com

Casemore Kirkeby Gallery “This Body is Alive.” Suné Woods, audio and video installation, photography, collage. Through Oct. 27. 1275 Minnesota St., S.F. 415-2909833. www.casemorekirkeby. com

Catharine Clark Gallery “Third Eye Moonwalk.” Jon Bernson, audiovisual installation. Ends Sat., Oct. 13. “Beside Me.” Josephine Taylor, new works on paper. “Box Blur.” Ends Sat., Oct. 13. 248 Utah St., S.F. 415-399-1439.

www.cclarkgallery.com

Chinese Culture Center Gallery “The Journey.” Wesley Tongson, ink works. Reception 6-8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 12. Through Dec. 15. 750 Kearny St., 415986-1822. www.c-c-c.org.

Corden | Potts Gallery “Only Child” and “Between the Lines.” KK DePaul, mixedmedia works. Through Oct. 20. 49 Geary St., Suite 410, S.F. 415-781-0110. www.cordenpottsgallery.com

Creativity Explored “Fabulate: Creativity Explored Fashion Show.” Group exhibi-