An artist who works with "found art" is obliged to blur the lines between curator and artiste, which can either diminish the authenticity of his or her exhibitions or broaden his or her capacity for expression, depending on how you look at it. Becky Frehse's solo show Adaptations, which focuses on the interplay of visual elements as they respond to each other within found box constructions and opens at The Sandpiper Gallery Jan. 30, has the latter result on the viewer - her found art gives intelligent yet visceral context to the original, expressive paintings she pairs with it.

A Tacoma Artists Initiative Project supported in part by the Tacoma Arts Commission, Frehse's solo exhibition of unconventional paintings are based loosely on the natural world. She works with found objects that become formats for collaged materials, paint, and drawing.

[The Sandpiper Gallery, Jan. 30-Feb. 27, noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, opening reception Jan. 30 2-5 p.m., 2221 N. 30^th St., Tacoma, 253.627.6667]