L.A. transplants James and Salime Peterson opened Fifty50 in 2005 to exhibit some of their favorite painters. (James left sunny SoCal to study painting at the Art Institute, Salime is an anthropologist working at the Field Museum.) While their first exhibit showcased, yep, a few favorite painters, they've since shared the work of photographers and videographers, exploring how artists transition between different media.

Artists negotiating those transitions were on display in "TV Party," a Fall 2006 show inspired by the small screen. Dan Gunn's slo-mo video of lost souls wading in shallow water and Lilli Carre's tribute to a quirky girl via canvas and DVD pushed the bounds of storytelling. Choice paintings, unconnected to the main exhibit, were hung in the gallery's back corner nook, including Matthew Cherry beautiful and sad full-scale portraits and James Peterson's pop-culture inspired work.

Fifty50's loft space is sleek and inviting, though you'll have to tune out the floorboards creaking upstairs and the L trains roaring nearby. Exhibits are replaced every two months to keep the attention of gallery hoppers strolling through a scene that radiates from the Peoria Street cluster.

Centerstage Reviewer: Justin Sondak