With so much going on in the world of art and design this spring - including the arrival of Comic Con in New York on April 18th, the visual trend that emerged from this month's rundown is: Pigeons. What could be a better way to introduce visitors to this fair city than a glance at our own columba livia, the future endangered species, strutting its stuff in our parks and playgrounds -- and through the eyes artists and illustrators. Please check links for details.

Cover and inside art by Nathan Fox for Robert E. Howard's classic tale of terror, Pigeons From Hell, adapted by Joe Lansdale for Dark Horse Comics. Issue #1 of the new 4-issue mini-series to be launched April 16th, 2008.

NEW YORK, NY
Gary Panter: Pictures from the Psychedelic Swamp, 1972 - 2001
Clementine Gallery
April 3 - May 10, 2008
Opening reception: April 4, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Alex Gross: Mysteries and Manners
The Date Farmers: The Crying Playboy
Erik Mark Sandberg: The Equilibrium of Glamour
Jonathan LeVine Gallery
April 5 - May 3, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Leslie Shows: The New Dust
Jack Hanley Gallery
April, 2008; details not available at present.

Fred Chao: Solo Show
Charmingwall
April 5 - 30, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Clive Barker: New work, including drawings for The Midnight Meat Train
Sloan Fine Art
April 10 - May 1, 2008
Opening reception: April 16, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Mattia Biagi: Rose Like a Phoneix from the Ashes
Anna Kustera
April 10 - May 24, 2008
Opening reception: April 10, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Tom Birkner: Jersey Girls
DFN Gallery
April 17 - May 15, 2008

Gerry Snyder: Fundamental
Claire Oliver Gallery
April 17 - May 17, 2008

Buff Monster: Born of the Abyss
Giant Robot NY
April 19 - May 14, 2008
Opening reception: April 19, 6:30 - 10:00 pm

Antistrot | What We Do is Secret
Sara Tecchia Roma New York
April 24 - May 31, 2008
Opening reception: April 24, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Anthony Pontius
31 Grand
April 24 - May 24, 2008

Genevieve Castree: Drawings
Adam Baumgold Gallery
Through April 26, 2008

50^th Annual Advertising and Uncommissioned Exhibition
Society of Illustrators
Through April 26, 2008

Supernatural, featuring work by Martin Basher, Jane Benson and Ben Grasso
Thierry Goldberg Projects
Through May 4, 2008

BROOKLYN, New York, NY
True Believers, featuring work by Jason Gnewikow, Mark Owens, Garrett Morin, Wes Duvall, Ryan Waller, Wyeth Hansen, Jeremy Dean, Noah Butkus, Nathan Nedorostek, Raza Uno | Max Vogel, and Kimou Meyer.
Riviera Gallery
April 12 - May 6, 2008
Opening reception: April 12, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Elise Ferguson and Arnold Kemp
Envoy Gallery
April 25 - June 7, 2008
Opening reception: April 25, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Patrick Whalen: Chairs
Art 101
Through April 13, 2008

Pigeon portraits courtesy of A.M. Richard Fine Art.

The Last Pigeon: Mixed media works by Vyahir Golub, Livan Pombo, Luis Piccione, Paloma Columbia, Piotr Peristeri, Dieter Tauben, and Dan Duif; curated by Andrew Garn.
A.M. Richard Fine Art
Through April 27, 2008

The Threat of Chance, featuring work by Josh MacPhee, Billy Mode, Chris Stain and The Polaroid Kidd
Ad Hoc Art, Brooklyn
May 2 - June 1, 2008
Opening reception: May 2, 7:00 pm

Tom Billings: After the First Stroke, Everything is a Correction
Gitana Rosa Gallery
Through April 11, 2009

RIDGFIELD, CT
Gary Panter: Daydream Trap
Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Through August 31, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC
Cara Ober: I Am Who I Pretend To Be
Randall Scott Gallery
Through April 12, 2008
Artist talk, with Cara Ober, Kriston Cappa and Brandon Fortune: April 5, 5:00 - 6:30 pm

ATLANTA, GA
I Hear a Mockingbird: Mixe-d media work by Red Weldon-Sandlin and Mark Sandlin, in homage to Harper Lee
White Space Gallery
April 11 - May 10, 2008
Opening reception: April 11, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

NASHVILLE, TN
Vadis Turner: New work by Samuel L. Dunson, Jr.
Tag Art Gallery
Aparil 5 - 26, 2008

LOS ANGELES, CA
Ble le Rat: Art Is Not Peace but War
Subliminal Projects
April 5 - May 2, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 8:00 pm

Society of Illustrators L.A. / Illustration West 46 Juried Exhibition
Junc Gallery
Through April 6, 2008

Poketo First Edition Prints featuring new work by Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Chris Pew, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Susie Ghahremani, Keith Shore, The Little Friends of Printmaking, and more.
Poketo Studio
If you missed the launch party at Poketo's new studio a couple of weeks ago, you can visit the website for the ongoing release of limited edition prints by 25 international artists.

Society of Illustrators L.A., featuring work by established and emerging artists curated by John Hendrix, Josh Cochran , Mark Matcho, Noah Woods and Tim Egan.
Junc Gallery
Through April 6, 2008

Herakut: Streichelzoo
Carmichael Gallery
April 12 - May 4, 2008
Opening reception: April 12, 8:00 pm - midnight

Yumiko Kayukawa: Extinction
La Luz de Jesus
April 4 - 27, 2008
Opening reception: April 4, 8:00 - 11:00 pm

Deharavath, featuring work by David Horvath and Yukinori Dehara
Giant Robot 2
April 19 - May 14, 2008
Opening reception: April 19, 6:30 - 10:00 pm

Rolina Nell: been everywhere, seen everything
Little Bird Gallery
April 12 - May 3, 2008
Opening reception: April 12, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Menace & Charm: The Nostalgia of Childhood
Black Maria Gallery
April 26 - May 24, 2008, 2008
Opening reception: April 26, 7:00 - 10:30 pm

CULVER CITY, CA
Brian O'Connor: Highway 47
Billy Shire Fine Arts
April 12 - May 3, 2008
Opening reception: April 12, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Sean Christopher: Vanity Bonfire
Corey Helford Gallery
Opening reception: April 26, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Left to right: Jungle Girl; Business as Usual; Well, I NEVER, by Lou Brooks. Currently on view at Robert Berman Gallery. Courtesy of the artist.

SANTA MONICA, CA
Moods for Moderns, featuring work by Lou Brooks, Chris Buzelli, Colin Johnson, Nate Williams, Dave Calver, Everett Peck and Brian Zick.
Robert Berman Gallery
April 5 - April 26, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA
Scott Barry: Solo Show
Receiver Gallery
April 5 - May 23, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Alfred's Nose: Book signing with author/illustrator Vivienne Flesher
April 13, 12:30 pm at Book Passage
April 18, 5:30 - 8:00 pm at George

Group Sects, featuring work by Aaron Brown, Kevin Hooyman, Katy Horan, Matt Leines, Monkmus, Garrett Morin, Jeana Sohn, Daniel St. George, Gary Taxali, Pryor Praczukowski, French and Josie Morway
Giant Robot SF
April 19 - May 14, 2008
Opening reception: April 19, 6:30 - 10:00

Casey Logan: Come Celebrate the Knowledge You Never Knew You Had
Little Tree Gallery
Through April 26, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Ward Schumaker: Saved!
Townsend Center at U.C. Berkeley
Through May 30, 2008

TORONTO, ON
Gary Taxali: Originals
Drabinsky Gallery
April 5 - 26, 2008
Opening reception: April 5, 2:00 - 5:00 pm