GALLERY
Scharf, now 80, was a studio assistant to Mark Rothko. His vibrant abstract paintings nod to Rothko's tonal nuances, but Scharf is jazzy, bright, and as passionate about shape and composition as he is about tone. A little Kandinsky, a little Stuart Davis, Sharf's paintings jangle and spin with shards of warm color. He handles paint deftly, interchanging hard planes with vaporous squibs and passages that seem translucent. His skill shines, but his joy in his work glows even brighter. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free. Mercury Gallery, 8 Newbury St., Boston. 617-859-0054. mercurygallery.com
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