Black power

Painting by Jason Chase using what he says is the blackest black paint yet developed. His artwork with this paint will be on view at Laconia Gallery, South Boston, on Aug. 24, 7-10 p.m., and again on Sept. 6, 7-10 p,m., in the Artisan's Asylum, Somerville, Mass.

Coastal treasure in steel

"Eelgrass Dancing'' (steel and lacquer), by K. GRETCHEN GREENE, in her show at Artisan's Asylum, Somerville,  Mass., May 21-June 4.

Eelgrass, by the way, is a salt-water plant essential for the survival of many coastal  animal species -- including many that we eat -- in New England. Far too much of it has been destroyed by man-made pollution and coastal development.  Public and private groups have made efforts to restore eelgrass beds in some places, such as Narragansett and Buzzards bays.