Manifest destiny

Some of the paintings by Mike Rodriguez, on display at the Toyroom Gallery this weekend, depict Christopher Columbus, or one of the missions along the El Camino Real. “A lot of the stuff I do has to do with colonialism,” the artist says. Rodriguez is a Native American with roots in the Luiseño tribe of Southern California; he grew up in Stockton, with older brother Larry, now a popular local DJ. And he’s deeply aware of the repercussions of colonialism—then and now. Many of Rodriguez’s vivid paintings in the Toyroom’s weekend show are not huge (10”x10” being the average), in keeping with the gallery’s stated intention of only showing works that sell for under $300. The Toyroom is located behind 2419 Second Ave., and can be accessed from the alley off 24th Street; it will be open Friday, February 15, and Saturday, February 16, from 6:30 p.m. until “late.”