The political season isn't the only one that's hot this fall. Exhibitions at the Carnegie and CMU take on contemporary American architectural forms and their effects on culture. The Westmoreland looks back at Ruhr Valley landscapes and the Scalp Level School while Mattress Factory goes into futuristic "predrive." The Frick and The Warhol celebrate Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary with exhibitions that fit respective museum character. And the 2008 Carnegie International reinvents itself through a wealth of speakers and events.

Following are season highlights. Watch the Weekend Mag calendar for a complete listing of new shows as they're announced.

-- Mary Thomas, Post-Gazette art critic,
mthomas@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1925

CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART: The 2008 Carnegie International, "Life on Mars," continues through Jan. 11, with a bounty of programming to enhance the experience of the show. Opening Oct. 4 is "Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes," in the Heinz Architectural Center, the first major museum exhibition to examine the suburb's influence on American life (through Jan. 18). "Past Meets Present: Innovative Installations of Decorative Arts," the 31st Annual Decorative Arts Symposium presented by The Women's Committee, features speakers Jason Busch and Jane A. Lehman, decorative arts curators, respectively, of the Carnegie and Seattle art museums (6 p.m. Oct. 23, $35, register at 412-622-3325). "Abstract Art Before 1950: Watercolors, Drawings, Prints, and Photographs," more than 80 works from the museum's and private collections, continues through Oct. 18 in the Scaife Works on Paper gallery, and following that, on Nov. 1, will be "Giovanni Battista Piranesi: Architecture and the Spaces of the Imagination." Decorated trees and the presipio ring in the holidays Dec. 5-Jan. 7 (412-622-3131).

CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: "Born of Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya," comprising more than 75 pieces by the famed Pueblo potter (1904-2001), opens with a gallery talk Oct. 4 by her daughter and grandson and continues through Jan. 4 (412-622-3131).

THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM: Party like it is the '50s at the Oct. 3 opening celebration of "1958," a chronicle of events of the year when Pittsburgh last celebrated a momentous anniversary and of the period that inspires the current TV series "Mad Men." "Detroit 1958," a portfolio of photographs by artist-duo McDermott and McGough that "evokes the coming-of-age, dreamy vignettes of the car capital's upper-class teens," adds to the mood, as will related films, readings and lectures. Tickets are $15 for the 7-9 p.m. opening that includes a cash bar and light bites. Both shows remain through Jan. 11. Also, Robot 250-connected "We Are Survival Machines," an interactive installation documenting a future battle between the undead and sentient machines, set in Pittsburgh and employing gigapan technology, continues through Nov. 16 (412-237-8300).

THE FRICK ART MUSEUM: The popular "A Panorama of Pittsburgh: Nineteenth-Century Printed Views" continues through Oct. 5. Opening Oct. 25 is "From Michelangelo to Annibale Carracci: A Century of Italian Drawings From the Prado," 70 drawings, most of which have not traveled beyond Madrid, through Jan. 4 (412-371-0600).

MATTRESS FACTORY: "Inner and Outer Space" continues through Jan. 11, with exhibiting artist Allison Smith speaking at 3 p.m. Sept. 28 ($10, students/members $5). "Predrive: After Technology," commissioned works by five international artists ranging from animation to video installation, runs Nov. 14-March 22. A benefit auction of works contributed by artists who have exhibited at the museum (including Ann Hamilton, Kiki Smith, James Turrell, Bill Woodrow) will be Oct. 18 (412-231-3169).

WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART: "Painting in the United States," comprising artists exhibited at Carnegie Museum of Art during the world wars, when the Carnegie International was suspended, continues through Oct. 19. "Works on Paper From the Permanent Collection" features artists included in the former show, through Nov. 23. "Intimate Landscapes: The Gouache Paintings of Thomas Paquette" remains through Oct. 19. "From the Ruhr Valley to the Steel City: Industrial Paintings From the Rhineland Industrial Museum," an exhibition of 40 works from the German venue, officially opens with a free (reservations required) public Oktoberfest reception 6-9 p.m. Sept. 20 that will include German food, a microbrew created locally for the occasion ($5 for commemorative glass and refills), and music by the Pittsburgh folk group the NewLanders. Complementary programming includes an evening of folk music and a multimedia presentation on the museum's own industrial painting collection Oct. 23, and museum curator Barbara Jones' commentary on the German exhibition Nov. 13 (free). Nov. 7 brings "Scalp Level Revisited," landscape and still life paintings by artists of the Scalp Level School, through Feb. 1. "Violet Oakley: The Founding of the State of Liberty Spiritual," preparatory studies for the Governor's Reception Room murals at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, opens Dec. 7 (through March 29). The museum continues the annual "Holiday Toy Tradition" in the paneled rooms Nov. 23-Jan. 18 (221 N. Main St., Greensburg; 724-837-1500).

PITTSBURGH FILMMAKERS: "It's Not Quite the Way," video and light installations by Rick Gribenas, and "New Works -- Todd Mattei," photos and videos, open Sept. 26 and continue through Oct. 19. "Polish Poster Art" will hang Oct. 31-Dec. 1 (412-681-5449).

PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR THE ARTS: The opening reception for "Susanne Slavick: 2008 Artist of the Year" and "Adam Welch: 2008 Emerging Artist of the Year" will be held Friday (preview 5:30-6:30 p.m., $10; reception 6:30-8:30 p.m., $5; both free to members); with the exhibitions continuing through Nov. 2. Gallery talks will be at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 25 by Slavick and Oct. 9 by Welch. Opening Nov. 14 are "Altered States," by the Pittsburgh Print Group; "Making Connections," by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh; "Bob Qualters & Charlee Brodsky," "Sue Abramson & Jonathan Shapiro" and "Matthew Friday," all through Jan. 25 (412-361-0873).

SOCIETY FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT: "The Enamel Experience," badges by 23 U.K., U.S. and German artists that are "intimate yet declarative objects of personal adornment," and "TAG," badge-inspired works by graduate students from East Carolina University created after talking with Pittsburghers, open 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 3. Slide lecture by artist Robert Ebendorf and Elizabeth Turrell, a metalsmith and "Enamel Experience" curator, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2. TAG artists lead informal discussions 1-3 p.m. Oct. 4. Exhibitions continue through Jan. 10 (free; 412-261-7003).

WOOD STREET GALLERIES: "ZEE [RANGE]," work by Kurt Hentschlager, opens during the Gallery Crawl Oct. 3 and stays through Dec. 31. In conjunction with the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts, the gallery presents "Gravity of Light," by Mike & Doug Starn, opening Oct. 9 and continuing through Oct. 30, at The Pipe Building, 3000 Liberty Ave., Strip District (412-471-5605).

SPACE: "Make, Shift, Home," Mario Marzan and Sharmila Venkatasubban co-curate this nine-artist show, running Aug. 29-Oct. 11, followed by "Then & Now," an exhibition curated by artist and community leader Deryck Tines comprising photographs of crossdressers in Pittsburgh's Hill District from Carnegie Museum of Art's Teenie Harris Archive plus photographs of today's community captured by 15 Pittsburgh photographers (412-325-7723).

SILVER EYE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY: "Eloquent Eggs & Disintegrating Dice: Photographs by Rosamond Purcell," behind the scenes in the collections of major museums, opens Sept. 25 and continues through Nov. 29 (412-431-1810).

THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER: Absence of Body," new works in glass by artist-in-residence Susan Taylor Glasgow, opens Oct. 3 and continues through January (412-365-2145, ext. 207).

FE GALLERY: "In the Making: 250 Years/250 Artists," a salon-style display of works by 250 local artists in recognition of the city's anniversary, opens from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday at 4102 Butler St., Lawrenceville (free; 412-860-6028).

MANCHESTER CRAFTSMEN'S GUILD: The "Summer Students & Staff Show" continues through Oct. 10. "Altered Meanings: Featuring Works by Cat Chow & Jesse McLean" opens Oct. 20 and runs through Jan. 9. A reception and talk by McLean will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 29; Chow will give a lecture and performance at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 (free; 412-322-1773).

AMERICAN JEWISH MUSEUM: "A Window to My World," daily life in northern Israel represented by 70 Arab and Jewish photographers, through Oct. 31. "Love/Fences/Nests: Projects by Ally Reeves, Ben Schachter and Anna Divinsky," multimedia installations created in residency and done in collaboration with community members, begins Sept. 15 and evolves through Dec. 15. (At the Squirrel Hill JCC; 412-521-8011).

REGINA GOUGER MILLER GALLERY: "Your Town, Inc.: Big Box Reuse with Julia Christensen," exploring the effects these free-standing buildings have had on our culture, continues through Nov. 23, with a reception 6-8 p.m. Sept. 19 and lecture by Christensen Nov. 13. "Keep It Slick: Infiltrating Capitalism With The Yes Men" opens at 5 p.m. Nov. 14 with a "How To Be A Yes Man Workshop" followed by a "Business Casual Reception." (At CMU, 412-268-3618)

HUNT INSTITUTE FOR BOTANICAL DOCUMENTATION: "Pancrace Bessa and the Golden Age of French Botanical Illustration" opens Sept. 18, through Dec. 19 (At CMU, 412-268-2434).

SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART: The "Celebration of the Wolf Family Donations to the Permanent Collection, 1986--2006," more than 100 works by artists including Andy Warhol, Mary Cassatt, Norman Rockwell, Alice Neel, Alexander Calder and Thomas Hart Benton, continues through Oct. 25 at SAMA Loretto. "Biennial 2008," featuring local artists, runs Nov. 7-Feb. 7 (opening reception Dec. 6, $25, members $20, reservations required; 1-814-472-3920). At SAMA Ligonier Valley, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts' 13th "Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition" opens at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 (free, reservations required, show continues through Feb. 14; 724-238-6015). Those who missed the expansive presentation of Kamal Youssef's work a couple of years ago at IUP have another chance Dec. 5 when "KAMAL: His Passions and His People" opens at SAMA Altoona (6 p.m. opening reception, $12, reservations required; exhibition runs through Dec. 5). (1-814-946-4464)

THE BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART and CANTON MUSEUM OF ART: "Clyde Singer's America," a collaborative exhibition, running simultaneously at both museums, that marks the centennial of the American Scene painter's birth, opened this week and continues through Jan. 7. (Butler, Youngstown, Ohio; 1-330-743-1711) (Canton, Canton, Ohio; 1-330-453-7666).

McDONOUGH MUSEUM OF ART: "AGENCY: Art and Advertising," ad media by artists ranging from Marcel Duchamp to Jeff Koons, opens 6-8 p.m. Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 8 (Youngstown, Ohio; 1-330-941-1400).