By TIM KANE
Special to the Times Union

Caption: CHIP FASCIANA'S "Me as W," right, and "Love and Self," far right.

During the past three years, Chip Fasciana has spent much of his time staging shows for other artists through the Albany Underground Artists instead of making his own work. But since the collaborative disbanded in December, Fasciana has turned his attention to creating art. His work combines abstract expressionism and graffiti art to create bold collages that command attention. In his first true solo exhibition in the region _ Fasciana held a one-person show as a part of a residency at Fulton Street in 2003 _ ``New Works'' at amrose + sable Gallery in Albany provides a snapshot of a reinvigorated artist pushing the boundaries of two-dimensional, canvas-based art.      In 2003, the nomadic Albany Underground Artists began to stage numerous one-night events in mostly vacant buildings that galvanized the local arts scene. Although Fasciana would create a work every so often for these group shows, he didn't have time to immerse himself in his found-object works to create enough pieces for a solo show.      A majority of the 14 works at amrose + sable were produced in January and February, and the urgency and intensity shows. Most of the pieces are "assembled" on abandoned doors found throughout Albany. Some have their doorknob holes intact, and Fasciana has filled them with plastic figurines and other objects; these act as mini-installations within the larger con text. Photographs and periodical clippings pop up every so often to provide composition in the otherwise swirling, unfocused "canvases." Many paints and materials - latex, enamel, oil, acrylic, even toothpaste - are merged together to create dense, entangled brush strokes seemingly carved out of the wood rather than applied by brush. Fasciana changes his works incessantly, piling on more material every time, creating very tactile works.      Fasciana's art doesn't provide much in the way of coherent themes or narrative, although occasionally a solid concept emerges. Such is the case with "Me as W," a reference to the President that contains the only figure in the show. With its bulbous head, the figure recalls primitivism.      The remainder of the works have titles like "Take the Leap," "Injection of the Rip Off," "No Trespassing" and "Love & Self," which, along with their frenetic arrangement, leave the viewer guessing at what Fasciana is actually saying. He definitely works in his own language.      Some of the strongest pieces are a series of small pen-and-inks on notebook paper that illustrate Fasciana's drawing talents in the simplest of terms. With graceful and eloquent lines, they're like studies of his complicated collages without all the layering, a refreshing and unexpected part of the exhibit.      Probably the single most noteworthy work isn't two dimensional, but three. The untitled bright red heart sculpture made of foam bound together by wire, with razor blades angled against its surface, sums up pain in a vivid manner.      The heart says much about Fasciana and his art. It's intensity and the swirling lines made by the wire are similar to what is found in his collages, but the sculpture somehow breathes easier and is more accessible. Confined to only two dimensions, the larger collages are hampered by such limited space and struggle to break free. They are really sculptures jammed into wall-hanging art, begging to be placed on a pedestal.           Tim Kane is a freelance writer living in Albany and a frequent contributor to the Times Union.

<%=hi%>Think Visually

Factbox:  <%=hi%>Chip Fasciana: New Works'      Where: amrose + sable Gallery, 306 Hudson Ave., Albany When: Through March 30 Gallery hours: 5-8 p.m. Friday; 2-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Admission: Free Info: (607) 437-6977; http:// www.amrosesablegallery.com/