The Natalie Bush Gallery (908 E St.)...

The Natalie Bush Gallery (908 E St.) opens tonight with “Seven Collagraphs.” It is an unusual exhibit because the artists--Daniel Britton, Emanuele Cacciatore, Katherine Hart, Michael Irwin, Elaine LeVasseur, Robert Sanchez and Randolph Sommer--have all donated their works to the gallery. Proceeds from sales will help the gallery keep its doors open.

Collagraphs are multiple original works of art (or prints) made from a cardboard (rather than metal or wood) master. In addition to drawing with pigments, the artists can use other materials, such as spackling paste, and objects to create forms. Because the perishability of the surface allows only small editions, the artists in this show have limited themselves to three impressions of their images. All the works, in a standardized format with a 10- by 11-inch image size, were printed at the Elaine LeVasseur Studio near Santa Barbara.

Beauty, vitality and quality characterize these prints, each of which is a distinctive work of art. Landscape and figuration appear, as well as abstraction.

In addition, Ernest Silva, a “star” of San Diego’s Mark Quint Gallery and of Los Angeles’ Roy Boyd Gallery, has donated two drawings for the cause.

The event testifies to the respect that the Natalie Bush Gallery has garnered during its short life in the community and to the generally parlous situation of galleries that try to survive selling serious art in San Diego. It also represents a growing esprit de corps in the downtown art community.

There will be a reception honoring the artists this evening from 7 to 9.

The exhibit runs through Aug. 16.

Across the way from the Bush gallery, a new kind of gallery has opened at 917 E St.

Cleverly named Phenomneon by owners Scott and Marisela Douglass, it features decorative light sculptures, or works in neon.

The interest in neon as an art form is not new in San Diego. Designer and arts activist Gloria Poore, with Juliette Mondot and Greg Calvert through Save Our Neon Organization, has been instrumental in salvaging at least some of San Diego’s neon heritage. And sculptor Michael Pfulb is only the most prominent of the local artists who have incorporated neon in their works. The appreciation of neon is widespread, and Los Angeles even has a Museum of Neon Art.

Phenomneon’s inaugural show includes a mix of original works by artists such as San Diegan Rick Berggren and “found” works and assemblages made of “found” parts.

In the future, the gallery will exhibit restored neon signs, reproductions and neon clocks as well as new works of neon art. It also will provide a neon design consulting service.

The current show, continuing through July, will be followed by a solo exhibition of works by San Diego-based artist Gary Fey.

Another new gallery, the Art Site Inc., which opened next door (921 E St.) about a month ago, is an artists’ cooperative that exists to show the works of its members, now numbering 14.

“It’s very difficult, almost impossible, for emerging artists to break into established galleries in San Diego,” gallery president Karen Buell said. “All our artists are serious, they’re not just Sunday painters, and we thought we’d take advantage of the availability of vacant spaces throughout San Diego to exhibit our work. We’re looking for other spaces in town, too.”

While the purpose of the gallery and the enthusiasm of its members are admirable, the inaugural group show, a disorderly “salon” installation of stacked works, is not.

The exhibit continues through July.