You gotta love an artist who considers the act of painting as “letting go of the handle bars.” Rodney Hatfield, aka Art Snake, is exhibiting a set of new paintings at Swanson Contemporary. He describes his latest show, his 12th at the gallery, as, “a kind of daydreaming. To paint or even look at a painting, you have to slow down, slow down and watch the doodads fly.” The opening reception is on Nov. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. during the Republic Bank First Friday Hop.