R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe joined Patti Smith at the opening reception of her collaborative exhibition with artist Steven Debring in New York last night (January 6).

The exhibition has opened following the recent airing of Steven Sebring's film 'Dream Of Life' in the US last December.

In keeping with the context of the film - which was an impressive 11 years in the making - the exhibition features 'five thematically linked, but separate, installations' and is described as 'a homage to the creative process.'

Items on display include Smith's largest painting to date, 'Strange Messenger', and Polaroid portraits of Smith by Sebring onto which the singer has applied sgraffito-like drawing to surface.

The exhibition is on at the Robert Miller Gallery in NYC from now until February 6.

(by Scott Colothan)