Kathleen Bitetti, a longtime figure on the alternative art scene, calls underground galleries "pulse points." Below are some of her favorites. Admission is free, but hours irregular, so call ahead.

Artists Foundation Galleries and Video Room 516 East Second St., South Boston. 617-464-3561. Bitetti established this tiny gallery in the Distillery Building. Most shows are one-person exhibitions of Massachusetts artists. Up now: "Cowboys," paintings by Irene Steppeforth; photographs by Monique Deschaines; video by Larimer Richards.

Brickbottom Gallery 1 Fitchburg St., Somerville. 617-776-3410. Brickbottom is an artists' residence, with its own gallery that features one-person shows and new-artist shows. Oct. 7-31: the artist group 4 from 11 presents various pieces under the umbrella title of "Narrative." (Get directions).

Bromfield Art Gallery 560 Harrison Ave., Boston. 617-451-3605. This cooperative is 25 years old and has 17 member artists. Through Oct. 23: "Fragments of the Heart," paintings and poems by Linda Hoffman, and "Bestiary," paintings and drawings by Elli Crocker. (Get directions).

Fort Point Art Community Gallery 300 Summer St., Boston. 617-423-4299. FPAC is in an artists' neighborhood in Fort Point Channel. The gallery, in the building's basement, offers thematic group shows. Up now: neighborhood artists working in varied media. (Get directions).

Gallery @ the Distillery 516 East Second St., South Boston. 617-742-2296. This multi-level gallery is run by artists who have studios in the building. The gallery is being renovated, so there's no show up now. The gallery is expected to open early next year.

The Gallery @ Green Street Green Street MBTA station on the Orange Line in Jamaica Plain. 617-522-0000. The gallery shows emerging artists as well as work by established artists that you won't find in commercial galleries. Through Oct. 16: a group show featuring the work of Fritz Buehner, Robin Dash, Carrie Moyer, Georgia Metz, Sheila Pepe, and Dana Puntar.

Hall Space 31 Norfolk Ave., Roxbury. 617-989-9985. This is an emerging artists gallery that stages shows that run for six weeks. Through Oct. 16: group show, featuring an installation by Doug Bell and paintings by Jessica Sorkin, Michelle Brown, Paul Inglis, Eric Shigaki, Matt Murphy, and Linda Price Sneddon.

Johnson Paint Gallery 355 Newbury St., Boston. 617-536-4065. Founded by artists who staff the Johnson Paint Store, this gallery is open to emerging artists. Through Oct. 26: watercolors by Esther Garcia-Eder and Francesca Delea. (Get directions).

Kingston Gallery 37 Thayer St., Boston, 617-423-4113. This 15-year-old artists' cooperative features three-week shows of work by members. Through Oct. 23: paintings and sculpture by Elif Soyer. (Get directions).

Mobius 354 Congress St., 5th floor, Boston. 617-542-7416. Offering performance, visual, sound, and other media, this art cooperative is more than 20 years old. Often, you'll find installation art that can't be sold, but is great fun to walk into. Up now: Maureen Albano's "Distillation of Memory," using lead, glass, salt, hair, and the facets of a home to examine the themes of longings and limitations. (Get directions).

Oni Gallery 84A Kingston St. (5th floor), Boston 617-542-6983. Emerging artist gallery. Through Oct. 16: a salon show featuring work by 31 local artists.

Out of the Blue 168 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617-354-5287. This gallery's peripatetic crew stages salon-style group shows and produces exhibitions at other places like the US Trust branch in Central Square, the Middle East, and TT the Bear's. Through Oct. 31: Cambridgeport Artists Open Studios show, with Out of the Blue member artists. (Get directions).

Zeitgeist Gallery 312 Broadway, Cambridge. 617-623-1065. Two exhibition spaces, a radio station, live music, and film screenings are among Zeitgeist's offerings. Through Oct. 17: paintings and linoleum cuts by Heidi Dentremont.