SLEIGHT Of Hand, the new exhibition at The ArtSpace in York, could be the scene of a new world record this evening.

World dice-stacking champion Jack Diamond will be attempting to break his own record as the centrepiece of the private view from 6pm to 8pm at the Tower Street gallery.

"The ArtSpace has taken on a life of its own," says gallery co-owner Greg McKee. "Tonight we have Jack Diamond; last month local rockers Death Cigarettes played a set. It's like The ArtSpace is the Doctor Who of York's art scene - every season there's a new identity!"

Sleight Of Hand ties in with York Magic Festival 2006. "We're always excited at exploring new themes, and York's first magic festival was the perfect excuse to expand our experiments," says gallery partner Ails Denholm.

"This exhibition is taking the best from our two previous shows - the darkness of Femininity and the pop fizz of Retro Techno - to deal with the kind of issues that magic involves: enchantment, illusion, deception."

That said, Greg reveals the show will not focus too much on the frolicsome side of magic. Kay Goodridge's contribution is a case in point. "We'd seen some of the photography she'd done for local charity Stretch and we were keen to use her photos of female inmates at Askham Grange as a metaphor for the roll of the dice at the card table of life," he says.

Stretch director Carlotta Goulden explains the construction of the images: "Each female prisoner had their family life projected on to them. Kay and I ensured they had a lot of control over the production and editing of their images. We're calling the group of photos 'I'm not serving time, time is serving me'."

Carlotta reckons these photographs are in keeping with the exhibition theme, but The ArtSpace's decision to use one of Stretch's images on the cover of its latest monthly artzine has sparked an immediate response.

"We've already had a few complaints from people worried we're exploiting these female prisoners, but our concern is to agitate discussion," says Greg. "One of the issues we're looking at is 'The Disappeared'. Stretch's photos of women prisoners and the accompanying images of their respective family lives help ensure they don't disappear altogether."

Sleight Of Hand also affirms The ArtSpace's remit of diverse artists. Paula Zimmermann returns with her characteristically large and colourful canvases; Frank Holli offers snapshots of macabre fairytales; newcomer David Tinkler introduces optical illusions, as does Selby-born Royal Academy artist Blue Wilson; and Polish-born Magdalena Maria Brieger extends her range of semi-abstract studies of horses, humans and flowers.

Meanwhile, renaissance man Rory Motion presents a humorous pagan celebration of movement and David Kettley conjures semi-gothic, semi-cinematic portrayals of the impossible.

"In an overwhelmingly technological world art can be a gateway to magic and mystery," says Rory. "Magic is there in the real world, you just need to know how to look for it," adds David.

"Rory and David's work is especially exciting," says Ails. "We're honoured to have such witty, visionary pieces on our walls. It's very different from the sexy sleaze of Retro Techno!"

Sleight Of Hand appears, as if by magic, from this evening until June 23, open daily.