Contemporary art is growing more conceptual, more 3-D, and more virtual, but in the midst of it all, painting holds its own. It’s the most expressive medium, full of light, color, and the sweep or concision of the artist’s hand. Meanwhile, alternative spaces are making a comeback (Lincoln Arts Project, Lot F Gallery, and more), and performance art is experiencing a rebirth in these parts, as galleries such as Anthony Greaney, Samson, and Proof invite young performance artists to strut their stuff, and others take to the streets and the waterways. Here are some of my highlights of the year, in no particular order:

In May, Heidi Kayser  anchored a raft in Fort Point Channel and undertook “The Remodeling Project,’’ a monthlong series of performances as part of Fort Point Art Community’s Floating Art Series. She regularly kayaked out to the raft to change the setup there — into an office space, a front yard, or whatever came to mind. Each visit to the raft, with its attendant chores, was a performance. A terrific public art project, it engaged passersby while posing questions about personal space.