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Contemporary African Artists

Two new exhibitions opening this weekend — graphic design at the Albany Institute of History & Art and African art at the Tang — are certain to leave your eyes and mind reeling from the visual impact.

“Graphic Design — Get the Message!” at the Albany Institute explores the visual landscapes of posters, broadsides, packaging, paintings, decorative arts, historical photographs and computer interactives that get various messages across. By focusing on four themes — typography and early printing; commerce and graphic design; political and social messages; and the creative process — the exhibition addresses technology and innovation; manufacturing and commercial growth; changing aesthetics; typography; designers and the growth of the design profession; and social and political expression in graphic work. The exhibit runs through June 5.

Also on display will be innovative examples of Soviet-era posters, which will be shown as part of the New Russia Cultural Center’s third Winter Festival through Feb. 25.

The exhibitions open for a sneak peak at 6 p.m. Friday, during Albany’s 1st Friday events, before officially opening on Saturday. The Albany Institute is at 125 Washington Ave., Albany. For more information, call 463-4478 or visit http://albanyinstitute.org.

“Environment and Object — Recent African Art” at the Tang features the work of contemporary African artists who focus on the environment, through such means as photography of ravaged landscapes or sculpture crafted from objects found in abandoned junk. Artists in the exhibition include Yinka Shonibare, El Anatsui, Viye Diba, Barthelemy Toguo and Zwelethu Mthethwa, and emerging artists such as Bright Ugochukwu Eke, Lara Baladi and Nnenna Okore.

The exhibit opens with a free public reception at 6 p.m. Saturday and runs through July 31. Also Saturday, a 5 p.m. lecture features artists Diba, Eke and Toguo and art historian/curator Chika Okeke-Agulu of Princeton University, moderated by exhibition co-curators Lisa Aronson and John Weber. The Tang Museum is on the Skidmore Campus in Saratoga Springs. For more information, call 580-8080 or visit http://tang.skidmore.edu.

By MICHAEL JANAIRO
HEARST NEWSPAPERS

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• Senegalese artist Viyé Diba At Columbia (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)
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