MEDIA CONTACT: Polly Burks
561-297-2595, pburks@fau.edu
BOCA RATON, FL (October 18, 2006) – Florida Atlantic University’s University Galleries will present two international exhibitions displaying more than 600 examples of original poster art. The two exhibitions, “The Graphic Imperative, International Posters for Peace, Social Justice and the Environment, 1965 – 2005,” and “Graphic Noise, Art at 1,000 decibels,” will be presented from November 10 through January 27, 2007 in the Schmidt Center Gallery and the Schmidt Center Gallery Public Space on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. A pre-opening lecture by “Graphic Imperative” co-curator Elizabeth Resnick and a public reception for the two exhibitions will be held Thursday, November 9 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Both the lecture and the reception are free and open to the public.
“The Graphic Imperative” is an exhibition of more than 100 politically themed posters from the United States, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa and Japan. The posters refer to subjects from starvation to genocide and from air pollution to AIDS. The exhibition was organized by three co-curators from two different American universities: Elizabeth Resnick and Chaz Maviyane-Davies, both associate professors of Communication Design at Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts; and Frank Baseman, associate professor of Graphic Design Communication, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“Graphic Noise” is an exhibition of 450 mostly rock concert posters produced during the last five years. Many of the exhibition’s posters demonstrate the revival of the silk-screen print among today’s poster artists. The exhibition originates from MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta) and was the best-attended exhibition in the museum’s history. Laura Moody, the museum’s director of marketing and the exhibition’s curator, describes the exhibition as the “tip of the proverbial iceberg” compared to the 40,000 plus posters one can find on the popular poster website www.gigposter.com.
In association with “Graphic Noise,” Jeff Matz, founder of Lure Design in Orlando, will give a free public lecture on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Building, Room 101, adjacent to the Schmidt Center Gallery. Matz will then present a silkscreen workshop on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 1 p.m. in the Visual Arts Building, Room 104. There is a participation fee for the workshop and enrollment is limited. For registration information, e-mail Stephanie Cunningham at cunningh@fau.edu.
“These poster exhibitions reflect the strength of FAU’s graphic design program within our department of visual arts and art history,” said University Galleries Director W. Rod Faulds. “The Galleries at FAU are using this project to inaugurate a new era of presenting more design exhibitions.”
The two poster exhibitions are also the current focus for the University Galleries’ Museum Education Program. This program trains and engages university students to provide interactive tours and outreach programs to public schools and after school programs. The program provides teacher training materials and field trips during the run of the exhibition.
The two poster exhibitions are made possible in part by exhibition sponsors: GE Polymer Shapes; MAB Paint; Sunbelt Rentals, Boca Raton; and the American Institute of Graphic Artists, Miami Chapter. Mary Sue Donohue and L.A. Perkins from Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs, LLP, are sponsoring the November 9 opening reception. University Galleries’ programs are made possible in part by State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; the Palm Beach County Cultural Council; FAU Student Government through Student Activity Fees; and Friends of the University Galleries.
The University Galleries are free and open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. Groups are welcome at other hours by appointment. For further information, call 561-297-2966.
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