Albany Underground Artists Show

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Albany, NY – On Thursday, May 11th, the Albany Underground Artists will return with an exhibition entitled "Unification," that will feature the greatest diversity of visual artists and art coalitions yet assembled in an AUA show. Unification also represents the formation of a collaboration between AUA and two other local arts organizations working to establish permanent creative art spaces for Albany's emerging scene: The Barn and Kuumba Arts & Cultural Center. On Wednesday, May 10, from 6pm – 8pm, there will be a preview showing; media are encouraged to attend. Entry to the show is free, but a minimum $5 donation is suggested as there is no budget for this show; Unification is being made possible through the generosity of participating artists, businesses and residents. A portion of all donations, as well as sales of artist works and merchandise, will benefit The Barn and Kuumba. The Barn, a not-for-profit creative arts incubator, will house affordable artist residences and work/rehearsal studios, a live music/performance space, multiple galleries, public darkroom, multimedia lab, and more. Kuumba will provide a repository for people of African descent arts and cultural forms and an environment for the creation, exhibition, performance and education to the public. These spaces will be available to aspiring regional artists of all disciplines, particularly those who cannot afford or otherwise obtain such space. As with earlier shows, AUA has chosen a vacant commercial space in which to stage Unification: the first floor of 457 Madison (formerly Dinapoli Opticians), located next to the Lark Tavern just west of Madison and Lark Street. "Unification" brings together twenty-three contemporary regional artists as well as three guest artists from New York City. Participants include well established artists (Leigh Wen, Michael Oatman, Chris Stain), veteran AUA exhibitors and first time entrants. Many styles will be represented, including photography, digital media, sculpture, abstract and representational paintings, tagging and more. "Through this show, the Albany Underground Artists are attempting to show both the abundance and range of talent we have right here under our noses. More than that, we want to gain momentum for permanent art spaces here in our city," explains show curator, Chip Fasciana. The Albany Underground Artists formed two years ago in response to a lack of galleries and exhibition opportunities available to Albany's vibrant, but oft unheralded visual artists. AUA sought out vacant buildings as one-time venues in an ongoing series of exhibitions that utilized such nontraditional locales as a former bakery, bank and factory. The most recent AUA show in September, 2005 filled 4,600 square feet of the Albany Institute of History and Art with works by some 30 local artists, tripling the Institute's all-time attendance record for a single night. Collectively, AUA shows have attracted thousands of attendees from aficionados to the curious, with the intent of bolstering a healthier and more dynamic art and social scene in Albany. Unification will remain open through Sunday, May 14. Unification Hours: Wednesday May 10: 6pm –8pm – PREVIEW SHOWING (*Not Open to the Public) Thursday, May 11: 6pm–9pm – OPENING RECEPTION Friday, May 12: 11am – 7pm Saturday, May 13: 10am – 6pm Sunday, May 14: 10am – 4pm For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Mirel at 518-935-4858 or email: info@albanybarn.org
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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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