If you’re in Saratoga Springs this week and looking to take in the local arts scene, plan a visit to the The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College. On Thursday night, the Tang will host a classical concert by Decoda, and Saturday marks the opening of a new visual arts exhibition, Beauty and Bite.
Decoda
Decoda, a chamber music collective from New York City, will perform as part of the the Tang’s Upbeat on the Roof series on Thursday, July 18 at 7 pm. The ensemble is an affiliate of Carnegie Hall and is currently at Skidmore College for the 2-week-long Decoda | Skidmore Chamber Music Institute, in which members of the collective instruct students in their craft. This will be the second concert in the Tang’s 19th annual Thursday-night concert series, which continues through August 22.
The concert will take place in Skidmore College’s Payne Presentation Room, with parking directly outside. The event is free to attend, but it’s recommended that you arrive early to obtain a seat, as the series often draws a crowd.
Beauty and Bite
The Tang’s latest exhibition, Beauty and Bite, opens on Saturday, July 20 and features a variety of artists working across several mediums. The exhibition focuses on issues of race and gender, and includes many pieces that have been recently acquired by the museum and never been on display before.
You can explore the gallery Tuesday through Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm (7 pm on Fridays during July and August). On Tuesday, July 23 curator Rebecca McNamara will also be hosting a guided tour, starting at 12 pm.
Featured artists include Frank Moore, Kara Walker, Nayland Blake, Nan Goldin, Nancy Grossman, William Kentridge, and Glenn Ligon. The title of the exhibition takes its inspiration from Moore’s work, which the Tang, in a statement quoting the artist’s New York Times obituary, “brought beauty and bite to themes of scientific progress, environmental pollution and the medical establishment.” Mediums represented include drawings, screen prints, photography, and video.
Beauty and Bite will remain on display through January 19, 2020.
