From political propaganda to advertising, the graphic punch of a well-designed poster has long been the preferred way to get a message across quickly and with a subliminal current of urgency sparked by its succinctness.

	"SLEEP TIG8T" by Deborah Shmerler is part of the "Seeing Red" exhibit at the 5151 Penn gallery. Click photo for larger image.

"Seeing Red" is a provocative project of 34 posters created by 35 local, national and international artists and designers to raise consciousness about a variety of global and national issues, and to benefit charities.

Among participants are Milton Glaser, who created the now iconic "I heart (read love) NY" design; Brett Yasko, a co-founder of the locally based Partisan Project; and Zimbabwe artist/designer Chaz Maviyane-Davies, who titles his activist work "Creative Defiance."

The posters will be exhibited at 5151 Penn gallery in Garfield through the month beginning with an opening reception from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday.

On a blood red field under the bold black heading "Darfur," Glaser prints familial designations such as "Brothers, Mothers, Wives, Grandpas," each of which is crossed off with a single black stroke. "We are all African" is written across the bottom along with contact information for those who want "to help."

Maviyane-Davies aligns matchsticks to form a cross accompanied by "Warning: Keep Out of the Reach of Politicians." In his artist's statement, he accuses George W. Bush of using the "presidential podium as a pulpit," and warns of the consequences.

Yasko's all-text piece is an eloquent litany of ruminations, its tone inspired by the tombstone quotation of the late civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.

"I'm tired," he begins, "of being on the left; of being a whiny, liberal democrat; ... of not being a true American; ... of laughing with 'The Daily Show' but becoming very depressed once it's over; ... of waiting for New Orleans to be rebuilt; ... of literally getting sick to my stomach watching soldiers return home without their arms and legs; ... of continuing to care; of refusing to give up hope; and of desperately wanting to start over. I'm tired."

It's no coincidence that the passage heavily weighs the left side of the composition while the blank, silent right offers neither empathy nor dialogue.

Yasko's is also one of the few posters that is reductively black and white. Most also incorporate the color red, to which the project title alludes along with the personal passion expressed by the artists.

The exhibition was organized by Chris Thomas, Jesse Arneson and Julia Zimmerman, the former two of Pittsburgh-based Wall to Wall Studio's Honolulu branch, which opened two years ago.

Pete Popivchak, local project spokesman and director of sales and marketing for Wall to Wall, clarifies that while several employees are involved, the project is something the designers have done on their own.

Other poster artists with local ties are Bernard Uy and Neil Donnelly, formerly of Pittsburgh and now in Honolulu and Chicago, respectively; and Pittsburghers Lindsay Clark, Kristin Hughes and Larkin Werner.

The limited edition prints were silkscreened by Artists Image Resource on the North Side.

They're being sold individually for $200 or as a portfolio. Of the 15 sets, four are in Pittsburgh.

All profits after printing costs will go to artist-designated charities, which include the World Health Organization, Planned Parenthood, the Clinton Global Initiative, Moveon.org and Greenpeace.

If all the posters are sold, it's estimated that more than $60,000 will be raised for the charities, Popivchak says.

The exhibiting gallery is owned by Stephan Koledin and Rosemary Barton, husband and wife, who live on the top floors of the building they purchased two years ago.

"Seeing Red" is the third exhibition they've held, and in December they'll feature work by artist Fabrizio Gerbino. Among other options they're looking at for the space is performance and artists' studios.

"Red" continues through a closing reception from 7 to 11 p.m. Nov. 27. Other access is by appointment. For information, visit 5151penn.com or call 412-661-9296.

AAP Annual

The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh estimates that more than 600 people attended the opening reception of its 96th Annual at Carnegie Museum of Art Thursday.

During the awards ceremony, emcee Rick Sebak of WQED recognized AAP President Ken Beer as the 2006 VITA of the Year Award Winner. In September, Beer was one of six honored with a WQED/Dominion Volunteer in the Arts Award. His selection as primary winner earned $4,000 for the Associated Artists.

The VITA citation says, in part, that Beer's "strong leadership skills and abilities to forge partnerships helped make the AAP a unified and financially solvent organization able to fulfill its role in supporting artists in the Pittsburgh region. Ken's foresight has significantly strengthened AAP's outreach efforts and ability to connect with members of the community."

The Annual continues through Jan. 15. It was jurored by Carnegie International 2008 curator Douglas Fogle, who selected 88 works by 73 artists.