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With bursts of color and energy emanating from the canvas you can almost hear the vibrant song and dance depicted in the 47 pieces on display in the latest exhibition at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, ˇMerengue! Visual Rhythms! A celebration of the Dominican Republic’s classic form of dance, 27 artists tell its story through paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture and video. The exhibit runs Jan. 16 to March 16.

At the Glassell Gallery in the Shaw Center the LSU School of Art welcomes visiting artist Sandow Birk and his The Depravities of War exhibit. The show features 15 high-contrast prints made from 4-by-8-foot woodblock cuts with scenes depicting the war in Iraq. The show hangs Jan. 19 through Feb. 17. A reception for the artist is Jan. 26 and a symposium Jan. 27.