Getting Ready!

Really, I'm Here

Hello all! I'm really all over the internet. I am on the Boundless Living Challenge- 45 days to get close to or reach a goal. Since I am so interested in getting my photography to the next level, I figured this would be helpful.
I'm also getting into a photo project with the state wide MARK group. I want to work with the adapted reuse buildings in Buffalo. At first I was thinking about focusing on the mayors 5,000 in 5 years plan (demolishing a that number of houses in 5 years). But really, that's kind of depressing. The project is centered on the "inspiring" aspects of NYS. After Gov. Patterson's bleak look of the states economy, I figured I'd better go with something more positive. We do have some great examples of that, starting with Ani Difranco's church. Sending the proposal tonight!
Lastly, going to Greg Klyma's CD release tonight, if we make it after dinner with the in-laws. I helped with some photos for the package, and the songs are great!

Buffalo Getting it's Due!

Yea, it's official. Buffalo has rated #1 among American mid-sized cities as an arts destination. Yes, we've been scrapping and clawing our way up over the years, but now we're NUMBER ONE!
American Style magazine has had this survey for a number of years, and the cities are grouped in Big Cities, mid-sized cities, and small towns and cities. And we're finally there. This is a great year to get there, too- with the new Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse and Darwin D. Martin restoration, the new Burchfield Penny Arts Center, and , well, all of us great artists, organizing in different ways (myself in the NYFA Mark program) to make ourselves known.

Thank You, Mark Freeland

I was trying to describe, in my last post, about what it feels like for those of us whose life was touched by Mark now that he has transformed to the next level. I don't say that we can relate to the Freeland family, or to his life partner, Carla- I can't begin to comprehend the pain there. No, I'm speaking about the many friends that we have seen in the last couple of days at the wake and the memorial. So, I tried to relate that feeling in the last post. But Tony Billoni hit that right on the head at yesterday's memorial. We're in a vortex. Time does not exist as we know it right now.
Tony was joined by many others speaking at the memorial yesterday. One of the common, and best things that was focused on were recollections that so many people in "real life" may not have found amusing. Because we all know who Mark was and what he was about, we all took a break from our mourning to laugh. It was great to see a lot of people I haven't seen in many years, although the circumstances weren't what any of us would have liked. I think it will take us all a few days (or weeks, months) to get our sense of time back. I don't know if I even want that....
I was speaking with Tina Peel a few minutes ago. She is planning an extended Local Show next week. It will be a tribute to Mark Freeland, with not only music, but with snippets of several interviews with him that she has had with him over the years- recent, as well as the late '80s.
The show will air on 107.7 The Lake, Monday, June 25, 10-Midnight.
Thank you Mark, and all the friends that I have seen in the vortex....

Artists and Models 2007

This Saturday! Artists and Models has been the high point of many a Buffalo artists' spring for over 20 years. There is always a mix of the unusual art, the dark humor, the sweaty dancing, the fashion (both high and low), the drunkenness, the mystery and the who's who. And all for a good cause! This year, it will be held at the Central Terminal - one of my very favorite places in the city. One of the best things about Artists and Models is the way that the artists and organizers both take advantage of the vibe of the space that's being used and make it clearly their own, just for that night. This artist has had tons of fun at all I have attended (and I have only been to 6 or 7).
Buffalo Rising has posted a great podcast about the event. There is a guest appearance by David Butler (who I was specifically thinking of when I used the term "dark humor" above) who has been an artist in 18 of the 20 A&M events that Hallwalls has presented over the years. He not only describes his installation at this years party, but recalls some memorable A&Ms of years gone by.
See you at the Central Terminal this Saturday, June 9th!

Hockey, Anyone?

Granted, this is an arts blog. Sports, well, don't quite fit...
It is, however, a Buffalo blog as well, and this town is pretty happy right now!
Yesterday, with a win against the Washington Capitals, The Buffalo Sabres won the President's Trophy- guaranteeing home ice for the playoff run, and signifying the best season record in the NHL. All the details are well reported on Bfloblog, where many from around the country (and around the world) gather for an open thread during Sabres games. Pretty damn cool, and the playoffs haven't even started yet.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their game last night, which means that, on this Easter Sunday, I will become an New York Islanders fan. Today only.
The picture above is from NHL.com, taken yesterday in Washington.

The Elmwood Festival of the Arts

The Elmwood art fest applications are ready to go. Artists have a deadlind of April 14, so get your images together. BuffaloPundit beat me to it, so I'll leave the details to him.
Good. That means I can comment on the festival itself. When it first started, it was a much needed breath of fresh air. The Allentown fest is fine for people watching, but there are very few Buffalo artists involved. Less than a handful. The past few years, that weekend is spent at Music is Art. A couple months later at Elmwood, it is quite the opposite. Being a Buffalo artist myself, I know so many of the exhibitors. They're your friends; your neighbors.
The musical entertainment is supurb. Buffaloroots (myself and Kevin) covered it last year (2nd story on the link), and we were running between the stages, making sure not to miss anyone we wanted to see- Terry Sullivan, The Valkyries, David Kane and Mike Miskuly, etc.
The exposure to many Buffalo non-profs is nice too. Everyone from WBFO to the Buffalo Animal Shelter (complete with adoptable pets) is there with plenty of information about their causes.
The Elmwood Festival of the Arts is really a well spent summer weekend.

Press Release: Buffalo Art Keepers

Courtesy of Patrick Klinck, Buffalo Art Keepers

"Erie County Legislature takes up controversial Albright-Knox art sale
The Erie County Legislature will address the issue of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s controversial decision to sell at auction 207 works of art from the gallery’s permanent collection at the Feb. 22 meeting of the legislature’s Community Enrichment Committee. The auctions are scheduled to begin at Sotheby’s in New York on March 19. Michele Iannello, Erie County legislator for Kenmore-Tonawanda and chair of the Community Enrichment Committee, which oversees cultural non-profits that receive county funding, has invited representatives of the Albright-Knox and the Buffalo Art Keepers, a group of members that is opposing the sale, to present their respective sides at the meeting. Museum director Louis Grachos and members of the museum’s board of directors are expected to make a presentation explaining their case for the sale. The Community Enrichment Committee was instrumental in preventing the sale of the Buffalo Museum of Science “Milestones of Science” collection in the mid 1990s. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. in the legislature’s chambers on the fourth floor of County Hall, 92 Franklin St., Buffalo. Buffalo Art Keepers is a group of Albright-Knox Art Gallery members who are fervently opposed to the sale led by Carl Dennis, retired University at Buffalo faculty member and winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for poetry. “Selling off so many objects at once, many of which are rare, and of the highest quality, is unprecedented in the history of our museum, and should not have been done without the most extensive, open consultation with the gallery membership and the larger community,” said Dennis. “The scheduled sale has not only been justified unconvincingly and managed without transparency but (it) has also betrayed the basic obligation of the gallery to cherish the cultural heritage of our community.” No gallery members or supporting foundations were consulted during the decision-making process that led to announcement of the sale in The Buffalo News on Nov. 11, 2006. The complete list of works for sale was not announced until Feb. 13, 2007. The Buffalo Art Keepers group is currently seeking authorization from 300 gallery members (five percent of the total gallery membership of 6,000) to improve its standing as representatives of the membership interested in blocking the sale. Members can access a copy of the authorization form at ah.bfn.org/bak/bak.html. Membership in the gallery can be obtained over the phone, in person or on line at albrightknox.org."

The Sale

The Buffalo News printed a partial list of the artwork going on sale at Sotheby's starting in March. I've written about this before, noting that I see both sides of this argument- the Gallery and the Buffalo Art Keepers. For selfish reasons, perhaps, I don't want them sold. I have spent countless hours wandering the Albright, and always fascinated by the antiquities, always raising questions in my mind about how the works were created, the tools and skills that were used in their creation. I wonder what questions will be missed when young people don't get to see those pieces.
Then, there is the fact that a lot of these artworks have not been out of storage in years- even decades. Is it right that no one sees them; that the money that can be made will expand the collection with contemporary work that will bee seen? After all, art is being created all the time, the contemporary showing the inspiration of the now. This argument will rage on both sides. I'm going to stand back...

Buffalo Arts Studio Opening

Opening Saturday, Feb. 3, 7-10
Exhibition dates: February 3- March 30, 2007

Reasons for Spring

First, I'd like to wish a Happy New Year to all of CB readers. I know I've been a bit light on the posting, but I'm hoping you got to see our Seasons Greetings on out brother site, BuffaloRoots.
Now, the news, which you may have seen on Buffalo Rising, but I thought I'd reiterate it here, because, well, it's really damn cool. June 2, Hallwalls will be throwing their first Artist and Models event in 4 years at The Central Terminal. The event will benefit both Hallwalls and the Central Terminal Restoration group.
Many of you have experienced an Artist and Models in the past, but for those of you who have not, you are in for a treat. It's a party, it's a dance, it's a bar, it's a variety of Art Installations. It's fun, it's decadent, it's an eye-opener. And this year, it'll be at the terminal- man, I can't imagine what they are going to do with all the space, but I am really looking forward to this. I'll report back as news comes in....

Make Way for the Waterfront!

I love the DVR. Last night as I was working, Channel 4 had a special about Buffalo's Waterfront, and I watched the recording this evening. It spanned the years - all the failed attempts at development, and the plans for present day renewal. I realize that here in Buffalo, the popular thing seems to be waiting until it happens, and saying that it won't. I'm not biting this time. Feel free to tell me I told you so, but there is a really good feeling in this town, and I think we're going to ride it this time. There is a good plan, and Benderson can't seem to stop building, so perhaps they can spend their energy building something worthwhile for a change. The living spaces downtown are filling up, and hell, even Dunkin' Donuts is even making their way down town. So I'm with Buffalo Pundit (he's got the drawings on his site) on this one: let's all get behind this and make it work. That Ch. 4 special was really inspiring. Buffalo is (back) on it's way....