September, 2011 BSA Newsletter (PDF)
There is never a dull moment on the Buffalo Society of Artist’s frontline. We, the board, are still marching to the beat of 120 years of history in the making. September marks our “Eye Candy” Fundraiser, a first for BSA, which takes place on Friday, September 23, 2011 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Vern Stein’s Art Gallery in Williamsville. We are expecting a crowd and have about 85 artworks to display in a very impressive lineup. I have seen them all and there are many very beautiful small gems that will be placed for auction. You must tell your family, friends and art aficionados about an art party they should not miss. No dancing girls, but we will have “Candy Girls”, no Rolling Stones but we will have Pro Bono and no Jay Leno but much better with Bert Gambini of NPR. It is my sincere hope that we are able to raise enough funds to fill the strongbox and move forward quickly to record many more visual artists. A few of them will be on view on the big screen as you party heartily. Remember that for non-donors and additional guests, it is $15 with a reservation by check mailed in advance to Coni Minneci or $20 at the door on the night of the event. Additional information is available on the BSA website.
No need to get up early on Saturday morning because you don’t need to be anywhere until 2:30. Do not forget the Studio Visits on Saturday, September 24th first at Fotini Galanes’ mural presentation at Ledgeview Elementary School in Clarence (2:30 p.m.) and then Pat Hamm’s egg tempera demo following at 3:30 in Clarence Center. We will remind you with details via E-Flash.
October is the month of the New Member Jury as well as our Art and the Law Seminar.
The New Member Jury will take place on Saturday, October 15th at Hyatt’s (upstairs) once again with a 10 to 11 a.m. drop-off for artists wishing to submit. We are anxiously awaiting the receipt of many more W.N.Y. artists interested in becoming involved in BSA. All needed information for prospective members is on the website or by calling our membership chair, Gary Wolfe. Again, please pass the word.
Mark your calendars for the Art and the Law Seminar to take place at the Burchfield Penney Art Center’s auditorium on October 20th, 6-9 P.M. Andy Russell and Gary Wolfe have been organizing a presentation to discuss all the many legal issues that play a role in the life of art making with none other than Steven Fox, an Intellectual Properties attorney. Topics covered will be the Right to Express Yourself, Publishing your Expression, Copyrights are Communicated Imagination, Author is Owner except when…, Documenting your Ownership, and Using Someone Else’s Property. Even if it sounds too mind boggling, it will not be so with Steven. If you are an artist, these are issues you must be aware of in your field of desire. This event is open to the public and we welcome additional guests.
November – the month of our Triple Exhibitions…celebrating 120 years with the production of a special 115th year Catalogue including images and text of all three exhibitions.
The cannons will fire on November 10th at the Carnegie Art Center, on November 12th at the U.B. Anderson Art Gallery and one more time at the Burchfield Penney Art Center during the opening on November 20th. The decisions by our curator, Sara Kellner were received with both elation and dejection. My first thought was of those artists and the works that were not accepted. I say, throw a fit and then channel the pain; target this work, now completed, for another submission! Congratulations to the 11 artists accepted for installation and the 27 artists accepted for non-installation out of a total of 66 artists submitting. The artworks at the exhibitions will provide a powerful testimony to the triumphs of BSA artists.
Following is the official BPAC release of the 3rd segment of our exhibitions:
“Sunday, November 20, 2011, 2 P.M.
Burchfield Penney Art Center, Collection Study Area
Introduction to the Buffalo Society of Artists’ Exhibit & Archives
The Burchfield Penney Art Center will celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Buffalo Society of Artists with an exhibit of art and archival material relating to historic BSA members. This Collection Study Area exhibit, which will be on view from November 10, 2011 through January 8, 2012, coincides with the 115th Annual Catalogue Exhibition held in two sites: the Carnegie Art Center (Nov. 10, 2011 – Jan. 8, 2012 ) and the UB Anderson Gallery (Nov. 12, 2011 – Jan. 8, 2012 ). As part of the Rendezvous program, Nancy Weekly, Head of Collections and Programs, will offer an introduction to the exhibit that has been organized with assistance from BSC museum studies students in her “Curatorship” class. Tullis Johnson, Archives & Information Resource Manager, will describe the Buffalo Society of Artists Archives and recent progress in making its historic materials accessible through an ongoing, comprehensive inventory and future digitization project.”
Earlier in November please note:
Art Flix is scheduled for Wednesday November 2nd, at Gary Wolfe’s home beginning at the regular time of 6:30 p.m. Call or e-mail Gary to reserve a seat. We will be viewing “Art 21 / Season 5“ with sub-categories of Transformation and Systems. Some of the artists include Cindy Sherman, Paul McCarthy, Julie Mehretu, John Baldessari and Alan McCollum. This is behind the scenes footage of some of today’s most thought provoking art making. Keep in mind that Paul Rybarczyk is our Lending Librarian and will gladly loan one of our “flix” to you – just call.
Wednesday, November 16th is the date of our Annual Dinner and the Election of new Board Members. Catherine Tillou has arranged a multi-course sit-down dinner at the Westwood Country Club in Amherst from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The approximate cost will be $30 per person and this will include soup, salad, choice of an entrée, dessert and beverage. We will also have a private open cash bar set-up within a very well appointed room. More to follow but be there or be square!
Our Nominations Committee comprised of Bill Maggio, Patti Harris and Ann Stievater is compiling a slate for open Board positions. If anyone is seriously interested in running, please contact one of the above very soon.
And just when you thought the 120th year celebration was over, December arrives with one more exhibition for BSA. Elisabeth Samuels, director of Indigo Art Gallery in Buffalo has graciously offered to have a small works invitational exhibit in recognition of our 120 years. Billed as: “120 Years…Buffalo Society of Artists…Small Works Invitational”. As of this writing, Elisabeth has almost completed her selection of 20 artists for the exhibit. The Opening will be on December 2nd, a First Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and close on January 15, 2012.
Please mark the dates and attend some of these events brought to you by the people you elected. We hope to see many of you.
Before ending, I need to make note of events that have transpired at Artpark.
Artpark showcased both the Exhibiting Members regular exhibition and the New Members Open Exhibition affording all of our membership (including Associates) exposure to the Niagara frontier and beyond crowd of visitors and buyers. Sales were brisk and a comfortable profit was realized. Exact financial details will be available at the Annual Meeting. The First International Poetry Festival was a success with approximately 15 poets (both American and Canadian) presenting to a sizeable audience. The day was rather warm but listening to the poets reading their own creations was a source of great pleasure. We thank George Grace for chairing this event and look forward to another in the coming year.
We are a more complex group of artists than just several years ago, but still hold that one of the most distinctive forces within the group has been a tradition of art that allows the individual imagination to yield a variety of inventive art forms, exhibitions and programming.
Stay tuned…
Beth Pedersen
