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Yesterday, a cold rainy night, I had eagerly dressed to attend the Annual Resident Artists Exhibit and Sale at the Buffalo Arts Studio.
The advertisement card for the show listed 32 resident artists. I recognized two names thought I’ll go to escape the weather to see an artist friend Roberto Pacheco.
As I walked into the upstairs corridor of the building once a ford car plant, I knew I was in the right place when I read a phrase from a poem written on the wall, ” the world is a beautiful place and poetry like bread is for everyone.”
Yes, art is for everyone I thought as I entered the sparsely attended gallery show. Sadly, the weather must have kept many potential visitors home.
Yet, the sounds of the students playing the violins ushered visitors into the resident artists studios and exhibit areas.
Dennis Bertram, the first resident artist studio visited I had a chance to sit down talk with his lovely wife Peggy Brooks-Bertram, a scholar-historian she chatted about her newly completed book on the life of Drusilla Dunjee (1876-1941) a black female scholar historian on the ancient roots of African history.
Resident artist Dennis Bertram may be one of the most significant painters in WNY and NYS because he’s versatile in theme and style from portraits, landscapes with geometric elements imbued in his paintings, giving his work a sense he’s among a top tier avant-garde painters in the U.S. today.
His paintings simply are phenomenal and he enjoys talking about his work and meeting guests visiting his studio to view his magnificent paintings. Bertram works in leather as well has journals, belt buckles, a briefcase and other similar items he designed.
I asked him about a memorable moment he responded the day a billionaire visited Buffalo purchased seven of his paintings.
After leaving his studio I stopped at the hors d’ oeuvres table tasted delicious tidbits stopped to visit Linda Toomey a seasoned painter and adventurous outdoors woman. She had awesome landscapes purchased a card with a print of Niagara Falls. She enjoys kayaking over challenging waterways,
Then, entered the studio of Muhammad Z Zaman he had Middle Eastern motifs on his paintings works rarely depicted in these shows so his was interesting to see.
As I continued on my journey, I stopped to chat with resident artist Betty Pitts-Foster who graduated from UB met her husband now deceased married had a wonderful life together even traveled to Europe because of him she said.
I purchased three cards with her prints two her husband Frederick Foster had sketched. Her artwork depicted black motifs and earthly colors. When a visitor entered her studio she told her she almost fainted because they were so beautiful.
Also, we talked about the Freedom Wall mural on Ferry Street and her upbringing in the neighborhood along with notable poet laureate Lucille Clifton who lived on Purdy, the block between Northland and East Ferry.
She waved John Baker into the studio as we talked introduced him as an artist on the Freedom Wall mural.
Last resident artist visited Karen Ann Buchner with her charming fiancé, born in Niagara Falls, NY. now a resident of Buffalo. Her sculptures made from everyday ordinary materials are awesome and extraordinarily exceptional.
On her artist statement Buchner wrote” I work repetively to solidify ephemeral impressions into solid form (souvenirs) utilizing materials readily available and simple.”
She works with ” common household materials-strings, wax, masking tape, wire paper mâché and plaster parts” though she has been classically train as a traditional sculptress “due to a diagnosis at age 34 of Essential Tremor.”
While at the Buchner studio met up with Kenny Morgan teacher-photographer at Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes. He had health set backs but returned to carry on his work at Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes.
Roberto Pacheco studio door closed didn’t see him as planned hope to meet up with him another time.
I arrived home with 9 cards 3 for $5.00 and had the artist sign one each. What a great bargain to send as cards to your favorite friends, family and artists for Christmas or anytime.
The exhibits run through December 22 at the Buffalo Arts Studio, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street.
Photo shown: Karen Ann Buchner
Especially for Women in Buffalo, New York 