Art On Wheels and Olmsted Crescent Plan Wheel-O-Rama on Bidwell

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In a final lap for Art On Wheels, the ground-breaking arts trail that spanned the Buffalo Niagara region, all roads will lead to Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo for Wheel-O-Rama on Bidwell.

Organizers from Art On Wheels are gathering approximately 40 of the 64 Art On Wheels art cars and sculptures on the grass islands of Bidwell Parkway off Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, for a free final showing from Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 19. This event will give people the chance to see a majority of the pieces in one convenient location in the heart of the Elmwood Village. An Art On Wheels information booth, featuring discounted memorabilia from the unique public art project, will be staffed daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Two of the art cars will be awarded in a raffle, with tickets going on sale at the information booth October 10. The winners will be announced at the live Art On Wheels auction set for October 21 (see details below).

Art On Wheels sculptures will remain in place at Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Delaware Park (at the Rose Garden and off Meadow Road adjacent to the Scajaquada Expressway) and the H.H. Richardson Towers - key sites in the Olmsted Crescent.

“We felt that if Art On Wheels could attract visitors to Bidwell Parkway, it was worthwhile to share the tremendous improvements the Olmsted group has made to beautify the park and the museum district,” said Wendy Attea-Huntington, project director for Art On Wheels.

“We’re pleased to be a partner in this event, because we share the same goals with Art On Wheels of bringing culture and excitement to the City of Buffalo and especially the Olmsted Crescent area,” said Deborah Ann Trimble, executive director of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “There are several great pieces from this project in the Crescent area between Delaware Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and we’re thrilled this fun event will bring more people to an Olmsted-designed space.”

“We expect that Bidwell Parkway will be filled with experienced arts trail blazers looking to see their favorite artwork one last time or those who have yet to visit the arts trail and want to experience the art all in one place,” said Cindy Abbott-Letro, Art On Wheels chair.

Free Family Fun Event

A two-day free family fun closing celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 18 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday, October 19 (11a.m.-5 p.m.) on Bidwell Parkway. Visitors to the family fun event will meet the artists who created the art cars and sculptures, hear five well-known bands (including Sunday’s closing act – Big Wheelie & the Hub Caps), interactive children’s activities and children’s entertainer Glenn Colton. Food, drink and discounted Art On Wheels memorabilia will be available all weekend long.

Live Auction

All of the pieces on the Arts Trail will go up for sale in October. The remaining art will be offered at auction to take place in Rockwell Hall Auditorium at Buffalo State College on Tuesday, October 21. The auction, conducted by Cash Cunningham, will be an exciting fast-paced fun-filled night with plenty of surprises, celebrity guests and more. Registration and viewing will begin at 6 p.m. with the auction starting at 7 p.m.

Prior to the auction event, the public will have the chance to bid on-line as a selection of art will be offered through E-Bay from October 15- 24.

About Art On Wheels

Art On Wheels is presented by M&T Bank, organized by Burchfield-Penney Art Center and The Materials Reuse Project in partnership with the Buffalo News. Major sponsors include State Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz, and the 21st Century Fund, Wegmans, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Verizon Communications, Philips Lytle Hitchcock Blaine & Huber, LLP,the New York State Council on the Arts and Arts and Business Council Inc. For more information on the project, you can call the project office at (716) 878-3907 or visit the Web site at www.artonwheels.org.

Media Contact:
Tony Billoni, Art On Wheels Project Coordinator | 7168783510 | billonag@buffalostate.edu