Beyond / In Western New York 2005 on view at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is pleased to announce the exhibition Beyond/In Western New York 2005, which is on view from April 16 - August 14, 2005. The museum joins the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Big Orbit Gallery, Buffalo Arts Studio, Carnegie Art Center, Castellani Art Museum, CEPA Gallery, El Museo Francisco Oller y Diego Rivera, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Langston Hughes Institute, Squeaky Wheel, UB Art Gallery and UB Anderson Gallery in presenting this exhibition. The opening reception at the Burchfield-Penney is on Friday, April 22 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
"The Beyond/In Western New York exhibition represents not only a unique collaboration but a celebration of contemporary visual arts in, and immediately beyond, this region. It recognizes that art making has no borders," said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. "It also recognizes that the artists of this region are part of a wider professional practice, equal in commitment and quality, all contributing to an immediate audience, in a universal language."
Beyond/In Western New York 2005 transforms a thirty-year old tradition of a curated biennial In Western New York exhibition at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery into a collaborative series of exhibitions presented contiguously by 13 regional museums and art galleries.
58 artists were chosen from a prodigious volume of initial submissions representing more than 700 artists from Southern Ontario, Northeastern Ohio, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Western and Central New York. During the selection process, participating curators and directors visited approximately 90 studios, met some artists for the first time, visited established artists to witness exciting new work, and were invigorated by the breadth of aesthetic and intellectual activity.
"I personally benefited from this entire process. What a terrific opportunity it has been to work more closely with curators and directors from all of the area's finest arts organizations! The structure of the process always provided many occasions for group discussion, from the many-tiered reviews of slides, CDs, and videos to the group studio visits. In selecting artists to be presented at the Burchfield-Penney, we were limited only by the square footage of our space," said Nancy Weekly, head of collections and the Charles Cary Rumsey curator at the Burchfield-Penney. "I think the final product—the series of exhibitions at all of our sites—is going to be a stellar offering to the arts community. I commend Louis Grachos for initiating the idea and welcoming sister institutions to join the Albright-Knox in turning their traditional biennial exhibition into a truly regional project. We all serve our region, so we should all showcase the creativity of the artists who make the Buffalo Niagara region (and beyond) such a vital place to live."
Following its mission, the Burchfield-Penney will present the work of 13 Western New York artists: Marc B?hlen, Tony Conrad, William Y. Cooper, Ron Ehmke, Jackie Felix, Meg Knowles, Jody LaFond, Aaron Miller, Joe Miller, Jim Morris, Jamie O'Neil and Alfonso Volo. In addition to painting, drawing, and mixed media work, the exhibition will include video, performances, and a sound installation. Many sites, including the Burchfield-Penney, will feature a video projection by John Knecht.
All of the artists are well recognized in their fields as masters of their media making unique contributions. The Burchfield-Penney is proud offer a broad scope of work that will be serious or humorous, encompassing ideas that are somber, satiric and sublime. This opportunity to present so many accomplished artists reflects the enormity of talent in our region.
The exhibition at the Burchfield-Penney has been co-curated by Nancy Weekly, head of collections and the Charles Cary Rumsey curator, and Don Metz, associate director and head of public programs.
About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, call (716) 878-6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students and $3 for children and is free for students, faculty and staff of Buffalo State College and members of the Burchfield-Penney.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center thanks Lumsden and McCormick LLP, The Premier Group and an anonymous donor for their generous support of Beyond/In Western New York 2005 at the Burchfield-Penney. In addition, we thank Judge and Mrs. John T. Elfvin, Northtown Automotive Group, The Baird Foundation, Consulate General of Canada, Buffalo / Consulat g?n?ral du Canada, Buffalo, Hadley Exhibits Inc.and M&T Bank for supporting all 13 participating venues in presenting this exhibition.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts. Additional operating support is provided by the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and charitable contributions by museum members and visitors.
"The Beyond/In Western New York exhibition represents not only a unique collaboration but a celebration of contemporary visual arts in, and immediately beyond, this region. It recognizes that art making has no borders," said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. "It also recognizes that the artists of this region are part of a wider professional practice, equal in commitment and quality, all contributing to an immediate audience, in a universal language."
Beyond/In Western New York 2005 transforms a thirty-year old tradition of a curated biennial In Western New York exhibition at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery into a collaborative series of exhibitions presented contiguously by 13 regional museums and art galleries.
58 artists were chosen from a prodigious volume of initial submissions representing more than 700 artists from Southern Ontario, Northeastern Ohio, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Western and Central New York. During the selection process, participating curators and directors visited approximately 90 studios, met some artists for the first time, visited established artists to witness exciting new work, and were invigorated by the breadth of aesthetic and intellectual activity.
"I personally benefited from this entire process. What a terrific opportunity it has been to work more closely with curators and directors from all of the area's finest arts organizations! The structure of the process always provided many occasions for group discussion, from the many-tiered reviews of slides, CDs, and videos to the group studio visits. In selecting artists to be presented at the Burchfield-Penney, we were limited only by the square footage of our space," said Nancy Weekly, head of collections and the Charles Cary Rumsey curator at the Burchfield-Penney. "I think the final product—the series of exhibitions at all of our sites—is going to be a stellar offering to the arts community. I commend Louis Grachos for initiating the idea and welcoming sister institutions to join the Albright-Knox in turning their traditional biennial exhibition into a truly regional project. We all serve our region, so we should all showcase the creativity of the artists who make the Buffalo Niagara region (and beyond) such a vital place to live."
Following its mission, the Burchfield-Penney will present the work of 13 Western New York artists: Marc B?hlen, Tony Conrad, William Y. Cooper, Ron Ehmke, Jackie Felix, Meg Knowles, Jody LaFond, Aaron Miller, Joe Miller, Jim Morris, Jamie O'Neil and Alfonso Volo. In addition to painting, drawing, and mixed media work, the exhibition will include video, performances, and a sound installation. Many sites, including the Burchfield-Penney, will feature a video projection by John Knecht.
All of the artists are well recognized in their fields as masters of their media making unique contributions. The Burchfield-Penney is proud offer a broad scope of work that will be serious or humorous, encompassing ideas that are somber, satiric and sublime. This opportunity to present so many accomplished artists reflects the enormity of talent in our region.
The exhibition at the Burchfield-Penney has been co-curated by Nancy Weekly, head of collections and the Charles Cary Rumsey curator, and Don Metz, associate director and head of public programs.
About the Burchfield-Penney Art Center
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates our richly creative and diverse community. For more information, call (716) 878-6011 or visit www.burchfield-penney.org.
The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and students and $3 for children and is free for students, faculty and staff of Buffalo State College and members of the Burchfield-Penney.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center thanks Lumsden and McCormick LLP, The Premier Group and an anonymous donor for their generous support of Beyond/In Western New York 2005 at the Burchfield-Penney. In addition, we thank Judge and Mrs. John T. Elfvin, Northtown Automotive Group, The Baird Foundation, Consulate General of Canada, Buffalo / Consulat g?n?ral du Canada, Buffalo, Hadley Exhibits Inc.and M&T Bank for supporting all 13 participating venues in presenting this exhibition.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is supported in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts. Additional operating support is provided by the Elizabeth Elser Doolittle Trust, the James Carey Evans Endowment, the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation and charitable contributions by museum members and visitors.
Media Contact:
Kathleen Heyworth, Head of Marketing and Public Relations | 7168784529 | heyworkm@buffalostate.edu