Downtown Becomes Interactive Art Exhibit
By Barbara Arnstein
On Saturday, June 4th, 2022, between 5:30-8:30pm you can enjoy the magical once-a-year transformation of Springville’s historic downtown shopping area into one big, exciting and entertaining art gallery, also known as the Annual Downtown Springville Art Crawl!
For those three hours, stores and other businesses in Springville will serve as mini-museums, displaying artwork on their walls created by talented artists from all over Western New York, and selected for inclusion by three judges.
The judges for this year’s event are: Véronique Côté is the Executive Director & Chief Curator at Buffalo’s Center for Exploratory & Perceptual Arts (CEPA). Côté has extensive background in photography, interdisciplinary curatorial practices, and arts administration.
Edreys Wajed is a full-time artist and multi-disciplined creative, with achievements in music performance, video, jewelry design and entrepreneurship respectively. Wajed has been recognized for his artistic contributions to the historic Freedom Wall mural, with the Albright-Knox Art Gallery; several other regional murals; and as ASI 2019 Artist of the Year Award Nominee.
Bruce Blair is most known for his spontaneous landscapes in watercolor and acrylic. He has exhibited extensively in the Western New York area since the early 1970s; his first solo show was actually held in Springville, New York. Blair studied at the Art Institute of Boston, Massachusetts from 1970-1973 as well as under his father, renowned artist Robert Blair, and is a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists. Blair has won multiple awards for his work, and his work is found in numerous public and private collections.
This eagerly-awaited annual spring Art Crawl will showcase works of art including photographs, watercolor and acrylic paintings, and collages from 65 artists this year.
Beginning at 5:30pm on the 4th, pick up a map at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets, and begin a journey through the creative minds of numerous artists, as you wander at will in and out of the many participating storefronts and offices.
Doesn’t that sound like great fun? It will be like visiting another dimension, where every doorway leads to incredible art! “But, wait!!” — as they say in infomercials –“There’s more!” Much more! You can listen to music from musicians playing in various areas, including a harpist, and see art demonstrations. Also, you can participate in interactive art activities, buy art you see on display, or craft items from the many vendors, and enjoy tasty treats. Even the smallest members of your family will enjoy themselves, thanks to the craft activities for kids (such as face painting).
The Stitch Buffalo group, which empowers refugee women by creating opportunities for them to showcase their expertise at textile arts, and earn fair wages from their items, (many of which are one-of-a-kind) will be represented at the Crawl. Their base will be at the Art’s Cafe, at 5 Main Street, where they will be making fabric garlands, with the help of interested visitors. For more information about them, go to info@stitchbuffalo.org, facebook.com/stitchbuffalo or instagram.com/stitchbuffalo.
Before this three-hour awesome display of creativity and enthusiasm, there will be another creative, glorious event. The Springville Center for the Arts and the Springville-Griifis Institute are kicking off the event with an amazing community parade! Beginning at 4pm, local groups will parade from Main and Franklin Street to North Buffalo and Franklin Street. You will get to see the SGI Marching Band, The Shriners, The Brass Machine, Töad Meädow’s Hedgehog, STARS, and a variety of tractors, trucks, classic cars, wagons and floats from local businesses and organizations.
After the Art Crawl, from 8pm-11pm, the “Bootleg Soiree”, an amazing party, will take place on three floors of a vacant turn-of-the-century undertaker and cabinetmaker’s shop on Main Street. The proceeds from the party will help pay the expenses of the Crawl and the parade — so party hearty!
I feel honored that two of my fine art, canvas-wrapped photo prints were chosen to be exhibited in Springville during the Art Crawl. The first, entitled “Sacred Sunbeams”, shows a shaft of sunlight mysteriously illuminating part of a forest, while the second, entitled “Summer Roses”, shows a rosebush covered with beautiful blooms, at the height of its summer loveliness. Every time I take a photo of a scenic spot, I try to capture something special beyond the natural beauty in it. I feel that “Sunbeams” captured the magic inherent in every excursion into natural settings, while “Summer Roses” celebrates summer itself!
The Crawl will happen rain or shine. This event is free. Parking will be available in the lot behind Witter Davis, at the high school and a few other places yet to be determined. There will be signs. For more information, go to: Springvilleartcrawl.com
Photo Credit: Alex Simmons / Jamey Jean