The
eighth annual Holiday Open Studios and Galleries, presented by Artists in
Buffalo Inc., will be held Friday, December 4th from 5PM to 9PM and
Saturday & Sunday, December 5th and 6th from 11AM to 5PM. During this special weekend, over 100
artists and galleries will throw open their doors to give everyone the chance
to meet local artists and visit some of the actual spaces where art is created.
A
diverse collection of artisans – including potters, jewelers, textile/fabric
artists, painters, print-makers, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, stained
and blown glass and metal-workers – will all have items for sale in a wide
range of affordable prices. “This event offers a wonderful opportunity
to explore both the City and the talent that flourishes in our community”, says
Catherine Gillespie, Director of Artists in Buffalo, Inc.. “You can really support local talent,
and it is a great way to avoid the frenzy and crowds at the malls, while
actually meeting the individuals who create the gifts that you’ll purchase.
You’ll meet and talk with the creative individuals who live and work in our
community.”
Starting
in the North at the Burchfield Penney Arts Center wandering to the South at the
Hauptman-Woodward Institute, one can visit over 25 venues filled with local
art, which are highlighted on the event map along with the list of
participants. The
opportunity to tour artists’ workspaces or homes–generally closed to the
public–is a unique aspect of this popular annual event that is modeled after
similar programs in Los Angeles and Toronto. During the Holiday Open Studios and Galleries many of the
artists offer refreshments and all look forward to the opportunity to speak
with patrons firsthand and to discuss their work. Many of the artists
will happily accept commission orders from their visitors.
For the
2009 event, some venues will again house multiple artisans: Gilda’s Club on Delaware Avenue,
Chatham Pottery Gallery on Bryant Street, and The Hauptman Woodward Institute
on Ellicott Street, along with several of the small galleries on Elmwood Ave
and Allen Street, will host groups of 10 or more artists. The weekend coincides
with Allentown’s “First Fridays” event on December 4th, and the shops of the
Elmwood Village will be open late on Friday night as well.
Some of the fine artists and galleries who are participating
this year in the Open Studios and Galleries include Connie Constantine (etched
glass artist), Wendy Maloney (painter), Catherine Gillespie (potter), Julia
Duax Skop (handmade glass jeweler); Michael Morgulis (Graphic design &
posters); Paul Morgan (fine fabrics & more) Anne Bliss (jeweler); Ann
Stievater (painter); Hart Studio, Buffalo Big Print; Brian Art Galleries; and
Indigo Art.
And
don’t forget Amherst Street, where Doreen DeBoth’s Artsphere Studio and Gallery
(at its new location at 447 Amherst) will host “GIFTS OF ART FOR THE
HOLIDAYS – SMALL WORKS SHOW” work by 32 local artists working in all
media. Also on Amherst Street, 464 Gallery has a lot of artwork, perfect for
gift-giving.
Artists in Buffalo Inc, the event’s sponsor, was formed
in 2001, by a group of artists dedicated to building connections within the visual arts
community and the region itself.
The organization’s web site features a virtual gallery of local artists
as well as year round contact information for all its members.
Visit www.artistsinbuffalo.org.
Image: Inside 464 Gallery