A large scale mural will be painted on the side of Lorigo’s Meating Place (185 Grant Street) at the end of the summer, thanks to a partnership between Young Audiences of Western New York and the City of Buffalo. The mural, titled “Celebrating the Refugee and Immigrant Experience” will depict many of the contributions that immigrants and refugees have had on this city as of late. The West Side has especially benefitted from the recent growth of these sorts of communities, which are now starting to have positive economic impact on surrounding residential and commercial neighborhoods.
According to Buffalo State College, the mural project is made possible thanks to supporters such as Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation, Niagara District Councilman David Rivera’s office, the New York State Council on the Arts, the West Side Business and Taxpayers Association, the Buffalo History Museum, and Lorigo’s Meating Place, all of which helped to raise the $75,000 required to match a National Endowment for the Arts grant. The money raised, along with the matching grant will then launch a series of art experiences, workshops, and public displays.
Muralist Augustina Droze has been selected as the artist who will paint the 32×80′ mural, which will consist of 80 individual panels that can be pre-painted. Painting will commence as early as May, in order to see completion by August. The design for the large-scale piece is being contributed by students at Lafayette High School, PS 45 International School, and in workshops held at Buffalo State’s Community Academic Center and Westside Art Strategic Happenings (WASH) Project.
A logistics team from Buffalo State consisting of Philip Ogle (professor and chair of the Fine Arts Department) and Candace Masters (assistant professor of art education) has been assembled. A handful of students have also been selected to be part of the mural project, including three from Buffalo State and two of the college’s AmeriCorps students.
In order to understand the scope of the subject matter at hand, the parties involved with the mural have been sitting down with immigrants and refugees to better understand their “story”. Coinciding with the painting of the mural, West Side businesses are also gearing up to celebrate the initiative. Many will showcase artwork from the children of the immigrant and refugee families in their display windows, with a culminating celebration to take place after the mural is complete.
See video of Augustina Droze mural along Scajaquada Creek. See her mural on Elmwood.
Side note: Augustina has officially moved to Buffalo from LA, recently bought a house, and is married and raising a family. That’s pretty neat, considering that she came to Buffalo to paint a mural with no intentions of staying. And just think of what she has accomplished in her short time living in Buffalo – three significant murals and a smattering of smaller works throughout the city. Plus, she’s helping to teach others how to produce high quality, long-lasting public works of art. Augustina, here’s an official “Welcome to Buffalo” from mural-lovers all over the city!