Buffalo Rising Online

Tonight marks the opening reception of an exhibition of the internationally recognized photographer Ellen Carey, who will present color photographs made with the large format Polaroid 20 X 24 camera located in New York City, one of five in the world.

Carey creates images that are one-of-a-kind using the Polaroid one-step; peel away process that develops in a mere 60 seconds. It produces a positive, along with its negative (the artist often shows both), making pictures that are simultaneously photographic/process and abstract/minimal. These artworks she calls “Pulls,” her term since 1996 upon its discovery, echoes the physical activity of making these pictures.

Picture Nothing introduces an aporia, much like Shakespeare’s “To Be or Not To Be”--- these pictures are of something, but what? Her artworks raise questions about content,” What is it a picture of?” and process” How was it made?” challenging our cultural and historical expectation around images to describe, record and document. With the advances of digital imaging technology eclipsing hands-on processes, it also references the artist’s life in making photographs for over thirty years as well as the rich legacy of photography, often seen through picture magazines, such as Life and Aperture.

Pictured: Pull Nos. 68, 69, 70

Buffalo's Alison Pipitone has been rockin' for 20 years. She'll be making everyone happy at happy hour tonight.

The Buffalo World Trade Association presents an International Cooking Competition. Buffalo's finest young international chefs will compete at the May meeting of the Buffalo World Trade Association with Italian, Asian, Mexican and Caribbean food stations. The BWTA scholarship will also be awarded.

Email or call 716.685.1781 by Thursday May 15 to reserve your seat.

Splinter Group Open Mike hosts an open reading tonight. There are 12 open slots.

Sean Patrick McGraw and his band consisting of local WNY musicians (guitarist Joe Dalimonte is from Perrysburg, Bassist Randy Hofgren form Ellington, drummer Jimmy Isula from Derby) are swinging through Buffalo. McGraw, originally from Dunkirk, has traveled far since his days playing in hard rock bands around Buffalo in the late 80's. Indeed, the Fredonia State grad (B.A. Guitar Performance) would hardly be recognized by fans who followed him back in the days of Sinbads and the old SkyRoom. Leaving WNY in the mid-nineties, McGraw first traveled to Southern California where he traded his long hair and loud guitar for a few semesters of schooling in the Acoustic Folk scene of L.A. The attention of some indie labels there lead the aspiring singer/songwriter to Nashville soon after.

Nebraska's Brimstone Howl brings their brittle garage-blues to Buffalo tonight as part of their US tour. Opening the show is The Found and The Thermidors.

Shake What Obama Gave Ya features B.E.N.N.Y., Ohio's Bottom Brick and Merlin's resident hip hop musicians Type Relevant.