Image from Casey Milbrand’s proposal “City Heart”
Two Gallerists Create an Exciting Search for Art in Socially Distant Times
Looking for something to do with Mom on Mother’s Day or any day after for that matter? This intimate walk/drive by experience might be right up your alley. It includes 22 unique art installations created by artists from all over Buffalo, Snyder, Tonawanda, and West Falls and will open Mother’s Day, Sunday May 10th.
Advertisement
When it became evident that traditional museum and gallery events were not going to be possible for months to come, the women behind the fine art consultancy firm Resource:Art (R:A) searched for alternative ways to engage with the arts community. Looking to virtual programming, they launched an online only exhibition, “SUPPORT”, which would financially benefit artists and non-profit cultural organizations through the sale of fine art. SUPPORT also features streaming virtual studio visits and a daily artist feature with images of the artist’s studio, recent shows and new artwork. All of this virtual programming, while meaningful, just felt like it wasn’t enough.
Proposal Images from “Resplendent Love Shines “ by Mark McLoughlin, Jody Hanson and Parker Hanson
“Although we’re forever grateful for the internet, and the many wonderful online and virtual exhibitions and experiences, we miss the opportunity to see work in person. Art connects people,” R:A principal Elisabeth Samuels explains. Inspired by stories of people singing from their balconies in Italy, and the knowledge that art comforts, and inspires, Samuels and her partner, Emily Tucker came up with the idea for an intimate multi-site exhibition in neighborhoods across the city that would function like a treasure hunt for art – a safe socially distanced way for people to experience art in unexpected settings while feeling connected to others.
Advertisement
A call for work was crafted seeking proposals for “Proximity: In Search of Signs of Life and Art”. The exhibition is set to open Sunday May 10th and run for one week, or as long as the installations hold up against the elements.
From the many submissions, R:A selected 22 unique and creative proposals, most of which are spread throughout the city of Buffalo, but with locations in Snyder, Tonawanda and West Falls. Highlights of the installation proposals include giant neon paper mache ants crawling up a house, a maze made of endless felt “snakes” and tree branch “ladders”, and an interactive sculpture that features 25 moving bicycle wheels in the shape of a heart.
Many of the installations have both daytime and after dark elements like the projection project from Amanda Besl. Besl will install a greenhouse in her driveway, which will be filled with projected plant imagery after dusk.
Digital sketch from Nando Alvarez – Perez’s proposal “Post-industrial Living Situation VII”
Proposal sketch from Jozef Bajus’ “Dialogue”
The full list of participating artists includes Kari Achatz, Bruce Adams, Nando Alvarez- Perez, Monica Angle, Jozef Bajus, Aman
Advertisement
ABOUT RESOURCE:ART
Resource:Art is a unique partnership that brings together the talents of two independent WNY gallerists:Elisabeth Samuels (Indigo Art) and Emily Tucker (Jinxie Tucker, Benjaman Gallery). Samuels and Tucker each have extensive curatorial experience and professional relationships with artists working in a wide range of media, including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, fiber and mixed media works. RESOURCE:ART also manages the execution of site-specific fine art and considers every project as a unique collaboration between the artist and the site, navigating aesthetic, formal, and functional concerns. Visit resourceartny.com for more information and browse Resource:Art exhibitions at Artsy.net artsy.net/
