Held every three years, Trimania gives us a chance to see what our local visual arts and music communities have to offer – all while raising both a glass and some money for Buffalo Arts Studio, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and promoting local artists.
What exactly is Trimania?
Good Question. Trimania is held in the Tri-Main Center, a former factory that is home to a number of artist studios and local startups.
“Buffalo Arts Studio is one of the original tenants of the Tri-Main building,” said Dana Tyrrell, a community development coordinator with Buffalo Arts Studio. “As Trimania has grown out, the Tri-Main has grown as well, and we collaborate with all of our neighbors across the six floors and various industries that Tri-Main houses.”
On Saturday, April 14, the building becomes part open house, part art exhibit, part concert and all party: including immersive art experiences, live music, DJ dance parties, dance performances, and poetry readings.
Photo courtesy of Trimania
That probably sounds like a lot, and Trimania can be pretty overwhelming. To address the massive size of the event, Buffalo Arts Studio has partnered with digital development agency Twisted Rope, also a Tri-Main tenant, to create a mobile app that can help you navigate the event and even plan out an itinerary, so you don’t miss a performance or an installation. The app is currently available in the App Store.
Clearly, Trimania organizers are stepping up their game to make this year’s event the best one yet.
“The wealth of talent is something we strive to exhibit with each Trimania, but I think this one, in particular, is exemplary of how Buffalo’s music scenes and visual arts scene have grown in just three years’ time,” Tyrrell said.
Chuck Tingley Installation / Photo courtesy of Trimania
What We’re Pumped About
With the Tri-Main building being home to artists, it makes sense that visual art is going have a big presence at Trimania. Fresh off his art appearing on the cover of Condé Nast’s special Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. issue, local artist Chuck Tingley will be featuring an immersive “blanket fort” installation that combines childhood memories and pop culture. Another massive installation by Mizin Shin features floor-to-ceiling vinyl shapes that portray the production, distribution, and consumption a fast food classic: the humble French fry.
Not to be outdone, more than two dozen musical acts will fill the Tri-Main Center’s rooms, halls and stairwells with songs and soundscapes. Mallwalkers will take a break from their heavy touring schedule to bring dance-punk flavors. Deadwolf might have started playing music in 2014, but their psychedelic jams are straight out of the mid-1960s. Surfin’ Cadavers do super danceable instrumental surf rock, while Neville Francis and The Riddim Posse will bring island sounds to ya ears.
Dance Dance Rev, Anyone?
Dance fans can find something at Trimania as well. Buffalo Zills and Fleuron Rouge will be staging belly dance performances. Clann na Cara will be bringing classical Irish dance. Jezebel Shuvani and Spun Out Fire Productions will be present sword and fire dance routines respectively, both of which must be seen to believed.
Getting Interactive at Trimania
Trimainia isn’t just a passive experience, meant to wash over you like a soaking April rain. The event also features a number of interactive activities for those who want to become participants. One event is a quilting workshop led by Jack Edson, known locally for his large-scale, quilted portraits. In another interactive event is being presented by Tri-Main tenant Buffalo Game Space, you can play locally-made video games, check out virtual reality experiences and use software to play 8-bit “chip tunes.”
Every year, Trimania reminds us of the embarrassment of riches we have in our local arts, music and tech communities. If you don’t catch Trimania this year, you’ll have to wait until 2021!
Trimania
When: Saturday, April 14, 2018
Where: Tri Main Building, 2495 Main St, Buffalo, New York 14214
Cost: $25 – $80
Tickets: trimania.brownpapertickets.com
