Since June 6th, Robert J. Witzel has had a show at the Grant Street Gallery. Many of his watercolors have been sold, but they remain hanging until the show closes on June 29th. The newly created gallery has provided this unique artist a chance to show his retrospective art. At 90 years old, Witzel has a lot to look back upon.
There has been a steady stream of visitors since the large turnout for the opening and Witzel himself has spent a lot of time there. He returned this past weekend, even though he wasn’t supposed to be back in town till June 27th, to spend more time in the city he grew up in. One of the highlights of the show that shows Witzel’s Buffalo roots is a personal sketchbook that depicts Buffalo through the ages and includes several reproductions of Buffalo images.
Witzel will be in town till his show closes on the 29th, taking only a small break on Sunday to participate in the “Bring Home a Piece of Buffalo” during Buffalo Homecoming. Since he has returned, he completed several watercolors of the Grant/Lafayette location and has had a warm response from the community.
Some anecdotes about his stay include people being amazed that he drew their street while they watched him draw, having residents gain the courage to enter the gallery for the first time, giving an impromptu lesson to a young man about the graphite pencil, and Witzel has been invited to return to his alma mater, Bennett High, for a tour of the renovations.
If you have the opportunity, take the time to stop by the Grant Street Gallery and see the RJW Retrospect Show while you still can. If you’d like more information, you can send an e-mail here.
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