Buffalo's towering Waterfront grain elevators were a revolutionary asset to the grain storage and portage industry and remain relics of the city's industrial past.
Through extensive camera work, Bruce Jackson has created a documentary photograph exhibition to convey the central role that these elevators have played in our city's industrial and architectural history. The University at Buffalo's Anderson Gallery will be hosting Jackson's exhibition, entitled "American Chartres: Buffalo's Waterfront Elevators" from January 22 to March 6.
The title of the exhibition is derived from an observation made by French poet Dominique Fourcade during his visit to the city of Buffalo. After seeing these massive structures, Fourcade compared the grain elevators to the high-gothic cathedral at Chartres. Architectural critic and former UB School of Architecture faculty member Reyner Banham also honored the towers in his book "A Concrete Atlantis: U.S. Industrial Building and European Modern Architecture."
Jackson's photographs capture the unique architectural structure of these giant towers. The photos were taken with Leica and Hasselblad cameras. The exhibit is comprised of photos taken over the past year, and also includes Jackson's photographs of the destruction of the H-O Oats elevator, taken in 2006.
The towers were invented by Buffalo merchant Joseph Dart and engineer Robert Dunbar in 1842-43. They were built of either wood or concrete and had marine legs that would pull grain from ships and elevate it into the top of marine towers. There, the grain was stored in massive silos until it was placed in receiving ships or trains to be sent across the country and around the world.
The exhibit will run from January 22 to March 6. There will be an opening reception on January 22 from 6-8 p.m. to honor Jackson, SUNY Distinguished Professor and James Agee, Professor of American Culture in the UB Department of English. The Anderson Gallery is located at One Martha Jackson Place, off Englewood Avenue between Main Street and Kenmore Avenue.
The Anderson Gallery
1 Martha Jackson Place
Buffalo, NY 14214-1212
(716) 829-3754
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Through extensive camera work, Bruce Jackson has created a documentary photograph exhibition to convey the central role that these elevators have played in our city's industrial and architectural history. The University at Buffalo's Anderson Gallery will be hosting Jackson's exhibition, entitled "American Chartres: Buffalo's Waterfront Elevators" from January 22 to March 6.
The title of the exhibition is derived from an observation made by French poet Dominique Fourcade during his visit to the city of Buffalo. After seeing these massive structures, Fourcade compared the grain elevators to the high-gothic cathedral at Chartres. Architectural critic and former UB School of Architecture faculty member Reyner Banham also honored the towers in his book "A Concrete Atlantis: U.S. Industrial Building and European Modern Architecture."
Jackson's photographs capture the unique architectural structure of these giant towers. The photos were taken with Leica and Hasselblad cameras. The exhibit is comprised of photos taken over the past year, and also includes Jackson's photographs of the destruction of the H-O Oats elevator, taken in 2006.
The towers were invented by Buffalo merchant Joseph Dart and engineer Robert Dunbar in 1842-43. They were built of either wood or concrete and had marine legs that would pull grain from ships and elevate it into the top of marine towers. There, the grain was stored in massive silos until it was placed in receiving ships or trains to be sent across the country and around the world.
The exhibit will run from January 22 to March 6. There will be an opening reception on January 22 from 6-8 p.m. to honor Jackson, SUNY Distinguished Professor and James Agee, Professor of American Culture in the UB Department of English. The Anderson Gallery is located at One Martha Jackson Place, off Englewood Avenue between Main Street and Kenmore Avenue.
The Anderson Gallery
1 Martha Jackson Place
Buffalo, NY 14214-1212
(716) 829-3754
Looks great. Cant wait to see this.