This morning upwards of ten artists amassed at the corner of South Park and Illinois to 'shed some light' on a building that currently suffers from demolition by neglect. What is interesting about this group of artists is that they are a non-political group that thrives on painting romantic images of the city - you won't find them painting at a Blight-Aid parking lot, but you will find them painting at Elevator Alley, the Erie Basin Marina and The Cobblestone District. What would be really depressing is if these paintings being created today become some of the last images to ever be captured of this historic Cobblestone structure.
How can the City feel good about the National Historic Trust Conference coming to Buffalo when it turns a blind eye to these criminal actions? Saving this corner should be of utmost concern, especially when world renowned harbor master architect Stan Eckstut is attempting to decipher how the waterfront looked and functioned just two blocks away. This is the real deal, and we're letting it slip through our hands.
While Project for Public Spaces and the ECHDC are meeting this evening to discuss the benefits of Lighter, Quicker Cheaper, the integrity of these historic buildings should included to be part of the larger discussion. How is it that Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters (NFPAP) understands this, and the general public appreciates this, yet the City doesn't? Do we really need more parking in a district that has been radically dismantled to accommodate a vast sea of relatively unused parking lots? How does building owner Darryl Carr continue to get away with demolition by neglect (and possibly City-aided demolition) when there are potential developers waiting in the wings to renovate these structures? Is this really the death knell for 110-120 South Park Avenue? How long have we been beating the drums on this particular issue? Are we going to attempt to recreate this style building just two blocks away as we have done with the Naval Museum? Or are we finally going to do the right thing and save real historic infrastructure (at least what remains of it)?
Artists who painted today:
Joan Shaw (President NFPAP)
Kath Schifano
Peggy Walker
Bernice Smith
Donna Hale
Jennifer Parsons
Jackie Wells
Sharon Fundalinski
Sara M. Zak
Lead photo taken by photographer Jim Bush of Joan Langley Shaw, founder of NFPAP. The group was started on 2006 with just three painters and is now pushing 50 painters ranging in location from Wilson to East Aurora. Thanks to Sara Zak for helping to organize the 'paint-in' (and for buying coffee).
More photos by Jim Bush:
View image
How can the City feel good about the National Historic Trust Conference coming to Buffalo when it turns a blind eye to these criminal actions? Saving this corner should be of utmost concern, especially when world renowned harbor master architect Stan Eckstut is attempting to decipher how the waterfront looked and functioned just two blocks away. This is the real deal, and we're letting it slip through our hands.
While Project for Public Spaces and the ECHDC are meeting this evening to discuss the benefits of Lighter, Quicker Cheaper, the integrity of these historic buildings should included to be part of the larger discussion. How is it that Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters (NFPAP) understands this, and the general public appreciates this, yet the City doesn't? Do we really need more parking in a district that has been radically dismantled to accommodate a vast sea of relatively unused parking lots? How does building owner Darryl Carr continue to get away with demolition by neglect (and possibly City-aided demolition) when there are potential developers waiting in the wings to renovate these structures? Is this really the death knell for 110-120 South Park Avenue? How long have we been beating the drums on this particular issue? Are we going to attempt to recreate this style building just two blocks away as we have done with the Naval Museum? Or are we finally going to do the right thing and save real historic infrastructure (at least what remains of it)?
Artists who painted today:
Joan Shaw (President NFPAP)
Kath Schifano
Peggy Walker
Bernice Smith
Donna Hale
Jennifer Parsons
Jackie Wells
Sharon Fundalinski
Sara M. Zak
Lead photo taken by photographer Jim Bush of Joan Langley Shaw, founder of NFPAP. The group was started on 2006 with just three painters and is now pushing 50 painters ranging in location from Wilson to East Aurora. Thanks to Sara Zak for helping to organize the 'paint-in' (and for buying coffee).
More photos by Jim Bush:
Following photos by Steve Siegel:
Thank you to Buffalo Rising for covering this story. As the developer and organizer of this painting initiative, I'm thrilled that the Niagara Frontier Plein Air Painters and Preservation Ready Sites are collaborating to bring a little extra attention to Buffalo's preservation opportunities. If anyone would like information on future Painting for Preservation paint outs, please contact me at saramzak@gmail.com or stay tuned to Preservation Ready Sites on Facebook.
Thanks,
Sara M. Zak