City December 19, 2011 5:15 PM

Buffalo Gallery Open For All

queenseyes 13

Thanks to the Toronto Sun for sending more visitors to Buffalo... this time it's not for the restaurant scene. It's always nice to see the Albright-Knox recognized for the world renowned art destination that it is. A couple of weeks ago a friend and I made a stop over to the gallery for lunch, but before we sat down we set out to explore the hallways, lined with magnificent works of art that most people will only ever see in books and magazines. As we walked, my friend turned to me and said, "You know... you tend to forget just how impressive this gallery really is." It's true. When was the last time you paid a visit to The Knox? Many would die to have such a collection right in their own backyard. That's why Torontonians are so lucky to be so close to these prized possessions.

From The Sun article:

The gallery's impressive permanent collection of post-war American and European art is found on the main floor. It is fascinating and easy to read about the artists and their works of art. I particularly liked American painter Albert Bierstadt's 1859 painting titled "Marina Piccola Capri." The painting of an Italian bay was the first gift presented to the academy in 1863.

Check out the sculptures. Henry Moore's "Reclining Figure" carved out of elm wood is a show stopper. It was the first piece of his work to be purchased by a gallery in North America. Moore is the artist who produced the large sculpture know as "The Archer" that sits outside of Toronto's city hall. The wood and mixed media sculpture "Bay Girl" by an artist simply known as Marisol put a smile on my face.

On the second floor of the gallery you'll find works of the masters.

Impressionistic and Post-Impressionistic artist like Paul Gaugin, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, to name a few, are displayed.

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Comments

13 Comments Leave a comment

PaulBuffalo

December 19, 2011 4:56 PM

It's interesting that the Toronto paper mentions Henry Moore. Visit Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario and you'll see an entire gallery of Henry Moore's original large-scale plaster pieces that were used for bronze copies at museums all over the world.

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Score: 1 ( 1 votes )

paulsobo

December 19, 2011 5:47 PM

I think its wonderful that Buffalo is recognized as a cultural destination. We Buffalonians should build on that because we have much to build from.

One cannot and should not mention the Albright Knox without mentioning their greatest dis-service to Buffalo with respect to their significant if not vast collection of classical and period art which is not of a modern nature and is not getting shown because it is not of a modern nature and is getting de-accessioned against the donors wishes because it is not of a modern nature.

It is time for Buffalonians to demand museum space, if not a separate museum, for the classical and period art inherited from Buffalo's golden age.

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Score: -1 ( 15 votes )

Tahooter

December 19, 2011 6:45 PM

I can't find the article in BR archives, but I recall (back in 2008 or 2009 maybe) the A-K intended to hire a firm to determine "if" the A-K were to expand at the present site "how" and "where" that would be. Does anyone recall the plan, if it was in fact commissioned...or know the results? I know if won't happen unless an angel is found.

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replied to paulsobo

Score: 2 ( 2 votes )

crescent1251

December 19, 2011 7:15 PM

Try this:
http://archives.buffalorising.com/story/knox

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Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

Tahooter

December 19, 2011 9:02 PM

crescent1251 -- gracias

So maybe since no DLW re-use plan has been announced -- and there it sits -- it might be semi reserved for A-K. Hey, a person can dream. Dear Santa....

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replied to crescent1251

Score: 3 ( 5 votes )

Patrick

December 19, 2011 8:56 PM

It's a point worth revisiting:
All this talk of deaccession, whether you are for or against it - the $90 million netted by the AK, one would hope, would go into an expansion project that would benefit the entire community with a larger, better Albright Knox.
Other than the current Lincoln Parkway side repairs to the exterior, no progress or public expansion plans have been put forth.
Where has this money gone and what better use for these funds than to get the two-thirds of masterworks in storage at any given time at the AK out into the light.

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Score: 1 ( 5 votes )

Travelrrr

December 19, 2011 10:34 PM

The money is to be used for acquisitions, from what I understand. I am not even sure they are able to use it towards operating costs...

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replied to Patrick

Score: 3 ( 3 votes )

BurchJP

December 20, 2011 12:52 AM

The vast majority of the articles sold were all in storage, and no longer used. The AK is moving away from Historical art and moving more towards a focus on contemporary art. And yes, Travelrrr was right the funds are being allocated to purchase more contemporary peices for their collection.

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replied to Travelrrr

Score: 5 ( 7 votes )

paulsobo

December 20, 2011 9:37 AM

Yes, the Albright is de-accessioning its classical and historic art so that it can pursue modern and contemporary.

However, it was donated its period and classical art purposefully to build the A-K collection and not to be sold off so the A-K could pursue its own whims.

Its classical and period collection should go to a separate museum and let the modern/contemporary art succeed or fail on its own merits of the garbage that it is.

I dont want to see Buffalo stuck with a garbage museum of Andy Warhol soup cans like Pittsburgh in that city's citadel of contemporary/modern art.

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replied to BurchJP

Score: -8 ( 14 votes )

Wolffman

December 19, 2011 10:20 PM

The ECHDC is looking at cultural institutions for Canalside, correct? Perhaps AB is looking at this as an option.

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Score: 4 ( 4 votes )

Ozro

December 20, 2011 8:51 AM

It seems Buffalo is getting a lot of great free press in the Toronto papers. I know the Visitors Bureau has limited funds, but wouldn't it be great to air some TV commercials or launch some sort of mainstream media campaign to highlight these stories to the Toronto market?

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Score: 3 ( 3 votes )

Peter Burakowski

December 20, 2011 11:16 AM

Orzo - great minds think alike!

Most of the stories that you have been seeing coming out of Toronto (Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, City Bites, Outlooks) were from writers that Visit Buffalo Niagara pitched and then hosted in Buffalo. It has been a part of a targeted marketing & PR plan in Ontario. (We also assisted with this Toronto Sun AKAG story, which ran back in February)

We have also been purchasing advertising in Ontario to build off of this media coverage. For example, when we landed a story in the Toronto Star called "2 Days/2 Nights in Buffalo," we ran print and online advertising to "Win the Perfect Weekend in Buffalo."

We've also been pushing a shopping and hotel package aimed at Canadians - please see www.shoppinginbuffalo.com.

Peter Burakowski
Communications Manager
Visit Buffalo Niagara

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replied to Ozro

Score: 5 ( 5 votes )

EricOak

December 20, 2011 2:36 PM

The question about what the AK is doing with its loot from the auction is important. Where are the attendance figures since the big sale? Where are membership and donation levels since they sold what was one of the most important bronzes of its genre? When was the last time the gallery worked hard for its money, the way WNED, the science museum, and the BPO do?

This idea that these auctioned works were never "used," as if artworks are to be "useful" in order to be important, is fiction. It's up to the management what is displayed, and the current management has turned a once great museum into a forgotten corner of post-postmodern drivel. Here is a gallery that was entrusted with works from families, that had a clause in its by-laws about no sale of important works, a place that has not since I can remember had a single large foray into the public for support. And when they were questioned by the community they serve about selling off these works, their self-righteous indignation smelled as cheap as the wine at their openings. It was the lowest cultural point in Buffalo I have seen.

There will be a museum in Buffalo dedicated to timeless art. Let's hope it opens before anyone gives any valuable work to this poster shop.

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Score: -3 ( 5 votes )