Buffalo Rising Online

Aug 6th 2005, 11:07am By queenseyes

Have you heard of Art on Porches? On the first Saturday of August (August 6 this year), from 11am until 5pm, the Richardson Towers Community (Abbottsford Place and Bird, west of Richmond) becomes an artist colony. In its third year, this unique art festival has artists and musicians set up on the front porches of the neighborhood to display their work.

The event began in 2002 as a way to spotlight the neighborhood and was modeled after a similar event, Art on the Porches, in Syracuse. Melisa Holden and Uli MacDonald, Co-Directors, worked diligently to find artists to exhibit and neighbors to participate. That year, even though the weather was less than perfect, about 300 people came through the neighborhood. Each year, the event gets better.

This year, come down to see lots of up-and-coming artists from Buffalo (and Syracuse). Bring your family, as the Zoomobile will be on Abbottsford from 1 until 3. Hawk Creek Wildlife is coming as well (2-4pm)! 107.7 The Lake local artist Noa Bursie will be playing her acoustic music from 11-2 and David Kane will take over from 2 until 5. Cornelia Dohse Peck will be on hand to assist children with making 3 different crafts. Murray Mann will be doing free caricatures. The Reverend Elizabeth Daruzska will be reading fortunes through tarot cards. Flying Bison Brewery will be sampling locally produced beer. Kids can get faces painted or get a (fake) tattoo. If you have aches and pains, be sure to visit the porches with reflexology or healing touch.

There is free parking at the Richardson Complex. Abbottsford Place is a short walk down Forest Avenue from the parking lot.

Tim Tielman's Campaign for Buffalo History, Architecture, and Culture will be conducting a tour of the Richardson Complex at 10am. A great day for you on Saturday could start with seeing and learning about the greatest architectural treasure in Buffalo, walking down Forest Avenue to the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, which is open free from 12-4 at 459 Forest at Tremont, then continuing for the rest of the day in a great neighborhood with great art and entertainment. Who knows? You might find you love it so much that you'll want to buy a house here and participate in years to come!

Please visit our website for more information and descriptions of each artist participating.

This event was made possible by Sam Hoyt, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and many generous local businesses.