Today is the day to head to the Larkin District. If last night’s (sold out) VIP preview party of the echo Art Fair was any indication of how the rest of the show will go, this is a ‘must see’ for anyone interested in procuring original art at affordable prices. Not to mention the Larkin Center of Commerce being the perfect host pop up gallery for such a large number of artists and works. The VIP party was as much of a people watching occasion as it was a venue for artistic expression. Most everyone got dressed up for the show, which added vibrant color and sophisticated style to an industrial setting that was unfamiliar to most. It was also nice to see the mix of generations in attendance – only a setting like this would allow for hipsters to rub elbows with blue bloods in such an easygoing manner.
Not only does the echo Art Fair make art approachable, it also introduces a number of gallery owners to a clientele that might not normally be so easy to reach. I can’t tell you the number of cultural movers and shakers who were on-hand to showcase various artists and their works. The show offered an incredible cross section of local talent, interspersed with some heavy hitters who came to Buffalo to be part of the action. “I was thrilled with the event,” organizer Frits Abell told me. “It was unfortunate that we had to turn people away, but it just demonstrated the amazing interest in echo. The art looks incredible. I encourage everyone to come down and buy.”
I understand that echo Art Fair might actually hit the road and travel to other cities. How great would that be for our local artists – to have a traveling road show that would promote their work and introduce them to collectors in other cities? That would be a dream for many because they would still be able to live in Buffalo (affordable and artist-friendly), but would also have a strong promoter… if you’ve been following Buffalo Rising’s Art Buff series, then you know that that is what a lot of the local artists have been pining for.
Click here for more info on echo
Click here for more info on Larkin Art Square