The Niagara Frontier Food Terminal (NFFT) continues to impress; this time with the addition of The Cosmic Wanderer Collective, owned by Saira Siddiqui of the Peace Dots project.
I first learned about The Peace Dots Project in November of 2019, when I happened across this art installation on Niagara Street. Shortly thereafter, I discovered that Saira – a social practice artist – was behind the initiative.
Recently, I learned that Saira had moved into the NFFT complex. Therefore I inquired about getting a tour of the studio. She readily accepted to show me around.
It turns out that Saira’s studio is above Chateau Buffalo, so I knew exactly where to go. She met me out front, guided me up the loading dock platform, inside, and up a flight of stairs. When we got to her second floor studio, I recognized a hand-painted sign on her door – a sign that could have only been painted by the one and only Jake the Sign Guy (JM Hand Painted Signs – Jake Moslow). The tour was already off to a great start.
Saira’s art studio turned out to be pretty much how I imagined. It was inviting and artsy, with lots of plants. It was very warm, vibrant, and a bit mystical. The studio was divided into two rooms – one for her artwork and the other for her various other hobbies. Saira told me that she is involved with so many different projects that she is already considering expanding her studio space by annexing the space next door.
Aside from the socially charged Peace Dots project, Saira is an artist, practices henna, dabbles in hair shimmering, and makes jewelry out of broken drum cymbals (her boyfriend is a drummer, which helps).
With a background in urban planning, Saira performs freelance work that revolves around urbanist placemaking projects. In 2023, she plans on expanding her role as a consultant, with the following 3-pronged outlets in mind:
- Facilitate groups that want to implement shared visions in community development and the arts
- Develop public improvement projects, where neighborhoods have a say in what is created
- Continue her work as a painter, dedicated to self expression
Saira – who describes what she does as an intersection of arts and community development – moved back to Buffalo in 2019. Prior to that she was gone for 6 years, living out west, and in India. In Buffalo, she attends grad school for Multidisciplinary Studies, merging the Creative Studies Department at Buffalo State, with the MFA Department at UB. Up until the time that she moved into her new studio space, Saira has been involved with public art projects, pop-ups, and works at LISC. The NFFT studio is her first dedicated brick and mortar location.
As the NFFT art collective grows, Saira is determined to make the building a prime destination. She told me that in years past, each of the market spaces was divided vertically (three floors, including basement). That was when the building was solely used as a food terminal. Now, there are food makers, tasting rooms, and distribution centers on the first floor, and artists on the second floor. This provides a synergy between like-minded businesses and creatives, respectively. Other artists on the second floor include Sarah Zak, Mark Lavatelli, Karen Tashjian, Laike Palerma, and Kyle Butler.
As a way to draw more attention to the building, a grant from Erie County has been secured, which will allow the NFFT to fix the place up in a more aesthetically pleasing manner (starting with Saira’s corner). Not only will some of the crumbling concrete be addressed, there will also be new art deco light fixtures, as well as catchy signage and a historic door. This initial facade improvement is being considered as a pilot for an even larger, uniform refurbishment that will extend to sequential studios and buildings. Snowy Owl Kombucha (another new tenant) will also be getting the treatment in Phase I. Architect Seth Amman (Arch&Type) is presently working on drawings.
Saira told me that foot traffic is increasing at the NFFT, but there’s a long way to go if before any of the businesses and artists can rely solely upon daily retail sales. At the same time, there’s some real energy in the air these days. Aside from a plethora of other businesses, artists, and artisans in the complex, across the street is the Clinton Bailey Food and Flea Market. Saira told me that the marketplace was going strong all summer. So strong, in fact, that all of the parking spaces were filled on Saturdays. That alone bodes well for this very interesting part of Buffalo, which some refer to as Ghost Town.
Ghosts or not, one thing is for sure… there is real potential to create a fabulous art and artisan village, which already has the infrastructure and the underpinnings for success. Thankfully, there are people like Saira who are helping to lead the charge.
The Cosmic Wanderer Collective | Niagara Frontier Food Terminal | 1500 Clinton Street | #201 | Buffalo, NY 14206 | 716.200.6432 | Instagram | info@thecosmicwanderer.com