Foundations in Public Art sparks appreciation and importance of accessibility

By Tricia Butski, Art Teacher

It’shard to miss the various murals popping up all around the city of Buffalo. Many of these public artworks have been created thanks to the Buffalo AKG Public Art Initiative, whose mission is to establish opportunities for local, national, and international artists to transform the city into an urban outdoor museum. Their expressed goal is “to make Western New York an internationally recognized hub of public art” (Buffalo AKG Art Museum). This bold initiative allows those who reside in Buffalo to experience world-class art in their everyday lives.

Foundations in Public Art is a new class at SEM, offered for the first time in the fall of 2022. It emphasizes the uniting force of public art and the power it has to uplift, empower, and educate. Students learn best through direct experience, getting up close, and exploring the city with a creative lens.

Through our explorations we discovered the unique array of public art that resides in our community. We visited a multitude of sites over the course of the trimester, viewing over 40 public art pieces in person.

We began with a tour around Elmwood Village to explore the outdoor artworks within walking distance of SEM. Cassandra Ott’s Garden Walk mural on Elmwood Avenue was a group favorite as it radiates an infectious sense of optimism and positivity. Summer Smith ’23 noted about the work, “It is very inviting. I really like flowers and nature, so this piece makes me feel happy and at peace.” Throughout the trimester, we explored various areas of the city including Hertel Avenue, Downtown, and Buffalo’s East Side.

Of course, while touring downtown we had to stop for a photo-op in front of Noodle in the Northern Lights, by the Baltimorebased artist team Jesse & Katey. Located on the outside of 710 Sheas, the colorful piece is a welcoming invitation to Buffalo’s Theatre District. Isabela Nieves ’23 remarked, “I have always loved this piece, and my underlying meaning is comfort and happiness. It makes me feel very nostalgic.”

Our last trip of the trimester was to view The Freedom Wall on the corner of Michigan Avenue and East Ferry Street. This large collaborative mural, painted by artists Julia Bottoms, Edreys Wajed, John Baker, and Chuck Tingley, features intricate portraits of twenty-eight civil right activists. It’s located across from Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which served as a crucial station on the Underground Railroad. “In my opinion, The Freedom Wall is important to the city of Buffalo because it offers representation and empowerment to the local community,” said Savannah Taylor ’23.

Our visits provoked thoughtful discussions and conversations about the immense impact of public art on our city.

Lola Canon ’23 summed up the spirit of the class when she remarked that, “From public art comes the feeling of community, and depending on the piece can spread powerful messages of togetherness.” We took the time to stop, think, and reflect. With that, we were inspired by the power public art has to unite, evoke feelings, and build a love and appreciation for the arts by making it accessible to all. •