CHALLENGER COMMUNITY NEWS

LEROI: LIVING IN COLOR LeRoi Callwell Johnson Is The First Black Artist To Have A Solo Show In Burchfield's Main Gallery, A Meaningful Solo Exhibition That Inspires The Next Generation Of Artists

LEROI: LIVING IN COLOR, is a befitting title for one of our community’s most exhibited international artists, LeRoi C. Johnson.

His exhibition, set to open November 11 at the Burchfield Penney Art Center at SUNY Buffalo State College, will mark the first time an African American artist has ever had a solo show in the Burchfield's Main Gallery in the history of its inception. Seventy-five pieces of Johnson’s bold, bright, colorful creations will be on display. And although he has been showcased and recognized in major art centers across the United States and around the world, as the saying goes, there’s no place like home. “The exhibit will be my first major show in a museum and in my hometown of Buffalo which is fitting and most meaningful to me,” Johnson said reflecting on the significance of the upcoming show. “Additionally, it will include the works of 40 Buffalo student artists who have produced multimedia, written, and sculptural responses to my work.”

“It has been my honor to help them (students) expand their artistic experiences and realize that their talents can lead them to careers.” -The Showcase-

Although he has artwork in the permanent collection at the Burchfield, this artist's first time retrospective will showcase vibrant works created as early as the 1960’s to present. LeRoi’s intuitive compositions embrace cubism, surrealism, and abstraction to depict dreams and visions that are as multifaceted as his life, with roughly 90% of the pieces in the show that have never been seen in his hometown.

He had special praise for Tiffany Gaines, Burchfield’s first Black curator who carefully selected and organized the exhibit; layered with breathtaking, vibrant, afro-whimsical,

spiritual works that burst across the canvas in a dense punchy style the artist describes as Electric Primitive.

“Tiffany is a brilliant young curator with a lot on her plate. I was hesitant at first to have somebody so young but when I met her she was so professional I felt comfortable with her immediately. With so many elements that go into a show she’s got a good eye for work and she’s very good at designing a show of this magnitude,” said LeRoi.

His works are influenced by his own personal experiences, the Black community, and drawing on Afro-Brazilian culture and African ancestral roots. The latter was impacted by a close friend and famed Brazilian politician artist activist Abdias do Nascimento.

In totality, LeRoi's’s art is a conversation for an expansive audience of art lovers, collectors art-curious and even those who may be not be interested in art at all.

“ A lot of people aren’t into art but my show has a lot of worldly elements that I think people can appreciate,” he continued . "My work is a living experience and my interpretation of life experiences, dreams and connectivity, which I think a lot of people can interpret in different ways.” -Sharing His Shining Moment-

Reflecting once again on the local student artists whose works will be part of his upcoming show, he emphasized that it was their involvement that makes this exhibition even more special and endearing . The dynamic collaboration with the 12-17 year old students actually enhance the exhibit’s central theme.

“LEROI: LIVING IN COLOR brings together a dynamic selection of works throughout Le- Roi’s prolific career that addresses important conversations around identity, social justice, and community,” curator Tiffany Gaines elaborates. “The communal spirit present in his work is enriched through our educational partnerships and the inclusion of diverse voices from the next generation in the conversation," she continued.

“This project exemplifies the Burchfield Penney's role in our city: a celebration of art as a recognition of accomplishment combined with an educational approach that supports students and cultural partners making a difference in our community,” said acting director Scott Propeack.

Students from the youth organizations of Buffalo Center for Art and Technology, Squeaky Wheel Film and Media Art Center, Just Buffalo Literary Center, and the Buffalo Public Schools participated in concentrated workshops from the fall of 2021 through the summer of 2022 to engage with LeRoi’s artistic practice.

The daily assistance of local artist educator Jay P. Hawkins, fulfilling LeRoi’s direction to guide the students while creating their multimedia works, brings a fresh perspective to what community and giving back means in the arts.

“This entire project with the students could not have happened without the assistance of Jay Hawkins, I am grateful for his dedication,” said LeRoi.

Born and raised on Buffalo’s East Side, Johnson’s artistic awareness is rooted in the very minimal formal training that he himself received as a Buffalo public High School student in a commercial art class while attending Buffalo’s Hutchinson Central Technical High School. LeRoi, an attorney by day, has spent a lifetime dedicated to uplifting the youth . “ I’ve worked with kids all my life, I’ve worked with Willie Hutch Jones program for 40 years. I’m always giving back. This group is amazing and extremely creative. It gives you faith in our young people from what I’ve seen with these scholars working together,” he said.

The exhibition opens on November 11, 2022, on M&T Second Friday, the Center’s free monthly late-night event, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The evening will also feature live music and all-ages art-making. The exhibition will be on view through March 26, 2023, and will incorporateprogramming, including tours, lectures, and film screenings. Visit burchfieldpenney.org to stay up to date. -L.H.

“Planting Seeds of Justice, Harvesting Peace” is Theme of WNY Peace Center Dinner

The WNY Peace Center is honored to have shero Leah Penniman, educator, farmer , author and food justice activist, keynote at its 55th Annual Dinner on November 11 from 5-9p.m. at UB’s Hayes Hall-Main St. campus. The theme is “Planting seeds of Justice, Harvesting Peace.”

Leah is the co-founder of the BIPOC farming initiative and Community, Soul Fire Farm, which has been a great leap forward for soil health, equitable land use, food sovereignty, and so many aspects of justice: racial, economic, environmental, and more. Her book(s), Farming While Black, will be on hand for purchase.

Leah’s contributions are deeply appreciated here in Buffalo. WNY Peace Center Executive Director Deidra EmEl is a Black urban farmer herself. The WNY Peace Center is grateful that UB Food Systems Planning & Healthy Communities Lab is cosponsoring this significant event on such a timely and vital topic.At the dinner, the WNY Peace Center will humbly offer the Phoenix Award to Families of Victims, and to Survivors of the 5/14 Massacre. Garnell Whitfield will receive the award on behalf of the victims' thirteen families and survivors (who’ll each get their own copy) as well as those who self-identify as survivors of the horrific attack.

The Emerging Leader Award will go to Yanenowi Logan, a Seneca Deer Clan youth studying Environment and Sustainability at Cornell University. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. Charley Bowman, activist extraordinaire, a former Director of the Peace Center ( 2011-13). This special evening will be catered by Sunshine Vegan Eats. This event is the WNY Peace Center’s main fundraiser. Your contribution will help continue the organization, originally Buffalo chapter of Rev. Dr. King’s Clergy & Laity Concerned. For more info, go to wnypeace.org.

Urban League Receives A $6 Million Donation

"This gift will make an immense difference in the lives of the people we serve. "

The Buffalo Urban

League on Monday announced a gift of $6 million from Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott that will allow the organization to dramatically expand and enhance the reach of its empowerment programs.

“This is a transformative time for the Buffalo Urban League,” said Thomas Beauford, Jr., President, and CEO. "This gift will make an immense difference in the lives of the people we serve. We’re Pictured at Monday's press conference announcing the $6 million donation honored and grateful that Ms. from left: Kendra Brim-Buffalo Urban League’s Board Vice Chair, Michael Scott and her team have recognized the Buffalo Urban hind Mr. Osbourne) Buffalo Urban League’s Board Member, Thomas Beau-

Member, Jamil Crews- Buffalo Urban League’s Board Member, Chiwuike the community.”

"The need has always out Darvin Adams. weighted the resources," continued Beauford, and the $6 million he said will be "very significant" in the agency’s ability to expand its capacity and its programming. The unsolicited one time gift is the largest single contribution in the local affiliate’s 96 year history.

Prior to receiving the donation, the League, which is located in downtown Buffalo, was already making plans to relocate and build a larger facility in the community. The donation, said Mr. Beauford will be very helpful in bringing that to fruition.

"Our community still continues to heal…still needs programming in numbers that we’ve not seen before," he said of the many challenges the community faces.

“You can trust that this contribution will help this organization improve and continue its infrastructure into the future to make sure that we’re sustained and continue to deliver the services and programming we’ve been doing for almost the last century here.”

The Buffalo Urban League is one of 25 Urban League affiliates around the nation that received similar donations from Ms. Scott, who in 2019 signed The Giving Pledge, a promise by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate most of their wealth to charitable causes.

"By placing racial equity and social justice at the forefront of her philanthropic mission, Ms. Scott is shining a much-needed spotlight on the nation’s structural and institutional limitations and helping to build a stronger, more resilient society for everyone.”

The Buffalo Urban League employs a five-point empowerment strategy to deliver critical programs and services in the community that is inherent in the organization’s mission. This includes: 1. Education and youth empowerment, 2. Economic empowerment, 3. Health and quality of life empowerment, 4. Civic engagement and leadership empowerment, and 5. Civil rights and racial justice empowerment. With this strategy, the Buffalo Urban League serves more than 60,000 individuals annually through comprehensive direct services.

“ We’ve been fighting for this community for many years…” said Beauford. “This (donation) helps level the playing field substantially.”

Please Support Fundraising Efforts for Families of Victims of Horrific Kensington Expressway Crash!

The community continues to pray for the families and mourn the four young teens who lost their lives in the horrific single car crash involving a Kia Sportage on the inbound Kensington Expressway last Monday. So far family and friends have set up a Go Fund Me Page to raise money to meet funeral expenses for Ahjanae Harper, who was 14 at the time of her death. She turned 15 on Nov. 1 and leaves behind a 5 month old baby girl, Tru.

YouthBuild Buffalo has established a GoFund Me Page for the families of Marcus Webster 19 and Kevin Payne 16, also killed in the crash. They were students at YouthBuild.

Swazine Swindle, 17 was the 4th fatality. Swazine Kevin, and Ahjanae all died at the scene. Marcus died at the hospital.

There were two survivors, the 16 year old driver of the Kia and one other passenger, a 14-year-old girl who is recovering at ECMC.

The driver has been charged and ordered to wear an ankle bracelet. He's scheduled to return to court on December 12. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. Police believe the vehicle was stolen as part of a social media challenge, where a video explains how to steal certain models of Kia.

IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE GIVE TO THESE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS! AND KEEP THE FAMILIES IN YOUR PRAYERS.