Currently on View
Three Degrees of Abstraction: Paintings - On View April 6-27
Mary Begley, Pat Pendleton, and Eileen Pleasure of the Buffalo Society of Artists will exhibit their explorations of visual language at the Carnegie Art Center. The public is invited to attend an opening reception on Saturday, April 6th 1-3PM. The show runs through the month with a closing event on Saturday, April 27th 1-3PM.
Upcoming
Poetry of Sight - On View May 9-29, 2024
“Sight is the poetry of art—line, stanza, and verse. The genesis of the words we use to make sense of the world.”
The Fine Arts League of Buffalo presents the 71st Annual Spring Juried Members Exhibition, Poetry of Sight. The exhibition will be presented for the month of May and will include an opening reception Thursday, May 9th 6-8pm. The exhibition will also feature artist talks on Thursday, May 23rd 6-7:30pm from select FAL members.
The Fine Arts League of Buffalo, Inc. was first organized in 1953 and is solely dedicated to the appreciation and promotion of realistic art. This Intergenerational & Regional Art Society has stood the test of time for 67 years.
“Realism is the precise, detailed, and accurate representation in art of the visual appearance of scenes and objects. Realism in art can be made up of broad brush strokes or photorealistic application of media; as long as the subject work remains an accurate ‘recognizable’ representation of something’s visual appearance. Lines can be fully comprehensive or representational and figurative. Realism can consist of any subject matter or take any form — like oil painting, water color, drawing, chalk, sculpture, and more. Over the years, many of our artists have gone on to become nationally and internationally renowned.” -Fine Arts League
The Fine Arts League of Buffalo presents its shows on a semi-annual basis in Spring and Fall at various galleries and museums in Western New York. The Fine Arts League of Buffalo boasts some of the most fabulous Artists in the WNY Region.
About the Juror
Sandra Ludwig is currently a member of the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society,Western New York Artist Group, Burchfield Penny Art Center and Buffalo
“I was born and raised in Buffalo and attended Bennett High School. I then went to the American Academy of Art in Chicago and came home and took a job at an Ad Agency. I then went to the University of Buffalo to get my degree in Art Education. I taught art for 32 years in the BuffaloPublic Schools, at both the elementary and high school level, teaching a full range of art mediums. I have been fortunate to do what I love in my career – teach art and share my knowledge and excitement with my students. Now retired, I get to make art everyday. My paintings and drawings are derived from life experiences. It is often in the mundane images and objects that I find beauty. New places, the personality of an individual, or the uniqueness of a culture also inspire me. I work plein air when I can as the effect of light on shapes in nature has always intrigued me, but when I can’t work directly on site, I use my drawings and photos as reference in my studio. I love the intense color of pastels, the lusciousness and luster of oils, and the sound and marks of drawing with pencil. However, my first love was watercolor. I am fascinated when I watch the colors mix, blend and puddle, creating hard and soft edges.” – Sarah Ludwig
Examples of Sarah’s Work can be previewed below.
Past Exhibitions
North Tonawanda Student Spotlight - On View March 12-21
Student Spotlight is a yearly honors showcase that is a partnership between the local school district and the Carnegie Art Center. It is presented as part of Arts in Our Schools month. The show will feature work by selected students from all grade levels and also pieces created by the North Tonawanda City Schools Visual Arts Faculty.
The opening reception will be March 12th 6-7:30pm.
As part of the celebration, the CAC will also host Family Fun Night on Wednesday, March 20th 6-8pm where families will be able to create art with our teachers.
On view February 1-24, 2024
For the month of February we are excited to present “From the Heart” in our Rotunda Gallery. The Board of Directors and Sky Vance went into the CAC archives and carefully selected works from past Art Off the Wall submissions. Ranging from the years 2018-2023, this curated presentation of donated art shifts from deep reds to soft pinks and moody purples reflecting the standard Valentine’s Day aesthetic in the month of February.
Whether you want to treat yourself, your galentines, your anti-valentines, or your sweethearts, we have a piece for you. Each original artwork is available at $20 for that perfect one-of-a-kind gift and all proceeds benefit the CAC operations and programming.
If you appreciate the allure of the mysterious, we invite you to take a chance with our “Blind Date” packages. Take a risk and enjoy the surprise of 2 pieces for $20. There are only 7 available!
All of Our Relations
Presenting Seneca and Tuscarora Artists for National Native American Heritage Month
Join us for “All of Our Relations”, a month-long presentation and celebration of the Seneca & Tuscarora Nations at the Carnegie Art Center.
The Carnegie will host weekly Special Events to celebrate.
All of these events are free and open to the public.
Date: Thursday, November 2, 6-8PM
OPENING RECEPTION OF THE GROUP EXHIBITION
Date: Saturday, November 11 at 1PM
CULTURAL STORYTELLING: “Re-Thinking Thanksgiving” with Perry Ground
Date: Saturday, November 18th at 1pm
SMOKE DANCE DEMONSTRATION WITH Q&A with Jordan Smith & Co.
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 6-8PM
CLOSING RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK featuring artists in the group show.
Exhibition on view: November 1-29, 2023
In partnership with Seneca Nation community member Olivia Maybee, the Carnegie Art Center will host a group art exhibition featuring tribal members of the Seneca & Tuscarora Nations during the month of November 2023 in correlation with National Native American Heritage Month.
Visual artists in the group show will include Seneca artists Hayden Haynes, Sam Jacobs, Mary Jacobs and Olivia Maybee in addition to Tuscarora artists Robert DAlimonte, Erwin Printup and Kehala Smith.
More about the Exhibition & History:
In 1904, Scottish American industrialist Andrew Carnegie built and donated the Carnegie Library, now known as the Carnegie Art Center, to the City of North Tonawanda. Industrialists such as Carnegie played a great role in the shaping of American society during the time period known as the “Gilded Age” where major social and economical changes took place. As the owner of the Carnegie Steel Company, Carnegie was one of the first successful business owners to make millions during this time period. But while major business was moving forward economically, other groups of people, such as Native Americans were experiencing negative changes in their lifestyles. As railroad use became more common due to industrialization, many people moved westward and destroyed the tribe’s homes and land leading many to relocate. There were many massacres and strategic initiatives to forcefully move or kill Native American communities.
This art exhibition and accompanying events will inspire an important conversation about these historical atrocities (directly or indirectly caused by Carnegie) and will shine a light on the resiliency of Native American communities and how they have remained a powerful and culturally imperative force in the Western NY region.
The group exhibition will showcase Native American contemporary artists as well as traditional Indigenous art forms and cultural bearers. This artist showcase will feature the federally recognized tribes of Western New York and their continual work and sharing of their traditional art forms.
All are invited to experience this exciting event! The “All of Our Relations” exhibition and accompanying events are free to attend and open to all ages.
CAC Gallery Hours:
Wed & Thurs 6-8PM
Fri & Sat 12–4PM
“This program is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Services Inc.”
Special Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Tallchief Territory – Home of Native Pride
and
Gail Komar, owner of Gail’s Tobacco & JC Seneca Reservation
The Way I See It
Artwork by Michael Cancilla
Opening Reception:
Thursday, November 16, 6-8PM
On view November 1- 30, 2023