College can be seen as an opportunity to sequester one's self from the rest of society. To not only learn, but ponder. Fortunately, there are many places in our surroundings where one can think clearly, both philosophically and creatively.
Art galleries provide for those with an appreciation of beauty a chance to experience the interpretations of artists. Buffalo plays host to a number of fine galleries, many of which are renowned on national and international levels in addition to their high status in the local and regional scene.
When one mentions Buffalo and art in the same breath, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., comes to mind. Home to paintings by such prolific artists as Claude Monet, Amedeo Modigliani and Vincent Van Gogh, as well as great new faces like Ann Hamilton, the Albright-Knox provides the richest collection of paintings and visual art in the region. With an impressive catalogue of recognizable names, as well as awe-inspiring new talent, the $5 student admission charge is worth the nominal fee.
The Buffalo Arts Studio, 2495 Main St., is a smaller studio than the Albright-Knox, but is also revered among area aficionados, and with an artist roster of nearly 50, it is not to be overlooked. Its work includes, but is not limited to, many Western New York artists. The BAS also offers classes, a nice alternative for those who may not be able to fit one in at UB.
For a more eclectic variety of work, a good choice would be the Arnak Art Gallery, 255 Great Arrow Drive. Their work includes, in addition to the more classic mediums like paint and sculpture, "primitive art" such as stone cuts, etchings and ceramics.
The vivid images found in photographic art may etch themselves more permanently in the mind of its viewer. The Center for Explanatory and Perceptual Art, also known as the CEPA Gallery, 617 Main St., offers an opportunity to witness the work of photographers from around the world for free.
The Burchfield-Penney Art Center, located in Rockwell Hall on the Buffalo State College campus, is the area's only gallery dedicated solely to the work of local artists. With only a short walk to deter them, the ambitious might consider visiting the Burchfield-Penney in the same day as the Albright-Knox.
The eclectic museum space at Hallwall's Contemporary Art Centre, located in the Tri-Main building at 2495 Main St., was named one of the top-ten arts destinations by American Style magazine in 2003. While focusing on visual arts, such as paintings, photography and sculpture, the gallery also hosts many multi-media events, with some of the most ambitious work in video and music exhibited regularly.
Of course, here at UB, the opportunity exists to see not only the work of fellow students, but also a permanent collection of professional artists in the Anderson Gallery, located on Martha Jackson Place near the South Campus. The Center for the Arts Building on North Campus also displays exhibits of student work year-round in their two galleries and main atrium.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
