Events

[ART] With potentially seismic changes afoot in the global political fabric, there’s been a lot of talk on social media and over eggnog of getting more involved in local issues, local politics, and local economies. Our cultural expression—the things we feel in private and reveal in public—anchor us in this reality and participating in the local commerce of ideas and conversation bring us closer and make us stronger. This Friday in Buffalo offers an opportunity to do exactly that with the monthly First Friday event at participating galleries. Highlights at this calendar turn include Studio Hart’s Sail Away show with Peter Fowler, Barbara Hart, Daniel Hart, and Dale Schwalenberg. (Quick note: Fowler has long been one of Buffalo’s most productive painters, able to weave the whimsical into the sublime effortlessly; you should check out his lake-scapes.) Next door, El Museo is hosting an interactive piece that calls on local writers, artists, and citizens to engage in 2016 cathasis in a piece called Town Wall. Downtown’s BOX Gallery continues to stake its claim as an advocate of experimental and engaging work with Dana McKnight’s show Trussed, featuring a performance by the artist at 9pm. If you’re cutting across town, make a stop at 1120 Main Street’s Eleven Twenty Projects to check out William Maggio’s paintings from the Other Side, and at the Albright-Knox you’ll have a chance to check out an amazing Rosalyn Drexler show and listen to two talks by curators on artist Claudia Joskowicz’s fantastic video piece: Every Building on Avenida Alfonso Ugarte—After Ruscha, among other activities. Our advice: Drop your heavy 2016 anchor into the arts this Friday and don’t look back.