Events

[FESTIVAL] This weekend, the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts will celebrate its 18th year by inviting hundreds of artists and musicians to a six block stretch of Elmwood Avenue between West Ferry Street and St. James Place. The event, which runs this Saturday, August 26 through Sunday, August 37 will feature several stages of music, a kid’s area, cultural row, environmental row, and of course, dozens of artist vendor tents filled with artists from Buffalo and beyond. Here’s a list of some Buffalo-based artists who you most definitely should not miss.

Stitch Buffalo
You’ve likely seen the handcrafted work of Stitch Buffalo in local shops like Second Chic, Wild Things, and Parables Gallery. This group of more than 50 Buffalo-based women refugees from Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Thailand, and Angola create beautiful handcrafted goods including textiles. Look for their signature hand sewn “Buffalove” hearts and ask about how to donate.

Kenarahdiyoh
Get to the festival early on Saturday, around 10am, to experience an opening blessing and indigenous music from Nfn Kenarahdiyoh. The singer/songwriter has been a human rights activist for decades, fighting for the righhts of farm works and indigenous people. He’s also reportedly a longtime friend of Pete Seeger, to whom the festival is dedicated to this year, so we wouldn’t surprised if he pays tribute to the legendary artist/activist during his entertaining and enlightening opening day set on the 7/11 Stage. 

Craig LaRotonda
Artist Craig LaRotonda’s work is very recognizable. Owner of the new Revolution Gallery on Hertel Avenue, LaRotonda’s highly stylized work has appeared on the covers and in the pages of several notable magazines including the New York Times, LA Weekly, Las Vegas Weekly, and he even did the cover art for the very first issue of The Public.

Jacquelyn Galas
The art of Jacquelyn Galas looks at Buffalo’s diverse architecture in a unique way. Her etched prints personify Western New York’s iconic structures, bringing them to life with exaggerated linework and playful perspectives. Her subjects include the Darwin Martin House, North Park Theatre, the Grand Island bridges, and many more landmarks that are re-examined through her use of black oil and paper. 

Thomas Webb
Featured as our centerfold artist just a few weeks ago, Thomas Webb creates otherworldly paintings and drawings. His visual pieces are usually in black and white but you’ll also notice splashes of gold on his sometimes surreal paintings.