A friendly, multi-ethnic, Rust Belt city with enormous potential. Sadly, badly managed in the 1970's and '80's but finally coming back thanks to innovative, visionary, passionate citizens.
These charming chicks are on the door of a garage in the Big Orbit courtyard.
Such a delight, unfortunately I do not know the artist. Big Orbit is a multidisciplinary arts organization, an art gallery in an old turn-of-the-century ice house surrounded by studios and living spaces.
Below is art from the old, grain elevators. Who were these artists? When did they do these pictures and why. The grain elevators (not just silos) were one of the things that made Buffalo famous. Although they are no longer used for grain they are used for art installations, music, dance and drama. See Silo City.
Silo City, located on the Buffalo River is still criss-crossed with rail lines from the days of carting the grain from the ships to the mills, except that now the rails are rusty, weeds grow everywhere and birds nest, fly and feed in profusion. And the wild flowers have encouraged butterflies to return.
When there is no event taking place it is a wonderful place to visit. Walk into the cavernous grain elevators and look up. The space is vast. I've seen trapeze artists there and heard classical music echoing around the concrete towers. If it's been raining the floor will be wet. Listen for a methodical dripping.
Outside moored next to the old dock which was once alive with shouting men and clanking machinery is the SS Columbia, the last remaining excursion steamship from the turn of the 20th century in existence. This boat and her sister SS Ste Claire, along with the ferry the SS Canadiana
travelled the Great Lakes for, and with, summer visitors who enjoyed dancing. entertainment and excursions.
One year as part of a Silo City art installation six mannequins were clothed and placed to stare out at the derelict grain dock and any visitor who cared to walk by. Creepy ... to come around the corner and see them standing there but so effective!
I love wandering through the vacant, echoing spaces and finding these little drawings.
And then there were these two little birds.
At Tift Nature Preserve (the place has an interesting history) are the installations of Rochester artist Roberley Bell put there in 2016.
They seem, at first glance to be jarring, but they actually blend very well with the real birds, water, wild weeds, trees and deer.
