Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, “Five Buffalos,” August 5 – September 2, 2016

Students at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts recently completed a mural project, Five Buffalos, motivated by the work of artist Mark Bradford. Bradford’s exhibition Shade: Clyfford Still/Mark Bradford is on view at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery until October 2, 2016. Taking inspiration from Bradford’s technique as well as the idea that abstraction can fuel social dialog, the students translated extensive research on Buffalo into a mural consisting of five panels, each one built up with layers of collage and paint and then sanded down to reveal hidden areas. Converting data such as the city’s poverty trends or pollution levels into this collaborative art project offered students a unique experience engaging with social justice issues in a creative way. Five Buffalos will be exhibited at Buffalo Arts Studio from August 5 to September 2, 2016.