By Sandra Kelly
Buffalo is made up of
many different people with many different faces. Brian Nesline
recognized this and founded Faces of Buffalo, a communitywide
art event. He encourages everyone in the community to participate
by making a self-portrait to be used in different mosaics.
An exhibit showcasing
2005’s featured artwork will open at 6 p.m. May 13
at the College Street Gallery at 244 Allen St. and will
run through June 4.
When Nesline started Faces
of Buffalo in 2002 he was trying to connect artists and
the community to form art that is interactive and helps
to boost the sense of community pride.
“I saw people relaxing and suspending judgment on
their skills and having some fun,” he said. “I
saw people who never thought they were ‘creative’
surprise themselves. I saw kids having fun WITH their parents…I
saw a metaphor for community involvement.”
Every year Nesline asks
people in the community to submit self-portraits for the
mosaics. Last year the focus was on Buffalo architecture.
Mosaics were created of the Buffalo Lighthouse, the Peace
Bridge, City Hall, Market Arcade, the Richardson Towers
and Gold Dome Bank. A new mosaic of a buffalo is created
each year with the portraits that were submitted.
This year’s focus
is on sports, said Nesline.
“The work highlights
the collected faces while portraying a simple imagery of
specific sports. The result is a product that brings our
community, creativity and some American symbols of sporting
together in a new, inclusive way,” he said.
The nine pieces in the
exhibit are:
• golf
• baseball
• basketball
• football
• skateboarding
• fishing
• bicycling
In the spring of 2004
Nesline created Faces of Buffalo State. Rockwell Hall was
the image featured that represented the Buffalo State community.
Student artwork was used as well. The mosaic now hangs in
the Student Union and smaller prints can be purchased in
Barnes & Noble in the Union.
Nesline would also like
to create a mosaic connecting the different departments
on campus in a visual way, Nesline said.
“The result is a
mosaic made from students’ unique symbols and ideals
representing a unity of diverse studies and diverse students.
The data would reach toward some principles in line with
the college’s goals,” he said.
Any college administrator
interested in participating in this project can contact
Nesline at 854-5033.
Some students at Buffalo
State feel that this is an interesting way of depicting
Buffalo and the college.
“To incorporate
Buffalo’s infrastructure into an art project is a
very forward neat idea,” said Russ Morgan, a senior
at the college.
“It is definitely
something I would stop and look at,” he said.
Morgan, however, feels he would not participate in the project
because he feels that he is not very artistic.
Senior Brent Minet did
make a self-portrait with his mother in 2003. He thinks
that it is a good thing for the community.
Anyone who would like to submit a self-portrait for the
2006 mosaics can go to http://www.facesofbuffalo.com/Forms.htm
and print out a submission form. Nesline said next year’s
focus may be Mother Nature. All entries are used in the
artwork.
Sandra Kelly can be reached at sandykelly@gmail.com
Links:
http://www.artscouncilbuffalo.org/registry/visual_photo.asp
http://www.facesofbuffalo.com/
http://www.facesofbuffalo.com/Exhibit2004.htm
http://www.facesofbuffalo.com/faces_of_bsc.htm
http://www.facesofbuffalo.com/Forms.htm
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