Buffalo's Art Scene Gets Some Street Cred
The corner of Allen and College Streets has recently undergone an aesthetic transformation thanks to the Allen Street Street Art Collective, a project funded by local entrepreneur and arts supporter, Mark Goldman. The ASSAC seeks to promote street art through renovating the neighborhood with intriguing murals, and features an ensemble of street artists from Los Angeles, New York City, and Buffalo.
In late August, the ASSAC began working on a mural and tribute to the late, great Spain Rodriguez (a legendary Buffalo born cartoonist) which now adorns the side Holley Farms. Directly across College Street is Hardware, which has also received a make-over, as well as the two buildings behind it.
The official unveiling of the murals took place on the first weekend of September to a large audience, but despite the support they have received criticism from those who prefer the old murals or a less edgy style of expression. As a resident of the neighborhood, I fully embrace the project, seeing it as an attempt to do something creative with an area that has been visually stagnant for some time now.
Hopefully the ASSAC's continued work in the area will provide more opportunities for local street artists while fostering Buffalo's reputation as one of the premier art-scene destinations in the country.
