Press Release | Total Solar Eclipse & Astral Visions 

Burchfield Penney Art Center and Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium present a constellation of stellar programs to align with the celestial event

SUNY Buffalo State University — On Monday, April 8, 2024, one day before the 131st anniversary of Charles E. Burchfield’s birth, the “Great North American Eclipse” will cast Buffalo, NY in its dark umbra. The region lies directly in the Path of Totality, the perfect vantage point to witness the moon’s total eclipse of the sun. The Burchfield Penney Art Center is partnering with the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at SUNY Buffalo State University to present a constellation of astronomy-themed exhibitions and programs. 

Opening on Friday, February 9, 2024, the Burchfield Penney presents Total Solar Eclipse & Astral Visions: Works by Charles E. Burchfield & Alan Friedman. Curated by Burchfield Scholar Nancy Weekly with assistance from Manager of Exhibitions Tullis Johnson, the exhibition will include depictions of the sun, moon, and constellations by artist Charles Burchfield, alongside stunning solar astrophotography by Alan Friedman taken from “his backyard observatory in Buffalo.” 

“Looking through my father’s telescope to see the moon, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s moons sparked childhood curiosity in the cosmos,” shares Nancy Weekly. “I imagined becoming an astronaut when I grew up,” she continues. “Burchfield also drew inspiration, writing: ‘I will never travel to outer space, but I have in a measure brought the stars and constellations to me. To me, they are not remote or forbidding, but something to love.’ This exhibition provides a glimpse into our universal fascination.”

The public is invited to celebrate the opening of Total Solar Eclipse & Astral Visions on M&T Second Friday, February 9th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. This free event will also feature live music by Sally Schafer and Tyler Bagwell, and an all-ages Valentine art activity. The exhibition will remain on view through June 30, 2024. Find more information and plan your visit at burchfieldpenney.org.

The Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium presents ECLIPSE: The Sun Revealed planetarium program, February 16 through April 7, 2024. A series of additional major events will culminate in Eclipse Fest on April 8th in Coyer Field. Kevin K. Williams, Ph.D., associate professor of geosciences and director of the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium shares, “I love how Charles Burchfield captured the Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations in some of his works. As an artist, he observed the world around him with the same detail as scientists and interpreted those observations into works of art. This exhibition is an excellent example of how the celestial spectacle of a total solar eclipse connects to all areas and interests.” Visit eclipse.buffalostate.edu for more information about the program, solar eclipse events on campus, eclipse safety information, and more!

2024 Solar Eclipse Events

at SUNY Buffalo State University

Feb 9

M&T Second Friday

5:30 — 8:00 p.m. Burchfield Penney Art Center

Exhibition opening of Total Solar Eclipse & Astral Visions

Feb 15

Experiencing Totality — The Great Total Eclipse of 2024

7:30 p.m. Rockwell Hall Performing Arts Center

With Fred "Mr. Eclipse" Espenak

 Mar 8

Eclipse & Sips

6:00 p.m. Science and Mathematics Complex Atrium

 Beer Tasting Event

Mar 24

Catching Sunlight — Solar Adventures from a Buffalo Backyard

2:00 p.m. Burchfield Penney Art Center Tower Auditorium

With Astrophotographer Alan Friedman 

Apr 8

Eclipse Fest

1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. Coyer Field

Eclipse Viewing Party

Sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

SUPPORT FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE & ASTRAL VISIONS

This exhibition and related programming have been made possible through the ongoing support of the Charles E. Burchfield Foundation and our Burchfield Penney members.

ABOUT THE BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER 

Established in 1966 on the campus of SUNY Buffalo State, the Burchfield Penney Art Center is dedicated to the art and vision of renowned American artist Charles E. Burchfield (1893–1967) and the art and artists of Buffalo and our region. Learn more at burchfieldpenney.org.

ABOUT THE WHITWORTH FERGUSON PLANETARIUM

The Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium provides students and visitors with immersive views of stars, constellations, nebulae, galaxies, planets, and much more. Here, the sky is not the limit!

The state-of-the-art software and projection systems in our 48-seat planetarium present a myriad of opportunities for not just astronomy and earth science, but all the sciences, music, art, wellness, and more. The 35-foot dome is located in the Science and Mathematics Complex on Buffalo State University's campus. There are countless possibilities to provide 360-degree visually immersive experiences for the Buffalo State and Western New York communities. Learn more at planetarium.buffalostate.edu.

Special thanks to Ferguson Electric for sponsoring the ECLIPSE: The Sun Revealed programs, to M&T Bank for supporting the solar eclipse educational programs, and to Eclipse Fest sponsor, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Julia Norris

norrisjl[at]buffalostate.edu

716 878 3457