Useum/The Elements

The Useum™ is a hands-on, participatory, learning center oriented for use by children, families, and people with disabilities dedicated to the interpretation of art from the collections in creative new ways. Activities and related projects were coordinated by Education Curator Lisa Abia-Smith, assisted by Buffalo State College graduate students and docents, and Director of the Curatorial Department Nancy Weekly. The idea was to make art fun and relevant to everyday experience. The first exhibition was proposed by graduate student Fred Ciminelli. It focused on the theme of The Four Elements (Earth, Fire, Water, and Air) and featured the work of Charles Burchfield and other Western New York artists.

Useum // The Elements

The mission of the Useum™ program is to create a dynamic environment that makes learning enjoyable. Art from the collection has been selected to illustrate themes and to offer a starting point for activities and creative thought. Moreover, the exhibition and its educational activities incorporate the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts and Discipline-based Art Education.

Art works by Charles Burchfield and Western New York photographers were chosen to illustrate both the classical idea of the elements as building blocks for the human body, and the timeless idea of nature's elements as subject and influence on the artist. The exhibition is installed cinematically. Each image connects to another, so the viewer experiences the space like a film or video.

The Greek philosopher Plato, who lived from 427 to 347 B.C., wrote: “There are four natures out of which the body is compacted — earth and fire and water and air…,"thereby drawing a connection between the natural world and the human physical constitution. Using these art works as metaphors for earth, fire, water, and air, numerous interpretations are possible. One example of each might be earth=foundation; fire=soul; water=life; air=freedom. What are your ideas?

The Elements was organized by Fred Ciminelli, who is an artist, teacher, and Buffalo State College graduate student, and Burchfield-Penney Art Center staff Lisa Abia-Smith, Mary Helen Miskuly, and Nancy Weekly. Support has been provided, in part, by Kaufmann's and the Faculty-Student Association of Buffalo State College.