Beginning a New Century: Emerging Artists in Western New York

To usher in a new century, this exhibition highlighted 30 of the strongest and most promising artists in the eight counties of Western New York. A team of curatorial advisors – Roberley Bell, Miles Bingham, James D. Colby, Sean Donaher, Sara Kellner, Kate Koperski, James Pappas, Alberto Rey, and Midge Stock – recommended 20 emerging and under-recognized artists working in this region. They selected Peter Byrne, Alison Crocetta, Ramón Estrada-Vega, Elizabeth Gemperlein, Courtney Grim, Rosemary Hill, Peter B. Jones, Joshua Marks, Sharon McConnell, Ricardo J. Miranda-Zuñiga, Jerry Olson, Mike Prem, David Schirm, David Seehausen, John L. Surra, Carlos Szembek, Roger Thompson, Mary Tobola, William E. West, Sr., and Carole Woodlock.

Burchfield Penney staff selected 10 additional artists from among 114 who responded to an open call for entries. They chose Farrah Kulsum Ali, Fulani Lamont Carter, Peter W. Fowler, Michael Herbold, Rob Lynch, Frederick Miller, Masha Ryskin, Carlo Sammarco, Laura Snyder, and Lauren Warner. Program advisors included Joanna Angie, Cheryl Jackson,Celeste Lawson, and Susan McCartney.

Generous support from Ami and Warren Greatbatch created a program for emerging and under-recognized artists, and their grant provided financial support for the exhibition, comprehensive career development programs, purchase funds for the Burchfield Penney Art Center to acquire selected pieces, and publication funds for an exhibition catalog illustrating a work by each of the thirty artists in the show.