Camp Everything

Camp Everything is a multimedia artwork designed by artist Adam Weekley that premiered at the Buffalo PRIDE Festival in the summer of 2022. Spearheaded by the Burchfield Penney Art Center, in collaboration with Torn Space Theater Company, and with generous financial support from the Cullen Foundation, the project spanned three years. During that time, Camp Everything made appearances at various cultural events with its annual presence at the Pride Festival serving as a constant.

Weekley created the project specifically to appeal to young Pride festivalgoers and LGBTQIA+ youth as he recognized the need for content for this audience at the event.  The Camp Everything float was part mobile installation, part performance piece, borrowing from nostalgic memories and impressions of 1980’s summer camps in an effort to create a whimsical world of inclusiveness and celebration. Weekley looked to live action children's shows of the past for inspiration, inspired by creators like Jim Henson and Mr. Rogers, who teach the radical power of kindness, diversity and acceptance.

After the three-year project came to close, at the end of the 2024 season, the Camp Everything float was disassembled and put into storage. This exhibition represents an opportunity to celebrate Camp Everything in a new way, recontextualizing existing work and introducing new elements into the world Weekley created. Chief among these is a new painted backdrop that renders a bucolic valley in shades of pink and frames the original float elements and two drawing series that further expand the concept of the original project. Reflecting on Camp Everything Weekley says:

Working on this project over the last five years has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Collaborating with all of these gifted people with such a wealth of emotional, physical and financial support has been unlike any other creative experience in my life. The fact that I got to put all of this idea-making, problem solving and energy into a project that is so unapologetically optimistic makes it that much more worthwhile.

The Camp Everything float was made possible through support from the Cullen Foundation. Performances were presented by Dan Shanahan and Mellisa Meola of Torn Space Theater and featured Leon Alston, Bello Bello, Sarah Field Sonnenberg, Nikiya Garza, Becky Globus, Imani Graham, Arianna Pierce Gunther, Kalub Thompson, Molly Vine, Meredith Wheeler, Richie Wills, and others. The bear was designed by Weekley and fabricated by Randy Carfagno Productions. Further production support was provided by studio assistant and fabricator Mal Mourdant, with assistance from student interns Maria Falanga and Leanna Curts. This exhibition has been made possible through generous support from the Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation. We gratefully acknowledge the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation and an Anonymous Donor for their leadership giving. This exhibition is also supported by Burchfield Penney Members.