FAMILY SECRETS

For 20 years a group known as F.A.T.H.E.R.S. (Fathers Armed Together to Help Education, Restore and Save Lives) has been working to help inner-city youth. After the mass shooting at the Tops Supermarket on Jefferson Avenue, F.A.T.H.E.R.S created an exchange program where children could bring in their toy guns and receive a healthy non-violent toy. When I read this story in the Buffalo News, I called the director, Lenny Lane, and asked if I could pick up the guns and transform them into public art. He liked the idea and now we are on a mission to make this happen. My first step was laying them out on a tarp in the yard to see what I have to work with. I learned from my Zoo project, that plastics have both strengths and limitations. These guns are very complex with hard components including metal inside. It will take a lot to transform them! To follow the steps as we create something new, follow me on Facebook

This Spring the BNWaterkeeper asked if I would create a painting to highlight the Brook Trout. This beautiful fish is native to the area and an indicator of health of our fresh water.  If the Brook Trout are surviving and reproducing, then our headwaters are in good shape. BNWaterkeeper had a plan to clean up Crow Creek and improve the channel under a road that was blocking their lifecycle. When we  drove out into the beautiful countryside south of Attica and found the headwaters, we were dismayed to see trash dumped in the creek and an impassable channel. Now BNWaterkeeper is almost finished with a great restoration. My painting was used in their fundraising.

In these stressful times, I stay focused on nature. With watercolor, gouache, colored pencils or any other media needed, I record the change of seasons, the flow of water, the growth of plants and the  movements of all the creatures surviving around us. Sometimes I can work on location but often, depending on weather and quick moving subjects, I take photos on my phone to study later.  Painting forces me to meditate on what is real.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) provided Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper with funding for a Marine Debris Removal Grant. I was offered the chance to create a piece of public art to highlight the issue of plastics in our waterways. Here is my "Plastic Muskie" portrait of the native Muskellunge fish, created out of plastics salvaged by volunteers during the 2021 "Shoreline Sweep."  It is installed at the Buffalo Zoo in the corridor leading to the Gorilla habitat. I am thrilled that thousands of people pass by and that when they get up close, they will see the insane variety of debris in our waters.  

I entered this painting into the Buffalo Society of Artists Spring 2020 Exhibition. I titled it “Our House is On Fire” after the rallying cry from climate activist, Greta Thunberg.

The exhibit was scheduled to be hosted by the Carnegie Art Center in North Tonawanda. Like so many other art events in this time of Covid-19, the reception was cancelled and the Carnegie was shuttered. Fortunately the Buffalo Society of Artists adapted it into its first ever cyber exhibition! 
You can view all of the work at www.bsacalls.com  (up until May 7th).

Our House is On Fire 
Oil on Fabriano Paper

My new book, ‘DISCARDED ANCESTORS’ officially launched on Friday, March 1^st, at the Canisius College Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library. This was so fitting because that’s where the family secret was discovered (and you can discover it yourself when you read the book!)
So many people were involved in this creative project. I am so thankful to Kathleen Delaney and Lisa Sullivan of Canisius for their research that led to the discovery of the mysterious Eleanor. Thanks also to Marti Gorman and Linda Prinzi of City of Light Publishing for their expertise and enthusiasm.
We were expecting a large shipment of books from Asia but everything was put on hold due to Covid-19. I thought books would be in all the bookstores and on Amazon by now. Several book signings had to be cancelled.  But fortunately in the meantime, copies are available at City of Light Publishing in Buffalo, NY.  You can order your copy on their website:

https://cityoflightpublishing.com/product/discarded-ancestors/

My studio is a 900 sq. ft space on the fifth floor of Buffalo’s TriMain Center. Built in 1917 as a Ford Model-T factory, the TriMain, like the city itself, has gone through economic upheavals. Now considered a ‘mixed-use business center,’ this huge hulk of a building rises at 2495 Main Street and dominates the landscape around it. Main Street has historically been the dividing line between the decaying Eastside and the redeveloped Westside neighborhoods of Buffalo. The TriMain attracts a diverse population from both sides of the city and gives me the opportunity to meet and work with them. At the same time, I can close my doors and retreat into my own quiet, creative space.

The surrounding neighborhoods are an extension of my studio. As I walk out of the building, I find treasure close by.  Abandoned toys, old photographs, hunks of rusty metal thrown out to the curb, pieces of wood encrusted with layer upon layer of paint – a riot of intense textures. It’s startling and intriguing to see what others have left behind. The leftovers from this post-industrial city have become my raw material. Exploring and photographing abandoned houses and factories, collecting and combining pieces into assemblage have become steps in my process. Sanding surfaces lets me reveal layers of time. Painting portraits and framing them with old wood is another part of my method. I don’t think I would have found such meaning and direction for my work if not for my TriMain studio.

- From the new book  “Creative Spaces, The Western New York Artist Studio Project”
by Richard W. Christian and Steve H. Siegel

The two months leading up to the holidays are prime time for book fairs and book signings. This year I was honored to be included in many events. From the KIDS EXPO at the Buffalo Convention Center, to INDIE AUTHOR DAY at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library to the first LE3 EVENT at Barnes & Noble and several more.  Each one is an opportunity to meet other authors, talk shop and make new friends.  Each event is totally unique with different levels of event planning. Best of all, I got to meet people who actually buy my books and kids who read them.  Thank you to everyone who stopped to say hi and a special thanks to the people who bought Buffalo Snow as a present to send out to children who don’t get to see snow. Some destinations fans told me about this year were Australia, Florida, Scotland, and California. 

"INCIVILITY: A VISUAL RESPONSE"
Opening December 1st at El Museo Gallery is a group show of challenging art in support of the International Institute of Buffalo for their efforts to aid Buffalo Refugees. The show is up until December 9th with a closing reception and call for winter clothing donations.  El Museo is at 91 Allen Street, Buffalo. 

My entry is a large mixed media drawing of figures in a borderland setting. The composition grew out of my feelings on the plight of women and girls around the world. 

     The president’s negative stance on immigrants has caused distress for many. One vulnerable group affected by the ban that hasn’t gotten as much attention as others is the victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is essentially a form of modern slavery, in which people are coerced, lured or kidnapped into unpaid or underpaid labor (including, but not limited to, sex work). It is estimated that some 50,000 women and girls are brought into the U.S. each year.

     In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act  was designed to combat human trafficking, as well as to extend a helping hand to victims in the U.S. Under these laws, if you can prove that you’re a victim of human trafficking, you can be entitled to a number of benefits, including a visa to stay in the U.S., not only for yourself, but also potentially for your spouse and children. So if you’re a foreign-born trafficking victim who has escaped your situation, you can work to prosecute your traffickers in U.S. courts, thereby preventing them from victimizing other people.

   Now under Trump’s executive order, trafficking victims are fearful of being considered criminals rather than victims when they reach out for help. One of the most effective tools that traffickers use to maintain control over someone and make them fearful of seeking help–besides violence–is the threat of the legal system, of law enforcement, or the threat of deportation back to the country they fear. Trump has created a climate where people in trafficking situations are even more powerless.

All are welcome to tonight's opening reception from 7 - 9 pm. All feedback is welcome!

On Wednesday July 13, ArtReach will host their fundraiser “no bigger than a pie box” – small works (less than 9” square) small enough to fit into a pie box. ArtReach is a group of Buffalo ‘like-minded’ women, Karen Eckert, Maria Pabico LaRotonda, Beth Smith and Emily Tucker, who have banded together in support of our common humanity and our democracy. This silent auction will benefit Pride Center of WNY, Planned Parenthood and the YWCA, groups at risk of losing funding in this political climate.

I have submitted 3 pieces to the event – all from my “endangered creatures” series. Each is a 6”x 6” portrait in spray paint and acrylic on canvas. On the side panel is a different butterfly at risk of extinction. I wonder how many species these children will see go extinct as the EPA is destroyed.

From left to right are:
Karner Blue (Plebejus melissa samuelis)
Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus)
Dotted Skipper (Hesperia attalus)

The silent auction runs from 5:30 – 7:30 at 500 Seneca Street in Buffalo, NY. Pre-sale tickets to the event are $20 for individual tickets and $30 per pair through July 10. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20 a piece or online. On behalf of ArtReach, thank you for your support!

Today I am remembering my father, Richard MacLean. Born of an immigrant mother, he was a child of the depression. He grew up strong in the CC Camps and fought in the Pacific in World War II. After the war he returned to Boston, married Marjory Foss and had two kids. He worked installing burglar alarms all around Boston until retirement. Richard kept the same job and same wife and retired a happy and loyal man. In his retirement years, he enjoyed recycling old tools. We would go to garage sales with him, looking for junk that he could turn into treasure. He taught me to respect what’s been left behind or thrown away and his values have certainly influenced my artwork. 

Here is Dad in the cellar looking over his “collection”.
A few years back I did a portrait of him, entitled “Who Will Build the City Up Each Time?” I used spray paint and acrylic on canvas and then framed it in recycled wood. The letters and numbers reference his initials and social security number. As a soldier and a worker, Richard was often seen as just a 'number.' The piece was in the “The Artists Among Us” exhibit at the Burchfield Penney in 2012.  Dad got to see himself in a museum – a highlight for both of us!  Dad passed away in January 2015. I miss and honor him today.

One of the events in celebration of this milestone is a special art exhibit – LIFE ON THE CANAL THEN BY ARTISTS NOW, opening at the Erie Canal Museum. Curator Virginia Creighton has organized artwork by 17 contemporary artists and I am honored to be included.  The opening will be on Wednesday, June 7 from 5pm to 7pm. The Erie Canal Museum is located at 318 Erie Boulevard East in Syracuse and is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and 10am to 3pm on Sundays. The show will run through July 31 and then moves to the Schenectady Historical Society from Fall 2017 through Spring 2018.

My piece, Madonna of the Canal, is an oil painting on canvas, 60” x 40”.  I based it on the tragic true story of the Harris Family. The cruel tale was first reported in the New York Tribune of 1850.

In October 1850, William, Caroline, and their toddler daughter struggled to escape from slavery by traveling on the Erie Canal. Born in slavery in South Carolina, William Harris moved to Philadelphia and married Caroline about 1843. The Fugitive Slave Act threatened their lives as free people, so they left Philadelphia for New York City. There they purchased tickets for Rochester, where they intended to take a lake ship to Canada. In Albany, their tickets were stolen and destroyed by people who forced them to purchase tickets again. Once they were on the canal boat, the crew (including Captain Harwell Webster and crew members Silas H. Cowell and Jeremiah Cluney) cruelly tormented the Harris family. They awakened William that night and told him that his master was aboard and that he would be returned to slavery. After three days of “threats and brutal conduct,” Caroline jumped overboard, taking their daughter with her. Passengers rescued Caroline, but their daughter drowned, and the boat did not stop to save her. Threatened with death, William cut his own throat and lay for hours while the crew played cards nearby. Finally allowed to leave the boat, William Harris walked along the canal, following his wife who was still on board, for twenty miles until he fainted. Rescued by Captain Ogden, another canal boat captain, William was taken to abolitionist Dr. Hiram Hoyt in Syracuse, who treated his wounds. Rev. Lisle, African American minister from Syracuse, found Caroline Harris west of Syracuse, still on board the canal boat. The crew were arrested in Rochester and returned to Syracuse, where they were jailed and then fined. William and Caroline Harris eventually found their way to Canada.

The Harris family received national attention. On October 26, 1850, the New York Tribune called this “one of the grossest and most inhuman outrages that has ever come to our notice.” The crew was “human fiends,” and this “outrageous affair” illustrated the worst effects of the “bill of abominations.”

Three years ago I found an entire album of old family photographs thrown out with the trash near Fillmore Avenue. Another lucky discovery was a stack of old door panels at Buffalo ReUse. These materials pushed me into an entire series of collages – discarded ancestors combined with recent photos of buildings around the east side of Buffalo. The wood from the door panels had its own story to tell through layers of paint down to the original surface.  Putting all the elements together expressed the long passage of time.

Here’s one of my favorite mother/daughter photos from the series. I enjoy reading into it through my own history. The little girl is distracted and not quite cooperating but Mom will make sure she stands still!

Our memories of our mothers can combine such a huge range of emotions and experiences. Thank you to all past, present and future mothers!

Down in the Larkinville neighborhood of Buffalo, NY, is the very popular Hydraulic Hearth Restaurant & Brewery. And inside the Hydraulic is Buffalo’s smallest art space, (716)GAL-LERY.

The (716)GAL-LERY is actually a 1950’s wooden phone booth re-purposed into a contemporary art gallery. Exhibitions include the use of a vintage pay phone, which adds an audio component to the show. Old meets new technology as the payphone is equipped with an usb port so Gallery visitors may charge their cell phones. Right beside the phone booth is The Gallery “Gift Shop,” a sticker machine filled with artist-designed stickers and tattoos. 50 cents buys a portfolio of small art. The Gallery “Education Department” houses artist-designed coloring and activity pages for young and young-at-heart patrons.

For my turn in this unique space, I am filling the walls with 9’’x12’’ oil paintings of city crows. Each bird has his own personality and preferred place to hang out. When you enter the booth and pick up the phone receiver, you can join the crow conversation! (The crow sound track was created by my son-in-law, Ala’ Diab, who is a game designer in Chicago.)

The show will be on view from May 10^th through September 4^th, 2017. Hydraulic Hearth Restaurant & Brewery is at 716 Swan Street, Buffalo NY. Kitchen Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 4:00 pm to 10 pm and the bar is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

At the opening of CODA, Studio Hart on Friday, April 7th.

It was billed as a "finale among friends" since gallery owner, Barbara Hart, plans to end her 10-year run at Studio Hart and move on to new creative projects. Such a treat to work with Barbara, David Buck, Bob Collignon and Carol Case Siracuse. My contribution to the show was a series of nine spray paint and acrylic portraits framed with recycled wood. Opening night was very successful with a great crowd and great conversation. Artist, Julian Montague, captured me in front of my work. Feels strange to be on the other side of the camera.  Thank you Julian, and thanks to all the people who came out to share CODA. 

Visit my Facebook page (Elizabeth Leader) for lots more pictures of gallery visitors.

Walking down Main Street in Buffalo I meet all kinds of people – students, firemen, sanitation workers, street protestors and many more. When I ask to take their picture, most people generously pose for a minute. Some of these snapshots become the basis for a simple portrait – a combination of spray paint and acrylic drawing on canvas. Over the last few years, I’ve collected strips of wood, either molding or flooring, salvaged from torn-down houses on the city’s east side. With the help of the wonderful team at Avenue Art & Frame in Buffalo, I bring the elements together. It is my way of honoring the people and the layers of history of this city.

Getting all the final details taken care of before our 3-person exhibit, ‘CODA’ opens on April 7th.  Here’s the beautiful postcard designed by David Buck and here is the story behind the show:

‘Coda’ is a musical term referring to the concluding passage of a piece, movement or dance. It’s also the name for the final exhibit at Studio Hart, a treasure of an art gallery in the heart of Buffalo. Gallery owner, Barbara Hart, is moving on to new creative projects.

CODA will feature works by David Buck, Bob Collignon and I. CODA opens on “First Friday,” April 7^th and runs through April 29^th. Studio Hart is located at 65 Allen Street, Buffalo, New York, 14202. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, Noon to 4pm. Contact Barbara at 716-536-8337 or at www.studiohart.com.

CODA is a musical term referring to the concluding passage of a piece, movement or dance. It’s also the name for the final exhibit at Studio Hart, a treasure of an art gallery in the heart of Buffalo. Gallery owner, Barbara Hart, is moving on to new creative projects, and I am honored to support her in this grand finale.

CODA will feature works by David Buck, Bob Collignon and I. CODA opens on “First Friday,” April 7^th and runs through April 29^th. Studio Hart is located at 65 Allen Street, Buffalo, New York, 14202. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, Noon to 4pm. Contact Barbara at 716-536-8337 or at www.studiohart.com.
Here is a little glimpse of a face I am working on, part of a series of Main Street faces. It combines spray paint and acrylic on canvas framed in recycled wood.

My neighbors at the Buffalo Arts Studio are organizing an art affair and auction for all. ‘CollectX25’ promises to democratize art collecting by having many different price points and a variety of pieces to satisfy new and long-time collectors. 

 Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 25^th from 7:00pm - 10:00pm.  The party is at the Buffalo Arts Studio in Suite 500 in the Tri-Main Center at 2495 Main Street. Tickets are $40 on collectx25.eventbrite.com or directly from the Buffalo Arts Studio and the price includes hors d’oeuvres, an open bar of wine and beer, and a chance to own unique art.  (Those eager to see what will be up for auction can catch a free sneak preview at M&T Fourth Friday on March 24.)

I have donated a piece from my “Discarded Ancestors” series. This mixed media assemblage, ‘The Luncheon Party’ (13.5”h x 8.5”w x 2.25”d) combines found objects, photos, acrylic and recycled wood. It’s my way of pullng the city’s past and present together through layers of time.

Hope to see you at the party!

Last week, as the country was distracted by political drama, a tragedy occurred in the natural world. Over 650 pilot whales were stranded on a beach in New Zealand and the majority of them died. No one knows why it happened but theories include pollution, environmental toxins or the sonar used by naval ships.  Some think it might have been sharks or changes in food sources or the tricky geography of the narrow beach. Scientists are testing and studying all the possibilities.
We are completely dependent on water. Who is watching out for our rivers, lakes and oceans? This question will become ever more critical as time goes on. Here's my little mixed media sketch of a humpback whale. This huge mammal (65,000 lbs) has been on and off the endangered species list.

The latest exhibition at Buffalo’s Studio Hart is “We Were Here: Ten Years of Studio Hart Artists.”  Owner Barbara Hart looks back on 10 years of exhibits and displays work by over 100 artists who have shown in the gallery.  Barbara has been a key figure in the renaissance of the Allentown neighborhood and the growth of the city’s art scene. Every First Friday of the month, art lovers flood into her small but powerful space, enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. The current show opened on Friday, February 3^rd and was jam-packed!

I am honored have my mixed-media assemblage, ‘The Cook’, included in Barbara’s latest show. It combines spray paint, oil and acrylic with pages from a cookbook. The piece is framed with old recycled wood molding and includes song lyrics running up the side and over the top. The piece is 14” square and 2.25 “ deep and is part of a long series of Buffalo faces that I have been working on for a while.

 The show will be up until February 25^th.  Studio Hart is located at 65 Allen Street, Buffalo NY 14202 (716-536-8337 – hartworld@mac.com ) Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 to 3:30 and Saturday, Noon to 4:00.

Here are two 20-minute pastel portraits. I set up my palette in complementary colors. On the left is an example of the red/green palette. On the right is orange/blue. A limited palette can capture and communicate the features even under very different lighting conditions.

OPEN FIGURE DRAWING BEGINS TONIGHT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO’S CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The spring session of open figure drawing will run from February 1 to May 10, 2017. There will be no session March 22 during spring break.These are non-instructional figure drawing sessions proctored by a graduate student from UB's MFA program. 

WEDNESDAY’s • Feb 1 to May 10 (no session Mar 22) TIME • 6:00 to 8:30 PM
WHERE • Studio 208 (2nd FL Center for the Arts) COST • $5 Session - No Registration is required

Bring your own materials. Any media! The first TEN high school students who show a valid ID may draw for free. Seating limited to 21 participants.
There is open figure drawing at places all around the area through schools, arts centers and artists' groups. All offer a wonderful opportunity to learn - just by watching how other artists, at all different levels, approach the exercise.

I began this pastel drawing quite a while ago but could never quite bring myself to finish it. Then, with all the turbulence in the world today, the vision became clear and the painting formed it’s own conclusion.  Sharing this image is my way of reacting to all the climate change deniers. You can try to gag the truth of science but it will always come out.

Life drawing is a study of the human form done directly from a live model. Since I can't count on the model keeping perfectly still for very long, I am forced to approach each pose as a hunter - in a concentrated state with tools ready and eyes sharp, trying to capture the moment in as much detail as possible.

Pastels are my tool of choice for their simplicity and immediacy. When you have only a few minutes to draw, you have to be armed and ready. Today’s color palette is based on the Orange/Blue complements. I set it up from the darkest to brightest to lightest values.  It’s so simple I don’t have to worry about mixing the colors of flesh in the shadows. I believe life drawing is the greatest, most difficult practice an artist can have and the foundation for all other work. It also can be a time of quiet meditation where the distractions of the outside world are set aside.