Mishmash Melange: burchfield penney

Buffalo landscape painted by Charles Burchfield

The new $33 million Burchfield-Penney Art Center opened on Buffalo State College campus on November 22, 2008 across the street from Albright Knox Art Museum. I received an invite postcard in the mail and have held on to it ever since intending to visit. Earlier this month I finally made the trip to see the new art center that concentrates on more modern works of art starting in the late 19th century through today. It features the largest collection of works by Charles Burchfield of any museum but is also home to 7500 works of art by more than 600 artists including Elbert Hubbard, Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Charles Burchfield inspired the creation of the original museum at Buffalo State College in 1966. Originally called the Charles Burchfield Center, the Burchfield Penney was formally created through the Buffalo State College Foundation Inc.

Ellicott Creek which runs right through my village and looks much the same today

Watercolorist Charles Ephraim Burchfield (1893-1967) is one of America's most original artists. Best known for his romantic, often fantastic depictions of nature, Burchfield developed a unique style of watercolor painting that reflected distinctly American subjects and his profound respect for nature. Burchfield was born April 9, 1893, in Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio. In 1921, Burchfield moved to Buffalo, New York, to work for the M. H. Birge & Sons Company, one of the nation's most prominent wallpaper companies. Fascinated by Buffalo's streets, harbor, railroad yards, and surrounding countryside, he adopted a more realistic artistic style. Burchfield's foray into realism lasted for several years. In 1929, the Frank K. M. Rehn Galleries in New York City began representing Burchfield, allowing the artist to resign from his job as a designer to paint full-time.

black and white polka dot vase

In 1983, the museum was renamed the Burchfield Art Center to support its multi-arts focus. Committing to a full range of visual expression, including craft art, architecture, and design, as well as fine art.

harp necklace

Between 1991 and 1994, the Burchfield Art Center received a series of gifts from Charles Rand Penney, Ph.D., including the largest private collection of works by Charles E. Burchfield; publications and hand-crafted domestic objects from the Roycroft community; and historic and contemporary works of craft and fine art.

black and white screen

The latest chapter of the museum’s history began in 1998 when William J. Magavern II proposed a new museum building for the Burchfield Penney with a significant lead gift. After almost 10 years of planning, fundraising and construction, the new Burchfield Penney Art Center opened November 22, 2008 on the campus of Buffalo State College.

A trio of naughty aprons