18th Annual High School Photography Student Exhibition. Photography by high school students from throughout the Erie-Niagara region & beyond. On view at the Villa Maria College Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery (240 Pine Ridge Rd.) through June 2.

The Collector. Part of Old & New Artwork by Ralph Sirianni. On view at Ashker’s Juice Bar & Cafe (1002 Elmwood Ave.) through May 28. The exhibit opens with a reception tomorrow, May 18 from 7-9pm.

I am telling you a story. Hand cut paper installation part of Perspective Stories. Recorded conversations with Buffalo seniors used to map the city into hand cut maps by Katrina Boemig. On view at Buffalo City Hall on the 25th Floor. (65 Niagara Square) through May 24.

Lovely, Dark, & Deep. New paintings by Tara Sasiadek. The Buffalo artist’s highly personal paintings chronicle a wanderer’s symbolic journey through the wilderness by adapting traditional oil painting techniques to acrylic. Sasiadek applies layers of transparent color and gel textured metal leaf to convey the juxtaposition of luminescence and depth in the woods. On view at 464 Gallery (464 Amherst St) through May 16. The exhibit opens with a reception tomorrow, May 4 from 6-11pm.

The renovated Hotel at the Lafayette will open this weekend. This Tuesday there was a public tour of the building’s main floor with a presentation by Rocco Termini of Signature Development. The presentation and tour were part of Imagine Buffalo Niagara as a Bi-National Cultural Center: Why Does History &/or Nature Matter? Presented by C-SAAHN.

From the Buffalo & Erie County Historial Society:

“An innovative new partnership between the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society and the developers of the Hotel at the Lafayette renovation project has  quickly gained  the support of local funders enthusiastic about the potential for extending the Historical Society’s presence into downtown Buffalo. Announced last month and coinciding with the 150th Anniversary Gala of the Historical Society’s founding, the unique partnership with the historic Hotel spans beyond the anniversary celebration with a plan that conceptualizes and integrates a creative mix of commerce and cultural activities that include fundraising, programming, and design (with 100% of the fundraising proceeds to support the Historical Society).

Since the announcement, several prominent local funders with equally enduring Buffalo stories have committed to supporting the joint Lafayette Hotel project.

M&T Bank invested as the top-level sponsor of the Historical Society’s 150th.  Founded in 1856 by Pascal Pratt and Bronson Rumsey, the new Manufacturers & Traders Bank supported the growth of local business and a burgeoning Buffalo. The Bank continues to serve as a leading corporate funder of the WNY cultural organizations. Additional support comes from The John R. Oishei Foundation, whose origins are traced to the founding of Trico in 1917 and from Richard & Karen Penfold, longtime supporters of the museum and community philanthropists. Other supporters with a rich local history are law firms Hodgson Russ, LLP and Phillips Lytle, LLP both of whom possess a profound connection to the Gala celebration:  Millard Fillmore who founded Hodgson Russ in 1817, and Orsamus Marshall who founded Phillips Lytle in 1834, were both co-founders of the Historical Society in 1862. With a nod to continuity and great service to the Historical Society, Amy & Kenneth Friedman and Lisa & Morgan Graham of the respective law firms are the Gala’s honorary co-chairs. The Historical Society also plans to honor former Board Member, Paul Koessler’s legacy posthumously.
 
The 150th Anniversary Gala takes place at the newly restored Hotel on 391 Washington Street, Thursday, May 10, 2012. Details that connect the stories of Western New York’s unique history and heritage play a major part in the event.“

-jill greenberg

Last night (April 24) Death Cab for Cutie performed with Magik*Magik Orchestra at Kleinhans. Read an interview with Death Cab for Cutie’s drummer, Jason McGerr, at AV.com. More photos to come.

The Way to Cluffalo. Over 100 collages, paintings, artist books, sculptures, & videos by Charles Clough, one of the founding members of Hallwalls. On view at the UB Center for the Arts (103 Center for the Arts) through May 19.

The renovated Hotel at the Lafayette will open this weekend. Today there was a public tour of the building’s main floor with a presentation by Rocco Termini of Signature Development. The presentation and tour were part of Imagine Buffalo Niagara as a Bi-National Cultural Center: Why Does History &/or Nature Matter? Presented by C-SAAHN. Here are a few photos, more to come!

-jill greenberg

CEPA Gallery 11th Biennial Photography Art Auction. Nearly 85 artworks for auction. Reception w/ open bar, hors d’oeuvres, music by DJ Dr. Wisz, & live auction at 7pm. On view at CEPA Gallery (617 Main St.) tomorrow (April 21) at 5:30pm. $225/$125/$65 cepagallery.org, 856-2717

Tonight at 7pm. Sensei Yabu, 11 members of the BPO, bamboo flute will
accompany by the Noh Mask Theater Company at UB Center for the Performing
Arts.

Delegation leaves for Kanazawa Tomorrow!

Who:  Japanese Noh Mask Theater, 11 member of the BPO and Shakuhachi flute

What:  Buffalo-Kanazawa, Not for Profit’s 50th Anniversary

Where: UB Center for the Performing Arts, Amherst, NY