A block-by-block guide to the Allentown Gallery District


(photo from Bill Wippert / Buffalo News)

BUFFALO NEWS - Diego Oller y Diego Rivera at 91 Allen St. and several other Allentown art spaces and galleries are destinations on a Gallery Crawl held the First Friday of every month.

The Allentown gallery scene has reached critical mass. From the glamour of Nina Freudenheim Gallery to the gritty neighborhood flavor at the College Street Gallery, a short walk on the streets of Allentown is likely to surprise your senses.

1. Cosmopolitan Gallery, 928 Main St. 650-4022. This rustic space at the corner of Main and Allen streets hosts occasional exhibitions of off-beat work from local painters, illustrators, sculptors and comic book artists. Nothing’s up at the moment, but keep an eye out for the gallery’s sporadic shows, which tend to come and go with little fanfare.

2. Studio Hart, 65 Allen St. 536-8337. Since opening in 2006, this small gallery operated by Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Executive Director Dan Hart and his wife, jewelry artist Barbara Hart, the charming but cramped gallery space has hosted a series of well-received shows from established and mid-career artists. Right now: “Only the Stones Remain: Kayaking on the Buffalo River,” photographs by Ed Healy. Through Aug. 15.

3. Indigo Art, 74 Allen St. 984-9572. Directly across the street from Studio Hart, Indigo is a project of local dealer Elisabeth Samuels, who recently decamped from her former home in the Elmwood Village to the less expensive environs of Allentown. Samuels’ space is a showcase for established artists, largely women, who work in photography, oil painting, watercolor, sculpture and mixed media. Right now: “Summer in the City,” a group show. Through Aug. 2. Next up: “Grey Dreams II: Works on Paper by Jeffrey Vincent.” Aug. 7 to 30.

4. Buffalo Big Print, 78 Allen St. 884-1777. Not an art gallery in the traditional sense, Buffalo Big Print nonetheless promotes established local artists (Ben Perrone, Adele Cohen, Gene Witkowski) by offering large-scale, high-quality (and pretty pricey) prints of their work. Next up: A group show of local artists, Aug. 7 to 28

5. Hero Design Studio, 93 Allen St. 858-4376. More design boutique than art gallery, the hip outfit Hero began operations in 2001 and now runs a gallery and boutique to exhibit and sell its work, along with specialty toy products. Right now: a selection of poster prints and products from far-flung locations.

6. El Museo Diego Oller y Diego Rivera, 91 Allen St. 884-9362. Founded by Craig Centrie in the ’70s, El Museo has long exhibited work by prominent local artists from the Latino, African American and gay communities, and served as a venue in the most recent incarnation of “Beyond/In Western New York.” Right now: “Botanicus Photographica,” a group photo exhibition, through Aug. 1.

7. Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St. 885-9535. On top of the dusty stacks of poetry and literature, this neighborhood favorite hosts performances and monthly art exhibitions. Eclectic and neighborhood-focused are the operative words at Rust Belt, which closes a show of paintings by Peter Fowler today. Next up: Work by Sandra Ludwig.

8. Gateway Gallery, 141 Elmwood Ave. 886-6888. This large, warehouse-like gallery recently hosted a series of fascinating exhibitions of work by Niagara Falls artist Jonathan Rogers. It’s also well-suited to live music, as an April concert dedicated to the life and art of Mark Freeland proved. Next up: A variety of exhibitions as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival. Visit www.infringebuffalo.org for more information.

9. BWest Studio, 148 Elmwood Ave. 480-2074. This small space hosts an eclectic array of art exhibitions, often as fund-raisers for local social work organizations. Next up: A variety of exhibitions as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival. Visit www.infringebuffalo.org for more information.

10. The Space@224 Allen St. 628-4223. An adjunct to the local design firm JR Visuals, The Space has hosts a variety of shows, many design-oriented and others that play off local festivals like the Allentown Art Festival and the ongoing Infringement Festival. Next up: A variety of exhibitions as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival. Visit www.infringebuffalo.org for more information.

11. College Street Gallery, 244 Allen St. 856-2839. One of two galleries operated by local photographer Michael Mulley, this small white-box space has integrated itself into the neighborhood’s character just as much as the Old Pink, Rust Belt Books or Mulligan’s Brick Bar. The shows feature up-and-coming artists, often fresh out of school, and particularly festive openings. Right now: “College Street Gallery Co-op Jury Exhibit” through Aug 1.

12. Sugar City, 19 Wadsworth St. Launched by a group of 20-some-things who were sick of holding art shows in their attics and rock concerts in their basements, Sugar City is a multidisciplinary venue that hosts art exhibitions and concerts side by side. Next up: A variety of exhibitions as part of the Buffalo Infringement Festival. Visit www.infringebuffalo.org for more information.

13. Nina Freudenheim Gallery, 140 North St. 882-5777. Far and away Buffalo’s most respected and longest-tenured commercial gallery, this space tucked inside the historic Lenox Hotel on North Street exhibits the area’s top-tier artists, as well as New York-based artists with local ties. It’s a no-frills space, all the better to focus on the often incredible work hung on the walls.

14. C. G. Jung Gallery, 408 Franklin St. 854-7457 or www.apswny.com. As home base for the Analytical Society of Western New York, this is probably the last place you’d expect to see a fine art exhibition. But the center has recently begun hosting art shows on a regular basis. Next up: “Together,” watercolors and photographs by Caroline and Tim Hailand. Aug. 2 through Sept. 7.