Buffalo’s Allentown Art Fest brings more new art and demos

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – This Saturday and Sunday, more than 330 artists and artisans from Western New York and across the country will showcase their works and talents on the streets of the City of Buffalo during the 67th Annual Art Festival. ‘Allentown.

What some consider the unofficial kickoff to the many warm-weather festivals that ensue during and around the summer in Buffalo, the Allentown Art Festival is one of those can’t-miss events that offer something unique every year.

“We have artists on Delaware, Virginia, Franklin and Allen, we also have food trucks on Franklin. It’s really a lot of fun,” says Rita Harrington Lippman, president of the Allentown Art Festival.

There are many artist demonstrations this year at the art festival!

“This year, in front of our office at 439 Delaware, we will have artists giving demonstrations on how they do their work, we have a jeweler who will show you how he makes jewelry, by hammering silver. We have young women from Buffalo State College who have pottery wheels, and we will make pottery and also ask the Corning (Museum of) Glass to bring in a glass blower.

As Lippman notes, this festival is a great opportunity to connect audiences with local artists and support them by purchasing things you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

WBEN’s Max Faery spoke with two art festival newcomers who are excited to showcase their creations, like Jeff Patnode of Cheektowaga-area Nickel City Makers.

“My wife and I make wonderful creations in wood and leather. Boxes, handbags, we have handbags that are really leather handbags with wood panels or wood sights and I I have wooden boxes with leather tops and linings and all kinds of beautiful nature things like that. We’ve been doing this for a little over a year on the side, and this will be our first visit to the Allentown Art Festival. .

Patnode notes that all of their sales are either online or through shows like this, so it’s very important for them to have this opportunity so they can meet new buyers and share their story.

They will be on the corner of Virginia and Franklin streets this weekend, you can find more of their works here.

Buffalo native Linda Jurdi works as an artist and graphic designer and is excited to showcase some of her oil paintings as well as her micron and water-soluble graphite drawing work.

“I have a website and have been working on my designs for a while, but I haven’t really marketed myself and been able to talk about my work to people other than my friends and family, so it That’s probably what I’m most excited about.”

The festival will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024 and Sunday, June 9, 2024, starting at 11 a.m. ET on both days and ending at 6 p.m. ET. There is no entry fee, you can find more information here.