BurchFest 2024 – Buffalo Rising

West Seneca hosted its first Burchfest in 2023. At the time, Joe Kirchmyer, executive director of the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce, said, “This is a continuation of our efforts to promote West Seneca as a artistic tourism destination while building on the heritage of the Burchfield family. »

Seeing as how successful the inaugural years were, the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce is ready to do it again. They have an incredible lineup of events and activities, as well as a few new things up their sleeve for 2024.

“A new walking tour, new exhibits and a performance by the West Seneca Town Band have been added to the BurchFest 2024 schedule,” Kirchmyer said. “The event will take place in several locations across the city on Saturday September 21.

The objective of Burchfest is of course to celebrate the life of former West Seneca resident and world-renowned artist Charles Burchfield and his family. To this end, the continued recognition and support of the Charles Burchfield Gardenville District is important. By continuing to build a tourism destination within the Town of West Seneca, there is an inherent sense of “growing pride” within the community – a community that is home to the Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center.

Below is a list of locations, times and activities to help people plan their next BurchFest adventure:

Charles Burchfield House and Studio, 3574 Clinton Street

Hours: 9-3

Tour Charles Burchfield’s newly renovated studio, as well as a small section of the house where he once lived and worked. Members of West Seneca Art Society There will be plein air painting and sketching on the grounds. Plus, view several prints of Charles Burchfield’s works.

Charles Burchfield Nature and Arts Center and Burchfield Park, 2001 Union Road

Hours: BNAC 11-3, park dawn until dusk

The new Burchfield Room will be open, along with a watercolour painting project, an art exhibit, tree crafts and two new park exploration activities. Members of West Seneca Art Society there will be outdoor painting and sketching on the grounds.

Maison Christian Metz, 12 rue School

Hours: 10am-3pm

West Seneca’s oldest building will host an informal open house. The flooring on the first floor of the historic building was recently restored using yellow pine boards and square-head nails, reflecting the period in which the Metz House was built. Several historic pieces are also on display.

Experience the Gardenville Walking Tour in Buffalo

Hours: 11-12:30 p.m.

Join Explore Buffalo for a walking tour of Gardenville, taking place at 11 a.m. at the Burchfield Nature & Art Center. Fees apply. Please visit explorebuffalo.org/villages/gardenville for more details.

Church of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, 1345 Indian Church Road

Hours: 11am-3pm

Open house with parishioners and staff available to answer questions about the historic church and parish, which dates back to the 1860s. Guests will also see an exhibit featuring several unique and historic artifacts, including a painting by Martha Burchfield. Sale of good pastries, plus additional parking available.

Martha Burchfield Richter Atrium, 1300 Union Road

Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The exhibition “The Seasons of Nature by Martha Burchfield Richter: Works from the Louise Schoene Collection” will be on display until September 30. This exhibition of watercolors by Charles Burchfield’s daughter Martha celebrates his regional paintings of the four seasons and is curated by Dr. Gerald Mead.

Painting with a touch of originality, 1054 Union Road

Hours: 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Burchfield Inspired Painting Sessions! An all-ages class will run from 1-2:30pm, while an adult class (ages 18+) will run from 6-8pm. All materials are included for these fun and engaging classes. Fees apply. Please contact the venue to reserve a spot.

Rusty Nickel Brewing Company, 4350 Seneca Street

Opening hours: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the market, 11 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the brewery

A September Craft Market will take place Saturday and will feature more than 50 local artists and makers, food trucks, a kids’ activity corner and more.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3512 Clinton Street

Hours: 10-3

Craft show on the lawn, vendors inside. Volunteers will collect oral histories of Burchfield from attendees. They will also provide a history of the church and its relationship to Burchfield, and display a painting of Burchfield. Food offerings and additional parking.

West Seneca Public Library, 1300 Union Road

Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Bookmarking event, organized by the West Seneca Art Society, in the library’s Makerspace. Come see us anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also join us from 11 a.m. to noon in the community room to The Genius of Charles E. Burchfield: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary, with Mary Marino Kozub, Director of Education at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Seating will be limited and registration is required for the lecture. Call (716) 674-2928 or stop by the West Seneca Public Library to register.

West Seneca Municipal Orchestra, Lions Club Bandstand, 1300 Union Road

Hours: 3-4

Musical performance with the West Seneca Town Band. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the community room at the West Seneca Community Center and Library.

West Seneca Youth and Recreation Department, 1300 Union Road

Hours: 10-2

Celebrate the seasons with art and let your creativity run wild! Decorate a tree to represent the four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. Use crayons, markers, paint, collage or even recycled materials to bring your vision to life. Take your artwork home as a keepsake or display it in the hallway of the Community Center and Library for all to admire through mid-October. This is a complement to the Martha Burchfield Richter exhibit in the atrium.

WNY Federal Credit Union, 1937 Union Road

Hours: 12-4

Hosting “Watercolors by Martha Burchfield Richter: Works from the Louise Schoene Collection”. This one-day only exhibition, curated by Dr. Gerald Mead, will consist of a small survey of the landscape paintings made by Charles Burchfield’s daughter Martha. Additional parking available.

For more information about BurchFest and the Charles Burchfield Gardenville District, please visit the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce website at westseneca.org.