FROM THE EDITOR We’ll admit it. We’re guilty of a bit of hyperbole in some of our cover text this month. The Burchfield-Penney is not technically the first new museum in Buffalo for 100 years; several small specialty museums have started up in that time. For that matter, the BPAC is not itself new, having been founded in its Rockwell Hall location in 1966. But we think every reader probably knows what we mean—and that this is an occasion when a bit of hyperbole is justified. Given the increasingly unfavorable economic context for the completion of significant new projects in our area, the achievement represented by this museum becomes even larger. At a time when simply maintaining an operational status quo is the best most non-profits can hope for, the Burchfield–Penney has brought a magnificent new facility to completion in an amazingly short time. And the achievement is not just for the museum alone or even for Buffalo State; it is a giant leap forward for an area of Elmwood Avenue that we can now call the museum district. The sleek new museum is unprecedented for its thoughtful inclusion of generous spaces for education programs and art conservation and preparation, as well as for its expanded and diverse galleries. Recognizing all this, it was therefore somewhat perplexing when I noticed that a disproportionately large amount of the official press reaction to the new museum seemed to be rehashing objections to the building that had already been discussed and, I thought, adequately answered. It seems to be time to move forward and make the most of this amazing new gift to the community, and with that in mind, we are pleased to offer a tour of the Burchfield-Penney. Our architecture critic, Barry A. Muskat, has spent considerable time both exploring the building—inside and out. He’s also talked to its architects, and has plenty of interesting comments of his own to make. We hope that you will all soon have an opportunity to see the new BPAC for yourself, as well as take advantage of its programs and those of Western New York’s other wonderful cultural resources. Now more than ever, it’s time to be thankful for what we are lucky enough to have here. Enjoy the issue, SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top