Harborcenter Canalside Artwork
Before I talk about this colorful piece of public art, first let me say that these photos were taken way back on an unseasonably warm day this past November...oh how I wish that I could walk outside with bare legs and arms right now and not freeze to death!
These colorful babies are the next addition to my Buffalo Public Art page. Last year, Harborcenter announced that they had three loading dock doors that needed a little bit of beautifying, so they hosted a public art contest. Out of all of the entries, I am so happy that this piece won.
This was created by Thomas Paul Asklar and Matthew Sinclair Conroy. According to the press release, the bold and bright colors of HARBORCENTER’s winning design symbolize the brilliant renaissance of the Queen City through light rays that radiate throughout the mural and represent sunrise and sunset. Art Deco is represented throughout the mural to pay tribute to Buffalo’s rich art and architectural history, highlighted by City Hall, which was completed in 1931. The mural’s mighty bison pays tribute to Buffalo’s namesake animal and the Native Americans who held the buffalo in sacred regard. The seal of the City of Buffalo hovers with a lightning bolt, along with an iconic grain mill, to reference the city’s powerful industrial history. The historical sign of the “Two Waterfronts” and image of the lighthouse pay tribute to the merging of the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes, which was vital to grain trade for generations. A young mule represents the Erie Canal’s importance to immigrants and their vital contribution to our region’s commercial success. Paying further tribute to Buffalo’s place as the Queen City of the Great Lakes is the iconic SS Arthur M. Anderson cargo ship, which represents the shipping industry and is believed to be the last ship in contact with the SS Edmund Fitzgerald before its sinking in 1975. The SS Anderson is still in service today.
This is definitely a must-visit piece of public art, and it's absolutely hard to miss it! Whenever you come on down to Canalside to spend a day on the water or head on over to the Key Bank Center for a concert or a Sabres game, stop on by Harborcenter and snap some photos of this beauty.
Remember to check out my Buffalo Public Art page for the exact location of this mural as well as other beautiful pieces in the area!