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In Circulation: Site-Specific Art at Mead

After the Erie County Library Board selected the Mead Library as one of several Buffalo branch libraries to be defunded and closed, the Lovejoy neighborhood and Councilmember Richard Fontana took steps to keep Mead open as a community resource. Today Mead continues to loan books, host weekly meetings of such groups as the Homemaker’s Society and offer free internet access, entirely through the work of volunteers. This industrious and collective spirit is very much in keeping with Mead Library’s roots: It was built in the 1930s as a WPA site under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal. On Wednesday (April 19) 13 students from the University at Buffalo’s Departments of Media Study, Art and Architecture will exhibit artworks made specifically for the Mead Library. The participating artists—Chris Barr, Aimee Buyea, Véronique Coté, Chris Ernst, SeonHyoung Kim, Gautam Malik, Bob Moynihan, Mili Pradhan, David Ruperti, Sujan Shrestha, Aaron Smith, Penelope Stewart, Ayse Taskent—employ a wide variety of tools, concepts and methods, spanning performance, video, sculpture, writing and interactive art. The common link between projects is the fact that all were inspired by the unique qualities of library itself.

Opening reception Wednesday, April 19, 8-10pm. Open for viewing Friday, April 21, 10am-6pm & Saturday, April 22, 12-3pm. Mead Public Library, 126 Ludington St. Free.