Painting for Preservation: God Speed, Saint Adalbert Basilica Parish!

Welcome to Painting for Preservation!

Welcome to Painting for Preservation! This initiative, founded by artist Sara M. Zak, is aimed at drawing attention to distressed, at-risk, and under-utilized historic locations through on site art making.

Mission: To bring together artists of all media in support of historic distressed properties and communities. To create artwork on-site related to the location as a means of raising positive awareness of the space.

My hope is that we can continue this effort in Buffalo and expand the concept to other architecturally rich cities. Please e-mail Sara M. Zak if you are interested in starting a Painting for Preservation initiative in your city at info@paintingforpreservation.org

Our goals:
1. Raise awareness of at-risk, distressed and under-utilized locations and their neighborhoods

2. Create a record of historically rich locations through art

3. Create a community of artists invested in the urban landscape

4. Bring exposure and provide assistance to artists interested in documenting at-risk historic neighborhoods while also collaborating with members of those same neighborhoods.

5. Involve communities in sharing their stories of local historic architectural and their neighborhoods.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

God Speed, Saint Adalbert Basilica Parish!


Saint Adalbert Basilica by Steve Seigel

Painting for Preservation joined the nearly 200 parishioners of Saint Adalbert Basilica in joyfully protesting the Catholic Diocese's order to close the Basilica for regular Sunday masses. Standing their ground since 2007, Saint Adalbert's is slated to close next Sunday. The Art-In gathered over 20 artists to join the parish in celebrating the life and future of the church. With that many dedicated and innovative people participating in their community - it becomes clear that Saint Adalbert Basilica should not be closed.

The 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Basilica will take place on Sunday, September 18, beginning with a Mass at 3:00pm. A nod to the parish's history and vitality, the Mass will feature music of the Chopin Signing Society and a reception will follow at Millennium Hotel in Cheektowaga. Much of the artwork created at the Art-In will also be on display at the celebration. All are welcome at the Mass!

The Buffalo News covered the Art-In with several pictures and an article by Sandra Tan, "Preserving memories of St. Adalbert."

Working with the members of the parish led to an exceptional Art-In with music, food and more conversation than usual. Thank you to all parishioners for their hospitality during the Art-In last Sunday. In particular, the enthusiasm and efforts of Lori DiNero and Charlie Penasack of Saint Adalbert Basilica, and also Todd Kniasuk of Music is Art and Christopher Bird of Broadway-Fillmore Alive.

Collaborating with the parish and drawing positive attention to iconic towers of St. Adalbert Basilica is representational of the goal of Painting for Preservation. We seek to increase attention, illustrate aesthetics, and start a creative record of historic places in all stages of neglect, danger and uncertainty.

Join us all on Facebook: Broadway-Fillmore Alive, Music is Art , Painting for Preservation, Saint Adalbert Basilica