Building off the success of the first ever BurchFest event held in September 2023, BurchFest 2024 promises to be even bigger and better! The goal of the event is to celebrate the life and legacy of former West Seneca resident and world-renowned artist Charles Burchfield and family, and to promote The Charles Burchfield Gardenville District as a growing and significant arts tourism destination.
“A new walking tour, new exhibits and a performance by the West Seneca Town Band have been added to the BurchFest 2024 schedule,” said Joe Kirchmyer, executive director of the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place at multiple locations throughout the town on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Following is a list of locations, times and activities to help you plan your BurchFest adventure:
Charles Burchfield Home & Studio, 3574 Clinton Street
Hours: 9-3
Tour the recently renovated studio of Charles Burchfield, as well as a small portion of the home where he once lived and worked. Members of the West Seneca Art Society will be plein air painting and sketching on the grounds. Plus, view multiple prints of the works on Charles Burchfield.
Charles Burchfield Nature & Art Center & Burchfield Park, 2001 Union Road
Hours: BNAC 11-3, park dawn until dusk
The new Burchfield room will be open, plus a watercolor painting project, art exhibit, tree craft, and two new explore activities in the park. Members of the West Seneca Art Society will be plein air painting and sketching on the grounds.
Christian Metz House, 12 School Street
Hours: 10-3
West Seneca’s oldest building will host an informal open house. The first-floor flooring within the historic building was recently restored using yellow pine boards and square-headed nails reflective of the time period during which the Metz House was built. Multiple historic pieces are also on display.
Explore Buffalo’s Gardenville Walking Tour
Hours: 11-12:30
Join Explore Buffalo for a Gardenville Walking Tour, which will meet at 11 a.m. at the Burchfield Nature & Art Center. Fees apply. Please visit https://explorebuffalo.org/villages/gardenville/ for details.
Fourteen Holy Helpers Church, 1345 Indian Church Road
Hours: 11-3
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 a display featuring several unique and historic artifacts, including a painting by Martha Burchfield. Baked good sale, plus additional parking available.
Martha Burchfield Richter Atrium, 1300 Union Road
Hours: 10-4
“Martha Burchfield Richter’s Seasons of Nature: Works from the Louise Schoene Collection” will be on display through Sept. 30. This exhibition of watercolors by Charles Burchfield’s daughter Martha celebrates her regional paintings of the four seasons and is guest curated by Dr. Gerald Mead.
Painting With A Twist, 1054 Union Road
Hours: 1 & 6 p.m.
Burchfield-inspired painting sessions! An all-ages class will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m., while an adult class (18+) will run from 6 to 8 p.m. All materials are included for these fun and engaging classes. Fees apply. Please contact the venue to reserve a seat.
Rusty Nickel Brewing Company, 4350 Seneca Street
Hours: 12-4 market, 11-11 brewery
A September Artisan Market will take place Saturday and will feature more than 50 local artists and makers, food trucks, a kid’s activity corner and more.
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3512 Clinton Street
Hours: 10-3
Craft show on lawn, vendors inside. Volunteers will be collecting Burchfield oral histories from attendees. Will also offer a history of the church and it’s relationship to Burchfield, and will display a Burchfield painting. Food offerings, plus additional parking.
West Seneca Public Library, 1300 Union Road
Hours: 10-2
Bookmark-making event, hosted by the West Seneca Art Society, in the library’s Makerspace area. Stop by anytime between 10 & 2. Also, join us from 11 to noon in the Community Room for The Genius of Charles E. Burchfield: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary, with Mary Marino Kozub, Director of Education at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Space 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 Town Band, Lions Club Band Shell, 1300 Union Road
Hours: 3-4
Musical performance featuring the West Seneca Town Band. In the event of rain, the concert will move into the West Seneca Community Center & Library’s Community Room.
West Seneca Youth & Recreation Department, 1300 Union Road
Hours: 10-2
Celebrate the seasons with art and unleash your creativity! 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 memento or leave it on display in the Community Center & Library hallway for all to admire through mid-October. This is a complement to the exhibit by Martha Burchfield Richter taking place 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 display curated by Dr. Gerald Mead will consist of a small survey of landscape paintings by Charles Burchfield’s daughter, Martha. Additional parking available.
For more information on BurchFest and The Charles Burchfield Gardenville District, please visit the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce website at westseneca.org.
This event is sponsored, in part, by Western New York Federal Credit Union and West Seneca’s service organizations.
