Opening Reception, Friday, April 28, 2023, 5:00—8:00 pm
Part of M&T Bank 4th Friday @ Tri-Main Center

Gallery Closes Friday, June 2, 2023

Tales from the Porch is an ongoing multimedia project that amplifies stories and the voices of members of the community including but not limited to minority-owned businesses, organizations, and emerging artists. In its second iteration, the project featured seven community leaders impacting the Buffalo, NY community despite the pandemic and the May 14 tragedy.

Over the course of 6 months, Aitina has guided a small cohort of emerging artists into the process of responding to the Tales from the Porch project and this exhibit will feature their artistic approach to the idea of the “Porch”.

Aitina Fareed-Cooke initially pursued creative arts strategies through poetry, lyricism, and digital storytelling as a means to address early childhood trauma. She has since become an award-winning entrepreneur, educator, and national recording artist (under the name A.I. The Anomaly). Fareed-Cooke has spent close to 20 years providing creative arts strategies for nonprofit organizations, government entities, corporations, educators, and emerging artists.

This project was made possible, in part, by Creatives Rebuild New York’s Artist Employment Program.