We invite you to join us for the Opening Reception of Peculiar Buffalo: Historical Photography 1900-2012, a collection of local photographs curated by Alexandria Le Caer. The event will take place on Wednesday, December 19 from 6:00 - 9:00pm at Maison Le Caer, 1416 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY with live music by violinist Lena Pasqualetti, and as always, refreshments and dessert by Camille. This exhibition extends to the walls of our downtown location in the Market Arcade, 617 Main Street, Buffalo.

What started as an interest in the history of our space at 1416 Hertel Avenue, has unfolded into an exhibition of not only Buffalo’s architecture but also of other, more peculiar images people don’t normally get to see in reference to Buffalo’s history. From storm-related floods, people taming buffalos in efforts to save the species, a stolen car crash, and products of the racy Ginther photography studio, to personal and colorized photographs and postcards, this assortment seeks to bring a broader understanding of our past, physically and psychologically. Through humor, style, expressions, and the progressive notions of our Buffalonian ancestors, we find relationships to our current society and see the evolution of how Buffalo has become such a cool place to live.

I would like to extend a special merci to local Historian, Jim Mendola, for access to his extensive collection and knowledge, which make up the bulk of this exhibition. A gracious thank you to the following people and organizations whose collaboration also made this exhibition possible: North Park Theater, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, The North Buffalo Organization, Buffalo Canvas, Black Rock Historical Society, Buffalo History Museum, Buffalore, Sloan’s Antiques, Lauren Becker of Flat Hat Exhibits, for her parallel interests and shared expertise, and Caitlin Moriarty for her love of maps and comprehension of architectural history and the intent of constructed spaces versus their actual use.