Metro Rail and You: Talking transit, art, and the city
Saturday, July 9, 2022
10am–2pm
El Museo is pleased to present Metro Rail and You, a program of talks about transit, art, and the city. Join us and guest speakers as we discuss topics ranging from the art and architecture of Buffalo’s Metro Rail system to the current state of, and future plans for, public transit in our region.
This event is held in conjunction with our current exhibition, The Dawn of a New Era: Designing Buffalo’s Metro Rail, on view through July 23.
Mason O. Damon Auditorium, Buffalo & Erie County Downtown Central Library
1 Lafayette Sq, Buffalo NY 14203
Free and open to the public.
Coffee and refreshments will be served.
Register to attend at this link
Scheduled discussions include:
*Small Wonders: A case for celebrating and maintaining the original art and architecture of Buffalo’s Metrorail, with Mark Byrnes, with a Q&A to follow.
*Let’s Talk Transit, with panelists Anna Blatto, Jim Gordon and Bridge Rauch, as well as a representative from the NFTA, exploring the need for transit and ways that individuals can get involved in advocacy.
*Plus, a short film screening
This event is organized by Bryan Lee and William Vogel.
This project received special support from Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Support for El Museo comes from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. El Museo’s activities are supported by the County of Erie, County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and Erie County Legislators, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the John R. Oishei Foundation, and the continued generosity of our members and donors.
Speaker information
Mark Byrnes
Mark Byrnes has written about postwar architecture and public art for various publications and organizations including CityLab, Dwell, and docomomo. Having lived near Main Street on and off since birth, he always uses Metrorail whenever possible. Sometimes he goes to Summer-Best station just to look at the wild and colorful George Sugarman installation that spills from the atrium into the street. Mark is currently an editor for the architecture firm SOM and lives in Chicago.
Bridge Rauch, Buffalo Transit Riders United
Bridge has a master’s of Regional Planning from SUNY Albany and has lived on the West Side of Buffalo since 2009. They have volunteered and worked extensively in Buffalo’s non-profit sector, including at The Service Collaborative of WNY, Preservation Buffalo-Niagara, and the Coalition for Economic Justice, where they currently serve as a board member and volunteer for the Buffalo Transit Riders United and Buffalo Mutual Aid Network campaigns.
Anna Blatto, Research Associate, Partnership for the Public Good
Anna Blatto is a recent graduate of the University at Buffalo with degrees in Sociology and Urban and Public Policy. Her areas of interest include social equity and justice, racial and spatial segregation, neighborhood effects, affordable housing, and transportation and their relationships with social and urban public policy.
Jim Gordon, Treasurer, Citizens for Regional Transit
Jim Gordon is a data analyst who understands the need for community involvement in transportation issues. As treasurer, Jim maintains the financial records for CRT. Jim believes that all segments of the community benefit in measurable, tangible ways from a strong, well-funded and managed public transit system.
Image caption: Cover, Metro Rail and You coloring book, prepared by NFTA Public Relations Department, 1985. Courtesy of Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.