Sep 01, 2025
The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University will celebrate its 30th anniversary by opening both its performance and exhibition seasons with a vibrant day of music and art on Sunday, Sept. 21.
As part of the celebration, all five of the Quick Center’s galleries — Front, Kenney, Dresser, Beltz and Laine — will reopen to the public at 1 pm with light refreshments with fresh, thoughtfully curated exhibitions reflecting the center's
mission of artistic excellence, education and cultural connection:
- The Front Gallery will feature Once Upon a Sketch by Dr. Heather Lynn Harris, associate professor of Communication, offering a behind-the-scenes look at children’s book illustration.
- The Kenney Gallery will showcase treasures from the center’s Southwest and Asian Collection, highlighting cultural and spiritual artistry.
- In the Dresser Gallery, realist painters Mikel Wintermantel and Barbara Fox present evocative works rich in atmosphere and technique.
- The Laine Gallery will honor Indigenous culture through the powerful digital work of Seneca artist Carson Waterman, blending traditional Haudenosaunee themes with contemporary expression.
- Enhancing the entire experience, the Beltz Gallery will introduce a new audio tour, featuring narration by former SBU theater professor Ed. Simone, providing artist commentary and insights for visitors of all ages.
At 3 p.m., the Grammy-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), led by acclaimed conductor JoAnn Falletta, will perform in the Quick Center’s Rigas Family Theater. Ticket sales have been brisk, with fewer than 75 remaining as of today (Sept. 1). The concert, presented in association
with Friends of Good Music and the Southern Tier Symphony, officially opens the 2025-2026 performance season. A full reception will follow.
“This special day represents everything the Quick Center stands for — artistic excellence, cultural celebration, and community engagement,” said Rachel Harris, executive director of the Quick Center. “To open our 30th anniversary
seasons with both a stunning collection of exhibitions and a world-class orchestra is a true reflection of our mission to make the arts accessible and inspiring for all.”
Known as Buffalo’s cultural ambassador since 1935, the BPO has performed across North America and internationally. Falletta, hailed by ASCAP as “a leading force for music of our time,” has conducted more than 1,600 works by over
600 composers, including 135 works by women. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and former appointee to the National Council on the Arts, she was named Performance Today’s inaugural Classical Woman of the Year in 2019
and recently received the 2024 Dallas Symphony Award of Excellence.
The Quick Center galleries will remain open through the end of the BPO concert’s intermission, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy both world-class visual and performing arts.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and SBU employees, and $5 for students.
Purchase tickets online or
call the Quick Center at (716) 375-2494.