John James Audubon Parkway & Gordon R. Yaeger Drive

• Artist: Kimberly Gryckiewicz (TimandKimOriginals.com)
  
  
  • Biography:
    Kim has been covering the canvas since 6th grade, and continues to bring her faith into her art to encourage her viewers to reflect on their relationship to God. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Daemen College in 2015 after creating an award winning senior show. As a resident of Buffalo, NY, she has participated in a variety of local art shows and has won honors for her work over the years including recognition in the Williamsville Art Society’s The Palette newsletter. She continues to be active in her local art community, and is featured on the Buffalo Art Wall, Lake Affect Magazine, Amherst Bee Newspaper, and in a local plant store.
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    The design for this traffic box is based on a personal series called “The Paths We Walk.” It consists of a number of pathways found in popular Western New York parks. You can see the boardwalk at Billy Wilson Park (Great Baehre Swamp) off of Hopkins Road in Amherst, one of many dirt paths at Tifft Nature Preserve off of Fuhrmann Blvd just outside of downtown Buffalo, and a rocky road at Amherst State Park. This series seeks to help the viewer reflect on their own path. It’s important to make sure that the path we’re on isn’t leading to a place that will harm ourselves or the family and friends who travel with us. Two important things to remember; all paths end sooner or later, and that it’s never too late, to turn around and find a new path. And lastly, the mushrooms on the back of the box are a fun reminder of the moments and memories we make along the way.

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Maple and Old Lyme (Maple West Elementary)

• Artist: Courtney Zach (https://linktr.ee/courtneyzach)
  
  
  • Biography:
    Courtney grew up in Buffalo, NY, and studied art at Alfred University. She spent a semester studying art in Florence, Italy which ignited a desire to travel and experience new things. After school, she moved to Seoul, South Korea, where she taught and designed programs to teach English, wrote and illustrated two children's books, and started a comic strip based on her many wild adventures. After 17 years abroad, she returned to her hometown to establish herself as an artist. Her focus is to add nature to the environment of her audiences.
    
    While she is living here, her mission is to ignite curiosity in others and inspire people to spend more time exploring what fascinates them
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    The original artwork for this traffic box was inspired by Sylvia's Safari. A mini animal series that was painted for a nursery. The traffic box depicting this "Maple West Safari" sits just outside Maple West Elementary School where children will be greeted every day by curious onlookers. She hopes this adds a little bit of whimsy to the town of Amherst.

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N. Forest Road & Heim

• Artist: Ali Lazik
  
  
  • Biography & Inspiration:
    Ali Lazik is a Buffalo native and lifelong artist, primarily in oil and acrylic painting. Lazik focuses on sources of life through figurative works, including portraiture and figures- both human and also of the animal-kind! Currently a Graduate Student in the University at Buffalo's MFA program, Ali paints her way with her service dog, Ezra by her side. Ezra, including several other familiar dogs of the area, are the stars of this particular public work, "A Dog's World".

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N. French Road & Dodge

• Artist: Teri Ritz (www.paintingbytheritz.com)
  
  
  • Biography:
    Teri Jo Ritz is primarily a self-taught artist who works mainly in oils, but has also worked with graphite, colored pencil and charcoal. She loves seeking out objects for her still life paintings and finding the connection between them. She especially enjoys the art of Trompe l’oeil (to fool the eye) and tries to tell a story through her work, often incorporating some humor to do so.
    
    Teri is grateful to have been chosen for a second time to display her artwork on a signal box and her “Cat in a Box” can be seen near Williamsville North High School. Teri also participates in several local chalk festivals and recently won first place in the Williamsville Chalk Festival. She has won numerous awards for her artwork in local art shows and enjoys providing artwork for The Towne Players of Kenmore’s theater production posters. Teri has taught art classes for children and adults and designed and taught several “Oil Painting in a Day” classes at Hyatt’s All Things Creative. Some of her Buffalo themed artwork can be found at the Buffalo Gift Emporium in Williamsville.
    
    Teri is a member of the Williamsville Art Association and Fine Arts League of Buffalo and has her work represented by The River Gallery in Tonawanda, NY.
    
    Teri recently retired after a long and fulfilling career as an Erie County Probation Officer but continues to keep busy working part-time at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. She is a member of The Friends of Harmony and continues to take to the stage on occasion, having been active in community theater for over 25 years.
    
    If you are interested in seeing more of Teri’s artwork, please go to her website at www.paintingbytheritz.com.
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    My inspiration for this piece came from a few different places. I really enjoy trompe-l’oeil (to fool the eye) painting and wanted to do something in this style for this signal box. As I am fascinated by octopuses and have twice before depicted them in my artwork, I thought that painting one on the signal box would be a perfect way to combine these two interests. I then had the idea that it would be amusing to portray the octopus as the artist and decided to give a nod to some classic masterpieces that are recognizable to most viewers. I thought that it would be fun to have the octopus artist paint them in his own image and changed the original subjects in Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and Munch’s “The Scream” accordingly. I also wanted to present artwork that was bold and colorful, told a bit of a story and most importantly, would make people smile. Hopefully, I achieved my goals.

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Hawk Signal Box on Main Street

• Artist: Jessica Tomaino
  
  
  • Biography:
    “Miss Jess” is the founder of WAHI Studio INC. She is the main art instructor and the Executive Director. Her education is a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Tourism & Recreation Event Management from Niagara University and an Associate Degree in Fine Art from Niagara County Community College. She has been a freelance artist specializing in pet portraits since 2011, chalk artist since 2013, and independent art instructor since 2017, and muralist since 2018. She founded WAHI Studio INC. on August 31st, 2020.
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    My traffic box this year was inspired by evening walks and how nature has its own way of celebrating that time of day. The Lightning bugs/fire flies dance, dragon flies land and rest, crickets sing, and moths fly to the lights in new heights. I kept the theme of silhouettes and a paisley overlay for the box again this year. It’s a joyful illustration of nature in a town that has so much of it to enjoy.

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Main St. & Eggert

• Artists: Patty Angrisano Ossa and Cindy Angrisano
  
  
  • Biography:
    
    • Patty Ossa - Patty Angrisano Ossa was born and raised in Buffalo. In her youth Patty drew and sketched, had a line of tropical clothing in her 20s, and dabbled in mosaics. Only recently found a love for watercolor and acrylics! Her greatest and most meaningful inspiration was her mother Patricia Angrisano, an accomplished artist who cultivated an atmosphere ripe for creating. Patty has spent much time living in the beautiful countries of Mexico and Chile. Her love of the rich music and culture fed her passion even deeper. Colorful images of her travels always remain present in her artwork. Strong, vibrant hues and powerful symbols that reflect peaceful energy are continually present in Patty‘s work. Mermaids, musicians, and Dreamin’ trees dance among Patty’s watercolors, acrylics, and mosaics.
    
    
    • Cindy Angrisano - After graduating with an associate degree in graphic arts and Printing, I had a successful career in the prepress and printing industry. I’ve always dabbled in the fine arts, and I am heavily influenced by my father, who was a freelance commercial artist, illustrator, and watercolorist. I enjoy painting, fiber art, such as weaving and crocheting, sewing, pottery and just about any form of creativity. I always enjoyed working with my hands and learning about different mediums. Watercolor painting is my favorite, I love its unpredictability and translucency. I continue to study the arts every opportunity I can by taking local community classes, online classes and participating in endeavors like the Amherst initiative to beautify the signal boxes.
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    Create a sense of community by giving passersby a chance to “stop and smell the roses”. Flowers have a way of making one smile, reminding everyone who sees them to take a moment, take a breath while continuing with your day. I hope that by painting a small garden in the traffic, it will make people smile and cherish small happy moments.

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Hopkins & N. French Rd.

• Artist: Alex Dillemuth
  
  
  • Biography:
    Alex Dillemuth is a young artist currently pursuing her degree in Art History. Creating art for more than a decade, she has always been passionate about Buffalo’s art scene. Alex was a member and speaker for the 2020 Albright Knox Future Curators program where she gained a deep respect for local artists. The opportunity to bring passion to her community members has been a dream come true.
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    Autumn in New York is unrivaled in its whimsical nature, Alex stresses the importance of this feeling in most of her works. Crisp air, dried gourds, striking yellows, oranges and reds. Bountiful apple orchards juxtaposed with the odor of decaying plant life all nestled in gloomy valleys. We experience a very brief yet incredible fall season in Buffalo. Films such as Edward Scissorhands and songs like Cupid de Locke by The Smashing Pumpkins have been everlasting sources of inspiration for this young artist. This piece was heavily inspired by the works of Debbie Criswell along with traditional American folk-art, particularly landscapes. On a more personal front, Alex often visits her parents in Kennedy, New York. To her, the countryside embodies this feeling of whimsy she strives to convey. The pale orange sky, spiderwebs and dead branches are a direct reflection of her memories formed in late autumn. She hopes viewers can connect to the piece and draw upon a time of calm, with a dash of the uncanny.

Progress Photos (click to expand)

Sheridan & N. Forest

• Artists: Patty Angrisano Ossa and Cindy Angrisano
  
  
  • Biography:
    
    • Patty Ossa - Patty Angrisano Ossa was born and raised in Buffalo. In her youth Patty drew and sketched, had a line of tropical clothing in her 20s, and dabbled in mosaics. Only recently found a love for watercolor and acrylics! Her greatest and most meaningful inspiration was her mother Patricia Angrisano, an accomplished artist who cultivated an atmosphere ripe for creating. Patty has spent much time living in the beautiful countries of Mexico and Chile. Her love of the rich music and culture fed her passion even deeper. Colorful images of her travels always remain present in her artwork. Strong, vibrant hues and powerful symbols that reflect peaceful energy are continually present in Patty‘s work. Mermaids, musicians, and Dreamin’ trees dance among Patty’s watercolors, acrylics, and mosaics.
    
    
    • Cindy Angrisano - After graduating with an associate degree in graphic arts and Printing, I had a successful career in the prepress and printing industry. I’ve always dabbled in the fine arts, and I am heavily influenced by my father, who was a freelance commercial artist, illustrator, and watercolorist. I enjoy painting, fiber art, such as weaving and crocheting, sewing, pottery and just about any form of creativity. I always enjoyed working with my hands and learning about different mediums. Watercolor painting is my favorite, I love its unpredictability and translucency. I continue to study the arts every opportunity I can by taking local community classes, online classes and participating in endeavors like the Amherst initiative to beautify the signal boxes.
  
  
  • Inspiration:
    We chose to create the “Dreamin’tree” for our third signal box. Our intention was to bring alive the many emotions that are beautiful and necessary for all human nature. Mixtures of vibrant colors and layers in all forms. Finding happiness and peace, and whatever brings you joy. Music, love, flowers, and sunshine are just a sample of symbols that bring the soul alive.

Progress Photos (click to expand)