By David LoTempio
(Photos by David LoTempio)

Tucked inside the historic Pierce Arrow Building, surrounded by the industrial legacy of Buffalo’s past, a bold new future is unfolding for the city’s creative class.

The Buffalo Creative Workshop, a 2,400-square foot cooperative studio space founded by Tim Stolinski, is more than just a workspace — it’s a mission to reduce the barriers that prevent people from making and sharing art.

The Buffalo Creative Workshop will be hosting its grand opening on Friday, (June 27) from 2 to 10 p.m. The event is free to the public.  Registration is available HERE.

“We want people to come out and be creative,” Stolinski said. “Reduce barriers to creation and art.”

The Workshop is designed to do exactly that. With wide open space, ample natural light and a flexible layout, artists working in sewing and textile arts, painting, mixed media, photography and video can find a home here. There’s room for both quiet reflection and large-scale projects. It’s a semi-regular hub for artists who might otherwise work alone, and a welcome change of scenery for those needing space — and community — for bigger jobs.

A Workshop — and a Gallery and a Classroom

Buffalo Creative Workshop isn’t just for making art — it’s for sharing it. Artists like Robin Howell are already displaying their work on-site, and the space is available for exhibitions, sales events, parties and classes. Artists can treat the Workshop as a gallery or host their own workshops and classes; Stolinski and his team will even take care of the logistics, from promotion to reservations.

There are no commissions for displayed work — just a request to help promote the space. That’s because, as Stolinski puts it, the goal is about building something deeper: “The most daring thing,” he said, quoting Kurt Vonnegut, “is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

Where Creative Ideas Meet Practical Tools

The Workshop goes beyond space. It provides access to a growing library of equipment for artists to produce their own merchandise — items like t-shirts, giclée prints, stickers and enamel pins — without the high overhead typically required. This is a game-changer for small-scale artists and bands who often can’t afford large production runs.

The space includes:

• Heat press and fabric screen printer
• High-end inkjet printer capable of giclée-quality prints (up to 13” x 19”)
• Two xTool laser engravers (a 40-watt for serious production and a 20-watt for beginners)
• A custom-built easel that holds up to three canvases
• Plans for storage racks so artists can safely leave their work onsite

Need art supplies? The Workshop has you covered. Common materials are available at wholesale cost just steps away from your workspace, eliminating the frustrating breaks that come with forgotten brushes or paints. Memberships will soon be available, offering unlimited workshop access and use of the kitchen space. Higher-tier members will also receive discounts on art supplies.

Rooted in Care and Mutual Aid

In addition to supporting artists, the Workshop contributes to the broader community. It’s currently collecting food and clothing for Friends of the Night People, and towels, blankets and newspapers for the SPCA. Donations of art supplies are also welcomed.

The Workshop is already home to creative tenants like Vivere Studios, which produces bold digital content for mission-driven organizations, and Band of Bards, an indie comics publisher committed to inclusion and community storytelling, and of which Stolinski is a co-founder.

“We’re trying to build a system that takes care of each other,” Stonliski says. “Instead of subtracting, we want to add.”

The Buffalo Creative Workshop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., though Stolinski says hours are flexible based on need. Whether you’re a textile artist, a painter, a filmmaker or a graffiti artist looking for room to stretch your canvas, the Workshop offers the tools, support, and space to create and connect.

More information and updates about the Buffalo Creative Workshop can be found on Facebook. 

---

David LoTempio is president of the Board of Directors of The Buffalo Hive.