A Farewell
We are so thankful to have been a part of the tapestry of Buffalo, NY, media these last 6 years.
Art
Jennifer Barton: Crafting a Course
“Alright, I’m in love and this is what I’m doing forever.”
Bekka Kulik: Perennial Punk
“There are no other options. There’s no turning back for me. This is what I want to do.”
The Qween City Shopping Listicle for the Holiday Pandemic of 2020
We can’t meet at our favorite vendor markets this year, but we wanted to shout out some of our absolute favorite artisans, entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, and magic-makers in the city this Quaran-Holiday Season. This is only a small (but favorite, natch) snapshot of the incredible artistic tapestry of Buffalo, New York.
Pandemic Holidaze: Gifts & Goods
There is a true proliferation of artisan and craftspeople in town, and we invite you to discover just a small snippet here today.
Pandemic Holidaze: Performance & Theater
Our incredible talent pool of performers took to the virtual landscape this year, to offer levity in the form of live performance, even when their audiences couldn’t be in the same room.
Dana Saylor: Planner for the People
“It showed me a world where people cooperate together, people met each other on the street, people were a part of one another’s lives in a kind of intimate way, and a diversity of people that I didn’t experience where I grew up. All of those things made me interested in cities, and made me interested in being a person who created work.”
The Glam Vamps: A Nude World Order
Artistry and titillation are the crux of humanity in these trying times. Or at least, they play a big factor in how we’re going to get through all of… THIS. The Glam Vamps, a Buffalo-based burlesque troupe who have been entertaining the masses for more than a year as an ensemble, have stepped up to the plate to help us all manage this ordeal in the sexiest, stay-the-fuck-homeiest way possible, with an online outlet for all needs thereof.
Jen Stockman and Holly Metz Doyle: Buffalo Women’s Consortium
“We had an inner knowing that there were more women out there like us. Women who had an incredible longing to simply create, whether it be turning a piece of trash into treasure, re-purposing something into a work of art, or coming to terms with their gifts of healing.”
Alana Adetola Fajemisin: Visual Virtuoso
“There are illusions of jumping, floating, and drowning. And then, empty space.”
A Boudyful Day with the Galz of Boud-y Central
QC’s own Mikayla Schneiter recently had a chance to partake in her very first boudoir photoshoot with QC photographer Jill Barrile and her partners Jess Martina and Sabrina Rodriguez, a new boudoir collective known as Boud-y Central.
Jillian Nowak, Carlene Derkovitz, and Heather Nowak: A Knitted Kinship
“They gave us a lot of encouragement to keep what we wanted the same, to keep the tradition going, but still feel like we could make it something new.”
Kaitlyn Niland | Niland Candle Co.
Meet Kaitlyn Niland, Niland Candle Co.
Suzanne O’Brien | ZanieCrafts
Meet Suzanne O’Brien, ZanieCrafts.
Jorien Brock | Woman Folk
Meet Jorien Brock, Woman Folk.
Gabby Ferguson | thexstitchxbitch
Meet Gabby Ferguson, thexstitchxbitch.
Kate Bundt | The Woof and The Meow
Meet Kate Bundt, The Woof and The Meow.
Graciel Evenstar | The Soul in Bloom
Meet Graciel Evenstar, The Soul in Bloom.
Suzie Hoisington | OLDENDESIGNS
Meet Suzie Hoisington, OLDENDESIGNS.
Pamela Koons | The Kitschy Cross Stitch
Meet Pamela Koons, The Kitschy Cross Stitch.
The Team Behind: Stitch Buffalo
Meet the team behind Stitch Buffalo.
Stacy Geiger | Stacy Geiger Art
Meet Stacy Geiger, Stacy Geiger Art.
Michelle Perkins | Speakeasy Works
Meet Michelle Perkins, Speakeasy Works.
Cindy Young | Sew Buffalo
Meet Cindy Young, Sew Buffalo.
Darcie Rosinski | potsbydjr
Meet Darcie Rosinski, potsbydjr.
Jasmine Fiscus | The Nonsense Garden
Meet Jasmine Fiscus, The Nonsense Garden.
Janna Willoughby-Lohr | Papercraft Miracles
Meet Janna Willoughby-Lohr, Papercraft Miracles.
Nicole Johnson | Mealy Monster Land
Meet Nicole Johnson, Mealy Monster Land.
Lauren Szmak | Loti Henna Studio
Meet Lauren Szmak, Loti Henna Studio.
Viktoria Ciostek | Knotty Moose Studio
Meet Viktoria Ciostek, Knotty Moose Studio.
Jan Dylewski | Jan Dylewski Art
Meet Jan Dylewski, Jan Dylewski Art.
Adrijana Ristic | Golden Spiral Vitality, LLC
Meet Adrijana Ristic, Golden Spiral Vitality, LLC.
Natalie Schultz | Fig Tree Patisserie
Meet Natalie Schultz, Fig Tree Patisserie.
Ashley Kohlhagen | Gold Street Primitives
Meet Ashley Kohlhagen, Gold Street Primitives.
Elena Mileva-Anderson | Felt Frenzy Finds
Meet Elena Mileva-Anderson, Felt Frenzy Finds.
Nikki Benatovich | Cosmic Lotus Jewelry
Meet Nikki Benatovich, Cosmic Lotus Jewelry.
Courtney Elle | Elle James Interior Design & Home Décor
Meet Courtney Elle, Elle James Interior Design & Home Décor.
Ashley Byrne | Elements of Ash
Meet Ashley Byrne, Elements of Ash.
Ashley Johnson | AEJ.CREATE
Meet Ashley Johnson, AEJ.CREATE.
Junko McGee | Earth Art
Meet Junko McGee, Earth Art.
Mary Busch | Charmed By Wine
Meet Mary Busch, Charmed by Wine.
Lisa Ballowe | Bling Jewelry Designs
Meet Lisa Ballowe, Bling Jewelry Designs.
Lynn Ferenc | Art of Straw
Meet Lynn Ferenc, Art of Straw.
Alison E. Kurek | Alison E. Kurek Art
Meet Alison Kurek, Alison Kurek Art.
ORIGINAL WORK: H.M. Shaw, “Vessel Presents: Seashell Stout”
I never say that I’m an artist. If anything, I make messes and I live in my head.
Ashley & Jessica Fox: Ace Appearances
“We only had each other, so we had to be each others’ partners, lovers, best friends, harshest critics… We were all that we had.”
Solis: The Beautymakers
“As a creator, being able to capture these moments and being able to see the before, during, and after is so incredible…I don’t want to leave because I want to see it happen. I want to take pictures of it happening.”
Christi Allen: Meet Me on Main Street
“We wanted to take a chance on an area of town that we know for a fact will be IT in five years, and we wanted to be a part of it.”
SCENE: BraVa!
On Friday, November 2, Qween City was a lucky attendee to the city’s first BraVa! event, produced by the YWCA of Western New York.
The Come Up: BraVa!
BraVa!, a storytelling fundraiser featuring the humble bra, comes to Buffalo for the first time this Friday, November 2.
The Come Up: The Heroine Hijack
On Saturday, October 6, from 6-9 p.m., the Ukrainian-American Civic Center will play host to Heroine Hijack, a multi-genre arts presentation and fundraiser celebrating women artists in Buffalo.
Destiny Rogowski: Dream Wrangler
“No matter who you are or what your personal style is…you will appreciate yourself in a way you never have before.”
SCENE: In the Studio with Destiny Rogowski
Ashera enacts some new facets of herself at Sweet Heart Pin Up Studio.
Allie Brady: First-String Funster
“With those things that you love in life, I feel you have to do them because we don’t have tomorrow, right?”
Barbara Cole, Robin Jordan, & Laurie Dean Torrell: The Wordkeepers
“How do we better go out into the community and try to inspire people wherever they are?”
SPOTLIGHT: Kristin Brandt
Photographer Alana Fajemisin shot with artist Kristin Brandt recently, in anticipation of Kristin’s exhibition at GEORGETTE June 1.
Kristen Becker: Fearless Farceur
“It kind of looks like I’m going to have the best year of my life.”
Arts Services Initiative: Custodians of Culture
“We want arts and culture to be the forefront of Buffalo’s face, because they already are.”
Naa Kwaley: Like a Boss
“I expect things to go well, but if they don’t, I have the foundation to step back, rework stuff and do it again.”
Zoe Scruggs: Conversant Chorister
“My music for me has always been about healing, and the person I’m looking directly at in front of me, the group of people I’m around.”
Carrie Rinehart || Rusterior and Buffalo Boss Babes
Meet Carrie Rinehart of Rusterior and Buffalo Boss Babes.
Mallory Mendo: Perfectionist Confectionist
“I would have never thought when I started doing it from home, making bougie strawberries, that three years from then, this is where I’d be.”
Melissa Winkler: Spirited Sommelier
“That’s what I wanted, to take those producers and put them on a pedestal.”
ThAIRapy Jewels
Meet ThAIRapy Jewels.
Katharine Smith || White Rabbit Design
Meet Katharine Smith of White Rabbit Design.
Katie Toth || Trebird Jewelry
Meet Katie Toth of Trebird Jewelry.
Vanessa Lauria || pidge pidge
Meet Vanessa Lauria of pidge pidge.
Carly Collier || Color Puke Designs
Meet Carly Collier of Color Puke Designs.
Amy Peterson || A Frayed Knot Buffalo/Foxberry Grove
Meet Amy Peterson of A Frayed Knot Buffalo and Foxberry Grove.
Diana Miranda-Gaeddert || Mermaid & Weasel
Meet Diana Miranda-Gaeddert of Mermaid & Weasel.
Rebecca Kulik || Timeless Babez
Meet Rebecca Kulik of Timeless Babez.
Carlene Derkovitz, Heather Nowak, and Jillian Nowak || West Side Stitchery
Meet Carlene Derkovitz, Heather Nowak, and Jillian Nowak of West Side Stitchery.
Suzanne O’Brien || ZanieCrafts, Handmade Fiber Creations
Meet Suzanne O’Brien of ZanieCrafts, Handmade Fiber Creations.
Nicole Cooke || Type & Resolution
Meet Nicole Cooke of Type & Resolution.
Michelle Perkins || Speakeasy Works
Meet Michelle Perkins of Speakeasy Works.
Silver Raven || SilverRavensoap & Apothecary
Meet Silver Raven of SilverRavensoap & Apothecary.
Cindy Young || Sew Buffalo
Meet Cindy Young of Sew Buffalo.
Jesse Garcia || NyZoSa Designs — Creations in Wire and Stone
Meet Jesse Garcia of NyZoSa Designs.
Nikki Benatovich || Cosmic Lotus Jewelry
Meet Nikki Benatovich of Cosmic Lotus Jewelry.
Beth Schulenberg & Ashley Wegner || Nickel City String Art
Meet Beth Schulenberg & Ashley Wegner of Nickel City String Art.
Elisabeth Strong || Lizard Breath Beads
Meet Elisabeth Strong of Lizard Breath Beads.
Laetitia Desroches || Atlas Concept Store
Meet Laetitia Desroches of Atlas Concept Store.
Afura Fareed || GypsyWytch Diaries
Meet Afura Fareed of GypsyWytch Diaries.
Bear || Everyday Earthware
Meet Bear of Everyday Earthware.
Maura Beres || Catch a Falling Jar
Meet Maura Beres of Catch a Falling Jar.
Brook D’Angelo || Brick Chick/B.F.D. Creative
Meet Brook D’Angelo of Brick Chick/B.F.D. Creative.
Alison E. Kurek
Meet Alison E. Kurek.
Doreen Kelly || Countryside Weaving
Meet Doreen Kelly of Countryside Weaving.
Nancy Ellen Kensy || The Angel Painter
Meet Nancy Ellen Kensy of The Angel Painter.
Camille Golembiewski || Backwoods Imperfections
Meet Camille Golembiewski of Backwoods Imperfections.
Lori Sosenko || Crafted by Lori
Meet Lori Sosenko of Crafted by Lori.
Lisa Hodge || Copper & Glass Creations by Love the Buff
Meet Lisa Hodge of Copper & Glass Creations by Love the Buff.
Janna Willoughby-Lohr || Papercraft Miracles
Meet Janna Willoughby-Lohr of Papercraft Miracles.
Lindsay Sullivan || Elle Pea Tee
Meet Lindsay Sullivan of Elle Pea Tee.
Ashley Strazzella || AshTree Wellness
Meet Ashley Strazzella of AshTree Wellness.
Julia Bottoms-Douglas and the Freedom Wall
Photographer Alana A. Fajemisin captured the beginning stages of the Freedom Wall in July 2017.
Julia Bottoms-Douglas: Artist Arising
“Rather than representing what I’m upset about, I’m representing how I want it to be.”
Studio Sessions: /krēˈādiv/, with Obsidian Bellis
“She inspired me to subscribe to the life of a visual artist because I could practice creating what I wanted to portray with bits and pieces.”