Art Focus – D'Arcangelo Altar

by Brian Castner

Today’s art focus is on this small side altar, which hasn’t been on display or available for viewing by to the public before now.

A product of the D’Arcangelo Studios, an old Buffalo studio of catholic and religious art, this altar was created in the early 1920’s. It was a special order for a priest who died before it was completed. The new priest at the church did not wish to take receipt for it, so it stayed at the D’Arcangelo Studios forseventy years.

Our anonymous donor, a friend of the D’Arcangelo family, watched over it for the last ten years, before generously donating it in memory of the D’Arcangelo family and descendants.

The D’Arcangelo Studio produced religious art for churches all overBuffalo, including statues, frescoes, murals and altars. For example, the two large murals under the choir loft at Saint Ann’s Church and Shrine, on Broadway, are the work of D’Arcangelo. This altar, of Baroque style and featuring angels and the dove representing the Holy Spirit, is an important page in the history of religious art in Buffalo, as it represents a studio with a great history of work in Buffalo’s churches.

Major Step Forward! Purchase of Saint Francis Xavier Complete!

by Brian Castner

The Buffalo Religious Arts Center is pleased to announce that it now owns the Saint Francis Xavier Complex, located at East and Amherst Streets in Black Rock. Included in the purchase is the Roman Basillica style church built in 1913, the 27,000 square foot school, and the Parish House. An anonymous donor provided funds for the entire purchase cost.

The Buffalo Religious Arts Center is converting the church into Xavier Hall, the first gallery dedicated to religious art in the United States housed in a former church. It will concentrate on the heritage and history of Buffalo, as told by the religious art created by its immigrants. Not affiliated with any specific denomination, the Buffalo Religious Arts Center seeks to display art of all faith traditions.

New York State Historic Register

by William Koch

Recently the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation officially recognized the significant role St. Francis Xavier Church, School and Rectory have played in the Black Rock community by placing the three structures on the State Register of Historic Sites.
Daniel McEneny, Historic Preservation Program Specialist for the New York State Historic Preservation Office stated that the former St. Francis Xavier Church was enthusiastically accepted by the New York State review board and will be forwarded to the National Parks Service in the coming weeks.

Shortly after closing, the church complex took on a new life as the center piece of the Buffalo Religious Arts Center. The goal of the arts group is to display works of art from closed Buffalo churches and to raise the awareness of the significant religious heritage of our community through displays, tours of the community’s houses of worship and many other events.