Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) and Visit Buffalo Niagara unveiled on Wednesday a new permanent sculpture at Canalside.
The piece, which is called "BUF", has been installed on Marine Drive near the Hanover intersection, across the street from the future home of Heritage Point.
The steel 3-D letters, five feet tall and weighing more than 1,000 pounds, represent the Buffalo Waterfront’s latest piece of public art located along Canalside. It was designed and fabricated by Rigidized Metals, then painted by Buffalo artist Nicole Cherry.
"It's great to have these wonderful experiences brought to Canalside, and we're always looking to upgrade the Waterfront, whether it's a big or small project. And this public art installation just adds another unique experience to Canalside," said President of the ECHDC, Mark Wendel on Wednesday. "Gov. Hochul has given us a mission, and it's simple: Give Buffalonians a place they can be proud of. And this public art is another example of how we engage the visitors here in Buffalo."
"My hope is you come and see this newest art feature that's going to join our 'Round Man' sculpture, our 'Shark Girl' as well as our art show on our silos. It is all happening. And while you enjoy either your ice skating or a Sabres game, come down here and take a selfie. Let's see it on some Christmas cards, right? That would be a beautiful thing for us to promote our Waterfront," said ECHDC Board Chair Joan Kesner on Wednesday.
ECHDC co-funded the $28,950 sculpture project with Visit Buffalo Niagara, who received a grant from the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor in preparation for the incoming Worlds Canal Conference in September 2025.
"Our job at Visit Buffalo Niagara is to create and promote experiences, and this is one of those experiences. This is also another way for us to extend our overall marketing reach and our marketing dollars into creating an experience. With the collaboration between ourselves, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor, we're creating that experience," said President and CEO, Patrick Kaler on Wednesday. "This is one of those new ways of marketing through social media. This is an 'Instagrammable' moment that will be even more impactful than buying an ad with the dollars that we might have purchased through our marketing dollars. So these 'BUF' letters are just another extension of that overall marketing reach."
As for Cherry, a citizen of the Cayuga nation, she began painting murals inside family and friends’ homes when she was still in high school. Since graduating from Buffalo State College in 2010, Cherry has expanded her portfolio to create indoor and outdoor installations for numerous local institutions including murals at General Mills, Undergrounds Coffee House, and Elmwood Pet Supplies.
She believes strongly that public art that is freely accessible adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness to our communities, while enhancing quality of life.
"These seemingly small efforts become the significant and unique elements that define a place, and create lasting impressions for our residents and visitors," said Brad Packard, Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Board member. "As we look to the future, the Erie Canalway is very excited to be working with Harbor Development Corporation, Visit Buffalo Niagara and the New York State Canal Corporation to host the World Canals conference right here at Canalside in September of 2025. This event will draw an international presence of visitors who are excited and interested to learn more about what we have accomplished here in Buffalo, and our plans for the future of our great canal ways here in New York State. We are so fortunate to have partners like Visit Buffalo Niagara, who much like our organization are committed to ensuring our waterways and communities remain as world class destinations. This installation is, yet, another element of Canalside that will create unique tourist experiences that help to enhance our great Waterfront here in Buffalo."
The "BUF" sculpture was fabricated at Rigidized Metals Corporation, a Buffalo company located less than a mile from Canalside that is a leader in the development and production of deep-textured, three-dimensional engineered metal surfaces used in architectural, industrial and transportation applications.
The new sculpture has been installed just in time for the winter season of family activities at the Ice at Canalside. The "Shark Girl" sculpture, located by the ice for nearly a decade, has been a popular piece of public art.
Visitors interested in more of a hike can also head out to the Outer Harbor to see "Round Man", a sculpture currently on loan from the Griffiss Sculpture Park in East Otto, N.Y.