As a complement to New York Collects Buffalo State, this exhibition illustrated the generosity of people affiliated with Buffalo State College and the museum’s advisory council in helping to build our signature Charles Burchfield art collection. The artist himself donated drawings and doodles at the inauguration of the Charles Burchfield Center on December 9, 1966. Preceding that event, Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Andrews donated Burchfield’s important, large painting, December Storm, to Buffalo State College in 1964, which in turn became the cornerstone artwork of the Burchfield Penney’s collection.
Edna M. Lindemann, Ph.D., began her career at the college in 1946 as an instructor in art education. Eventually she served as an assistant professor of design, director of cultural affairs, assistant to the director for planning and development, and founding director of the Charles Burchfield Center. Other important patrons included council members Harriet and Mortimer Spiller, Peter A. and the late Mary Lou Vogt, and Steven and Cecile Biltekoff as well as alumnus Donald R. Haug. Charles Rand Penney became an alumnus when he was given an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in 1995 by Buffalo State College for his extraordinary donation of several art collections between 1991 and 1994, including his impressive Burchfield Collection comprised of 183 works. Paintings were purchased with funds from the Retired Alumni Association and the Winebrenner Memorial Fund. Dr. D. Kenneth Winebrenner, a faculty member of Buffalo State College’s art department since 1939 and an art critic for the Courier Express, was among the museum’s founding members and first advisory committee. Sylvia L. Rosen, an alumna and former faculty member, donated a painting.