Tony Bannon Remembers Elizabeth Tower

Liz Tower was our gentle giant for art and culture, a presence for education and inclusion, with innovation as the constant. Her's was a belief in the kind of innovation shared by art and education, where the common value is the search for the unique expression always present when quality matters.

She liked her art full test - bright and bold. She championed clarity of expression - and readily sponsored a unique joint hire between the Burchfield Penney and Buffalo State College. Together we created a program for an art educator specializing in learning for those who had special needs. And we created a space in the Center when it was located in 'Rockwell Hall, and the work we did there - educating collegians to serve young people who found through art a way to expression - provided leadership on a national level. Liz Tower was herself a fine painter, a remarkable cultural visionary, and a great friend of The Center. Her contributions gave significant direction for the young Center and her presence was estimable, offering so much toward the formation of our new museum. She set for us all a tall standard. We miss in her passing a great lady of the arts.

Anthony Bannon, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Burchfield Penney Art Center