Anyone that is aware of Calvert Vaux’s architectural legacy in Buffalo can tell you what an incredible impact he made upon this city. Unfortunately, almost all of the intricate structures that bore his name are all but lost. The structures that I am referring to include The Parade House, a Rustic Bridge, Boat Landing Seating, The Farmstead, and Spirehead House. The only structure that remains standing, though still at risk, is The Vaux Barn.
For anyone who ever thought about the possibilities of recreating one or two of Vaux’s lost works, Eugene V. Debs Hall will be hosting a Jane’s Talk – Vaux Revival – on Tuesday, April 23, 6 pm.
From Chris Hawley, owner of Eugene V. Debs Hall:
The talk will explore the significance of Calvert Vaux, the lesser known partner of Frederick Law Olmsted and co-designer of Buffalo’s park and parkway system.
Debs Hall is proud to host two speakers for this event.
Frank Kowsky, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Buffalo State University and author of Country, Park, and City: The Architecture and Life of Calvert Vaux, will tell us everything we ever wanted to know about Calvert Vaux.
Brandon Kennedy, lead preservationist at Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN), will update us about PBN’s efforts to save the Vaux Barn, 1119 Genesee Street–the sole remaining Buffalo structure designed by Vaux.
Finally, they’ll have a discussion about a prospect that has been successfully pursued elsewhere but has long eluded Buffalo: reconstructing Vaux’s lost works. Can Buffalo do it?
Doors open at 6 pm, with presentations beginning at 7 pm. Jane’s Talk, modeled after the international Jane’s Walk in honor of urbanist Jane Jacobs, is Eugene V. Debs Hall’s ongoing speaker series on topics related to cities and the human habitat.
Eugene V. Debs Hall 483 Peckham St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Lead image: Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted
The post Can Buffalo resurrect Calvert Vaux’s lost works? appeared first on Buffalo Rising.