Encouraging community through art

When passing by the now-closed downtown Buffalo movie theater, it’s impossible to miss the “For Lease” sign displayed. While the closing has stirred up a mixture of emotions and hopes for future use of the space, one local artist set her sights on using the current space to bring color back into the community. Not wanting the space to remain empty and dampen the downtown atmosphere, Buffalo resident Meredith Johanson has been filling the empty movie poster boxes with artwork as a way to connect with the city during the pandemic.

The Inspiration

When COVID-19 restrictions and precautions halted many of the social interactions within communities, Johanson knew she still needed that connection with others, even if her health conditions wouldn’t allow her to connect as much as she would want to.

Johanson and her nine-year-old granddaughter, Elsie, participated in the project called “Butterflies for Hope,” in which people would make colorful butterflies, an international symbol of hope, to hang in the windows of their home. This project would inspire Johanson and develop into the artwork exhibit now on display downtown.

The Theater

   As someone who is fairly involved with the happenings in Buffalo, Johanson knew about the Buffalo movie theater and how it would be sitting empty for a fair amount of time before something new came in. This meant the movie poster boxes, previously announcing popular “Now Playing” and “Coming Soon” films to see, would sit empty. As an artist, Johanson saw this blank canvas as an opportunity to add some color and life back into the space.

   “As I was walking down the street one day, and I just thought, ‘We should fill those cases up with the paper butterflies!’” Johanson said. “I have learned in my life that, when you get an idea, a lot of the time if you just ask, people say yes.”

   After connecting with Buffalo’s Community & Economic Development Director Jennifer Nash, she received the contact information for the theater, and they were onboard.

The Project

After making more butterflies, the theater was soon decorated with the colorful winged creatures, and the response was extremely positive. Johanson saw many conversations about the project on social media and was glad it was being enjoyed.

“It’s not about people knowing that I did it,” she said. “To me, it’s about the times being so trying, and the news is so much the same, with COVID-19 and politics. This is something that reaches across all the boundaries, with the subject and color. It adds a little distraction.”

When Johanson saw how much the community was thrilled with the artwork and how it added some extra life to the downtown space, she decided to keep the project going.

The next theme involved fall, with autumn leaves welcoming in the new season. With the help of a neighboring family, the Lostetters, the theater was soon freshly decorated, and once again, the art was positively received by the community.

With each installment being featured for about three months, Johanson was soon thinking about the next theme. With COVID continuing to put a strain on neighbors and friends connecting through community, she knew more people needed to be involved and come together in the next project.

Johanson contacted Beth Nelson, Elsie’s teacher at Discovery Elementary School, to have the young students be involved. The theme of “community” was decided upon, but before the project could really take off, the hybrid learning plan put a pause on their plans for the artwork and student involvement. Instead, they adjusted how the students could help. 

“She had them brainstorm ideas of what “community” means to them, and I included those words on one of the posters,” Johanson explained. “I think it’s pretty cool, because it’s kind of a little snapshot of what the next generation is feeling about Buffalo and about their community.”

The Community Artwork

The artwork on display on the 11 posters is a mixture of designs and words. Some of the posters featured large words pulled from the list the students came up with. Others feature another creative way to include the community: handprints.

“The original idea Mrs. Nelson and I had talked about was that we would have all kinds of community handprints on them,” Johanson said. “I took the paper in, and the students put their handprints on, and some of the teachers and staff did, too.”

Johanson also stopped by City Hall to get handprints from city officials, including the mayor, fire chief and police chief, as well as local business owners. These additions brought a special touch to the art, joining community leaders and students together to create a unique, artistic addition to the city.

The Support

   What started out as a way for Johanson to connect with her beloved city during COVID has grown into something much bigger than she imagined. Originally, while strictly quarantining since March, the project was a way for her to safely get out of her house and continue to connect with the community.

   “The movie theater posters are kind of a lifeline for me to the real world,” she said. “It’s a little brightness in the day.”

   Johanson is thankful for the movie theater owner, Matt, for being so willing to keep the project going as long as the building is empty. After driving in from Wayzata whenever Johanson needed to access the art, he recently gave her a key, trusting her with the vision for her latest project.

   With the boxes receiving direct sunlight and condensation building up on warmer days, Johanson reached out to a few community members to spread word about being open to financial contributions to the projects, as the high-quality materials are expensive.

   “I actually don’t even know who all was involved, but someone came to me with an envelope of money and said, ‘We really like what you’re doing so we took up a collection and we want you to continue what you’re doing,’” she said. “To me, that brings it full circle: someone in the community has an idea, they ask someone else in the community and that person says, ‘Yep, I agree with you, and I’ll back you – do it!’ and other people say they’ll help financially back it. That’s how a community should work.”

The Next Project

Though winter doesn’t seem to be leaving any time soon, Johanson is already thinking about the upcoming projects. Though she is yet to decide on a spring theme, she hinted at a vibrant, bountiful display for the summer, complementing the Farmers Market held across the street.

“It will involve a growing garden,” she hinted. “I’m really excited for the summer!”

As the projects continue on, Johanson is eager to keep encouraging locals to support Buffalo.

“It starts as pride in your community as an individual, and that becomes pride as a whole,” Johanson shared. “It’s nice to be doing something that gives back.”