Buffalo Art Guild brings sunshine to “Sunday Morning” show
A bit of local sunshine is making its way to a national audience, thanks to the creativity of the Buffalo Art Guild. Members of the local art group recently put their talents together to create colorful sun-themed artwork as part of an opportunity to be featured on “CBS Sunday Morning,” a television program known for highlighting art, culture, and inspiring stories from communities across the country.
A 2019 article titled, “Here comes the sun! Sunday Morning sun art,” written by David Morgan, states that the tradition of featuring sun-themed art began decades ago, when the first unsolicited suns showed up in the “Sunday Morning” mailbox.
For 25 years, “Sunday Morning” associate director Jessica Frank handpicked each example of sun artwork to appear on the program – some suns she used as soon as she got them – others she saved for a rainy day.
Jessica Frank retired from “CBS Sunday Morning” last August, but the tradition of sun art lives on, thanks to the many artists who continue to create and contribute.
Local Connection
Members of the Buffalo Art Guild dedicated the group’s June meeting to sharing “sun artwork” created by its members to be sent to the “CBS Sunday Morning” show. Artwork created by Buffalo Art Guild members has also been shown on “CBS Sunday Morning” in the past.
“We first did the sun project about 10 years ago,” stated Buffalo Art Guild member Sarah Hoppe, a previous Guild president who has also served on the board. “It came up in conversation, and people who weren’t part of the Guild at the time wanted to do it, so we chose to do it again.”
Hoppe shared that high-resolution photos of the artwork are sent to “CBS Sunday Morning.” Producers then select pieces which coincide with various segments of the show.
“They still use pieces from a long time ago. They keep an archive of them. Between each segment they show a picture of a sun and pick ones that fit the piece.”
Sarah’s husband, John, submitted a wood-work piece, which has been used by “CBS Sunday Morning” multiple times. If artwork is selected for use, the artist will receive an email notifying them that their work was chosen and would be used on the show. Anyone is eligible to submit artwork, as long as it is sent as a high-resolution JPEG or PNG file.
During the Guild’s June meeting, member Dan Averbeck took high-resolution photos of the group’s sun-art to be sent to the show. Artists are not credited if their work is shown on the show, but one can assume that seeing their work broadcast on national television brings a proud smile to the artist’s face.
Other Artistic Endeavors
Sunday mornings are not the only time artwork from Buffalo Art Guild members can be viewed, works can also be seen around town, with art on display at Mid-Country Bank, OutDoWork, Buffalo Companion Animal Clinic, and Allina Clinic.
“We do a couple projects each year that are shown in town,” said Hoppe. “MidCounty Bank was one of our first sponsors. Every year, we pick something simple. This year, we picked a tree. If a member painted anything that had a tree in it, it was part of what went to the venues.”
The Buffalo Art Guild is involved in a variety of artistic endeavors, from studying well-known and accomplished artists, to bringing color to the frozen water of Buffalo Lake each February.
“We try to do a piece based on what we learn about a specific artist every year,” said Hoppe. “We also help with Kites on Ice and do the colored water that kids can squirt on the snow. It’s a lot of fun. We enjoy doing it.”
About Buffalo Art Guild
Buffalo Art Guild is a volunteer-led 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide community and support for area artists, as an avenue for personal growth in artistic endeavors, and to further art awareness in the greater community.
Through its many endeavors, the Buffalo Art Guild brings local artists together to celebrate art, connection, and the creative spirit of each member.
“We received a $9,000 CMAB Project Grant, made possible in part by a grant from the Central MN Arts Board with funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature from its general fund,” shared Buffalo Art Guild President Sheri Zimmerman.
“The funding will allow us to provide nine months of free artist-led workshops to the Buffalo and surrounding area communities. The workshops are free and open to people of every ability level. Many of the workshops will be held at the new Buffalo Area Community Center, and a few will be held onsite at artist studios or in public spaces. Our first three workshops for July, August and September are: Delano 4th of July Street Art Fest, Window Display Painting Techniques, and Mural Painting.”
The group has approximately 45 total members, with 15-20 active members at any given time, along with others who participate as they are able. The group is open to the public and meets at 6:30 p.m., the third Monday of each month, in the art room of the Buffalo Area Community Center.
To learn more visit: www.buffaloartguild.org.
