Join us on Saturday, June 28 from 3–8PM for the fourth annual Open Essex, BICA’s free summer celebration of contemporary art, creativity, and community at the Essex Street Arts Complex.

Grand Unveiling of the 2025 Buffalo Art Map

Be among the first to grab the guide you helped fund.

Spaghett

The summer cocktail that’s got all the cool kids talking.

Lemonade & Punch

Refreshing sips for everyone—no fancy squeezing required.

Extra Extra Pizza

Bridget (and baby!) will be on-site serving hot, cheesy slices all afternoon.

Art Cake Walk (6 PM)

Circle the ring, hold your ticket—and when the music stops, win a cake or cake-sized art prize. Tickets at the info table; cake donations still welcome at emily@thebica.org.

Blind Box Game
Everyone wins a prize in this wildly creative game by H Boone and Quincy Miracle.

Artist-Made Mini Golf

Putt through one-of-a-kind holes created by Natalie Hayes and Lucas Cook.

Photo Fun

Experiment with DIY photo transfers with Alexa Kanarowski & Nick Mass, or snag your own Polaroid portrait by DJ Carr.

Dunk Tank

Aim at Jerry Mead, Nando, Emily, Scott Propeak, Keelan Erhard, Matt Kenyon, and more. All activities run on BICA Bucks, which you can buy on-site with cash or card.

Live Music

Soulful tunes from Curtis Lovell and upbeat grooves by Side Stitches.

Last Chance

Today is the final day to see Huidi Xiang: the maxim of the tomato in the Main Gallery and Heathscapes by Titorelli in the Project Space before they close at sundown.

And Last, but not least!

Art for Sale

Discover and bring home work by Buffalo’s most inventive artists. Rug Samurai, JP4Hire, Emily Constantin, Nando Alvarez-Perez, EL Hohn, Quincey Miracle, H Boone, Alexa Kanarowski, Kayleah Aldrich, Nick Mass, Natalie Hayes, Lucas Cook, Bri Grace, Koala, wavy, and more!

This is the ultimate Saturday sandwich—after Ride for Roswell in the morning and before Bob the Drag Queen at Outer Harbor in the evening. Free, family-friendly, and full of unexpected delights. Bring your crew and dive into the fun!