“FORGING A CONNECTION: YOUR BUFFALO SABRES 1970-1975” MUSEUM EXHIBIT
Following the success of the Buffalo Bills football memorabilia exhibit, The Buffalo History Museum sought to create additional engaging experiences for Western New York sports fans. In the Summer of 2013, the museum approached Joseph E. Gambacorta, DDS, founder of the Buffalo Hockey Experience & Museum about exhibiting his extensive collection of Buffalo Sabres hockey memorabilia.
The OtherWisz team was brought into this project to design the exhibit and develop its accompanying narrative. Having previously created two exhibits for the BHEM Key Bank Arena, we found it essential to craft a different narrative for a new audience. The resulting exhibit was a historic snapshot of the Buffalo Sabre’s formative years, titled “Forging a Connection: Your Buffalo Sabres 1970-1975.”
Retelling a deeper story
Our research led us deeper into Dr. Gambacorta’s collection to reveal the early history of the Buffalo Sabres, focusing on the team’s beginnings. Utilizing candid photos and action shots, we produced seven large black and white canvas prints that hung between the columns, each creating a vignette to highlight significant events in the team’s history.
Retelling a deeper story
Our research led us deeper into Dr. Gambacorta’s collection to reveal the early history of the Buffalo Sabres, focusing on the team’s beginnings. Utilizing candid photos and action shots, we produced seven large black and white canvas prints that hung between the columns, each creating a vignette to highlight significant events in the team’s history.

Sabres artifacts were presented in shallow, wall-mounted display cases along with inset photos, informational panels to give additional context, and smaller photos back-printed onto glass panels.
Artifacts featured in the exhibit included the custom-mounted wooden hockey sticks of the famed French Connection, game programs, goalie Roger Crozier’s #1 jersey, the 1975 President’s Trophy, and every home game ticket stub from the team’s inaugural season.

The “Forging a Connection” exhibit opened on February 21, 2014 in the main atrium of the Buffalo History Museum, a grand location with over 53 feet of wall space and heights of 11 feet.
Initially intended as a transitional show for the space, the run of the exhibit was extended by two months due to its great success. At the time, “Forging a Connection” drew the largest crowds the museum had ever seen for a single exhibit.

In addition to the main exhibit, OtherWisz created a logo for the project and a set of five collectible postcards to commemorate the exhibit’s opening.
Services
- Research & Copywriting
- Exhibit Design
- Exhibit Installation
- Logo Design
- Event Marketing
- Postcard Design
- Research & Copywriting
- Exhibit Design
- Exhibit Installation
- Logo Design
- Event Marketing
- Postcard Design

OtherWisz Creative
- 19 Elm Street
Buffalo, NY 14203 - 716.882.3803
info@otherwisz.com