Paula Watkins

A Squeaky History Groups

Squeaky Wheel (also Buffalo Media Resources) formed from community meetings in 1985–87 following the 1985 closure of Media Study/Buffalo; Julie Zando was appointed director and founding members included Tony Conrad and Chris Hill. The organization operated equipment access (SWAP), workshops, internships, a weekly public-access show (Axlegrease) and the seasonal publication The Squealer (first Upstate issue 1988); it obtained NYSCA funding (initial $22,000 in 1986) and additional support from the Buffalo Foundation, Wendt Foundation, Benton Foundation and NEA to purchase equipment including a V5000 camcorder, Hi-8 gear and Macintosh computers. Squeaky Wheel occupied storefronts at 585 Potomac Avenue, 372 Connecticut Street and 175 Elmwood Avenue and organized events such as MediaBuff (1988), a Native American Film/Video Festival (1992) and a Digital Art Interactive show (1993).