We are thrilled to announce our next temporary public art installation “BELONG” by Gianna Stewart.
“BELONG” is comprised of words deemed unsavory, unnecessary, or ‘woke’ by the current administration of the United States government. Conveying the power that language holds and the importance of naming to prevent erasure.
In spring of 2025 several organizations including the New York Times documented the rapid redaction of certain words and terms from official government websites. Since then, groups such as PEN America have attempted to track this erasure by compiling lists of words removed from government publications and censored by institutions attempting to comply with the administration’s directives. Simultaneously arts and educational organizations have been encouraged to remove many of these words from their grant applications and programs, and many have complied. This tryptic carefully incorporates PEN America’s list into the letters BELONG, which is also one of the words on the list.
Gianna Stewart is a Rochester-area artist with a passion for public art. She received her MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston/ Tufts University.
You can learn more about “BELONG” and Gianna at rochestercontemporary.org >> exhibitions >> BELONG
BELONG will open to the public June 5th
Where else can you find an art installation that smells like Frank’s RedHot?
Our current LAB Space exhibition, “Lifelong Bills Fan,” is a little heavy, a little funny, and a lot irreverent. Created by Paul M. Nicholson, this installation looks into the intersection of community identity, ritualized celebration, and the intimacy of grief.
Bring a beloved Bills fan…or any team, to reflect on what it means to be a “Lifelong Fan”; to seek connection and healing within a collective, even through great loss and sadness.
And just for the record Frank’s actually is superior to other common hot sauces. Prove us wrong.
@buffaloBills #buffalobills #billsmafia❤️💙🏈 #buffalobills #buffalobillsmafia
We’re partnering with @thelittletheatre in promoting the upcoming screening of Steal This Story, Please! which charts the history of @democracynow and its founder Amy Goodman. RoCo is involved because we believe wholeheartedly in independent, non-corporate journalism, now more than ever.
Not only has Democracy Now! been a consistent, independent voice, speaking truth to power and raising awareness about important issues and injustice worldwide, they have a long history of featuring musicians, performers, visual artists, and filmmakers who are addressing these issues through their creative work. Artists like @emilyjacir , Allie Star and @davidsolnit the founders of Art and Revolution, @breadandpuppet , @laurieandersonofficial , @saminahalaby , Raoul Peck among countless others, have been featured on Democracy Now!
Described as “Urgent, provocative and unexpectedly funny, Steal This Story, Please! is both a call to action and a celebration of resistance, posing the question: what happens to democracy when the press surrenders to power?”
Read more about the doc and get tickets on the Little Theater’s website and we hope to see you there!
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Artists working in encaustic and wax-based media…this one’s for you.
Submission Deadline: June 22
Acceptance Notification: July 15
In August we will be hosting “Fire & Form” organized by Rochester’s Working With Wax group. This exhibition, juried by Regina B. Quinn, celebrates the versatility, texture, and transformative nature of wax-based practices and its unique and pronounced history in NYS. We’re excited to help celebrate Rochester’s outsized role in the recent re-invigoration of this medium!
The submission process is now open to recent 2D and 3D work created with wax, including encaustic, cold wax, and mixed media where wax is a key element.
More information about the exhibition and a link to the submission portal managed by the Working with Wax Roc/Flx group is on rochestercontemporary.org/exhibitions
Please share this with all encaustic artists in NYS! #callforart #callforsubmissions #nysartist #encaustic
"The Hills of Italy" by @lida_riedlinger
"Seeds of Growth" by @ehinderoconnie
"Finger Lakes Grapes" by @anne.b.mccune
"Drowning in Blue" by @patdeluca.art
*example images by members of the Working With Wax Group.
Of course, a quick video on instagram isn’t enough to take in all of our Main Gallery exhibition Anne Havens / Sue Havens. Lucky for you, the exhibition is on view until May 9, so you have plenty of time to stop by!
Check out the large and colorful pieces mixed with surreal imagery. We’d love to hear your opinion ;)
Thank you to everyone who came this past weekend to drop off a 6x6! We are always humbled and grateful for the immense participation we receive each year from talented artists and creatives.
We’re still getting mountains of mailed artworks and will know a final count of artworks by next week ; )
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Here are some important 6x6 dates to look forward to!
🗓️ Global Online Preview Begins + Auction for Early Buyer Positions: May 8, 10am
🗓️Virtual Artwork Sale Kick-off: June 1, 10am
🗓️General Online Purchasing: June 3, 10am
🗓️In Gallery Opening: First Friday, June 5, 6-9pm
🗓️Gallery Open for Purchasing: June 5 - July 25
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And to all 6x6 participants: Please watch your inboxes for an email confirmation that we have cataloged your artworks. We have begun this process and we will be using the email you provided on the entry form to contact you! Thank you for your patience as we work through the thousands of artworks we have received.
#roco6x6
We’re open tonight until 9pm for #FirstFridayROC and to receive your 6x6 entries!
Stop by with your 6x6 A#artworks, view “Anne Havens/Sue Havens”, “Lifelong Bills Fan” by Paul M. Nicholson and “Authenticity as Illusion”, then hit up our First Friday neighbors @uglyduckcoffee@ritcityartspace@frankschopshoproc
as always, the full list of events is here: firstfridayrochester.org
@shavens88@paulmnicholson@alfred_iea@kshantee@jake__brush
In February we hosted an artist discussion with W. Michelle Harris and Amanda Chestnut. If you missed it, a recording of event is now available on our website: /exhibitions/nia-panes/
The talk centered on Harris’s 2D public art installation “Nia Panes” on view in the park next to RoCo and how both artists honor past and present through ideas rooted in public art, history, and community memory.
“Nia Panes” by W. Michelle Harris is on view 24/7 and free to the public until May 15.
Join us for a virtual artist talk Thursday March 26 with the artists in “Authenticity as Illusion”. Curator and Director of @alfred_iea Myles Calvert (@squirrelpigeonfish ) will be joined by Kelli Williams (@kshantee ) and Jake Brush (@Jake_Brush ); to engage us in conversations about the self as illusion and crafted authenticity.
Register for the virtual talk on our website!
#ArtsAtAlfred #AlfredUniversity #InstituteforElectronicArts #Artist Talk #RoCo137
Don’t freak out, but the 6x6 deadline is three weeks away.
We know many creatives struggle with deadlines ; ) and the last day to drop-off your 6x6 entry is April 4!
Now is the perfect time to put finishes touches on your artwork, to fill out your entry forms and come by to drop them off at RoCo! Don’t let time be what stops you from participating. Creating art is the best way to fight the clock!
**International friends, please mail your artworks by April 1 to ensure they are included in this year’s exhibition.
#RoCo6x6
The day after an opening always has us feeling so grateful. Many thanks to all the artists, curators, cultural workers, and visitors who made last night possible as we welcomed the art of Anne and Sue Havens, Paul M. Nicholson, Kelli Williams, Jake Brush (curated by Myles Calvert of iea), and Magnus to the space. Exhibitions are on view until May 9, swing by RoCo to explore our Spring shows!
And don’t forget - COMP Studios will be open today, Saturday March 7, 12-5pm & Saturday March 14, 12-5pm. Visit our friends Sabrina and RoCo Upstairs studio artists and show them some love today or next Saturday!
