A diverse group of artist participate in a discussion addressing today's political derisions. They will share stoire in art, group lectures, and more. See the complete program below.
| Sanctuary: Borders & Belonging in 2026 brings together a diverse group of national and regional artists, creatives, and documentarians in response to the current political and social landscape surrounding migration and immigration. Projects in the exhibition amplify immigrant voices, document criminalization and detention, examine border politics and architecture, and give impacted people space to share diverse immigration stories.
Artists in the exhibition include, Anaglog (Sound of Sanctuary), Pamela Araya, Pamela Dodds, Annette Dragon, Jim Mott, Saman and Sasan Oskouei, Tom Policano, Julio Salgado, Arleene Correa Valencia, Cher Valentino, Worldwide Documentaries, as well as over 60 artworks from artists who are immigrants, and a community video project documenting nearly 100 of our neighbors telling their immigration story. | |
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| We have a lot of events this October and November! From artist talks, to panel discussions, to public art walks and film screenings, we hope to see you soon!
Click over to rochestercontemporary.org to read more about each of these events. Call us if you have any questions ; )
*If you are an organization working to support immigrant communities and you'd like to attend and share your mission at the the Ice Breaker / Match Maker event on October 16 (organized by Metro Justice), please register on our website. Metro Justice will follow-up with you after you register. | |
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| RoCo + MCC + Fringe Festival |
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| Join us in the park next to RoCo for the last two performances of Illumina, in partnership with MCC’s On the Edge Drama Troupe and part of the Fringe Festival. This interactive production invites participants will come together to create illuminated artwork inspired by our current public artwork installation BELONG by Gianna Stewart.
Friday, September 25 at 7pm
Saturday, September 26 at 7pm
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| Member Spotlight: Brittany M. Reid | |
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| Meet Brittany M. Reid: Artist, mentor, housecoat enthusiast and our current member spotlight! A lifelong artist, Reid became more active in Rochester’s creative community in 2020. What began as a prolific analog collage practice has evolved into digital work, painting, and large-scale murals with collage continuing to influence the way they approach color and emotional tone. These days, Reid has fully embraced acrylic painting and are finding something new in the process: freedom. As an artist and someone who helps other creatives navigate the psychological side of making art, Reid is passionate about pushing back against the impossible expectations of productivity, visibility, and success that can get in the way of a thriving creative practice. You’ll have to click through the link to see how housecoats fit into all of this!
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| Motion, memory, water, animals, and dreamlike landscapes…our Fall COMP Studios residents Eujin V. Ra and Agam Neiman are emerging artists based in NYC The Hudson Valley. Both creatives have been spending time in Rochester developing special projects in the COMP Studios.
We're inviting you to come meet the artists during their opening on First Friday, October 2, 6–9pm, when COMP Studios and RoCo Upstairs will be open to the public. *Plus the artists talk on Saturday, October 10 at 1pm.*
COMP Studios + RoCo Upstairs will be open:
Friday, October 2, 6-9pm
Saturday, October 3, 12–5pm
Saturday, October 10, 12–5pm *artist talk at 1pm | |
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| Inside the artists' studio | |
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| We know it's been a little while since the artists at RoCo Upstairs have been open to the public. On First Friday October 2, permanent studio artists will be open from 6-9pm. Stop by to chat with them and see what they've been working on!
Open studios include:
Bespoke Designs
Studio Michaelino
k.torg studio
Aidan Sofia Earle
Lunar Berserkr Art
Department of Dream Collection
and guest artist: Jon Gary
If you miss First Friday that's okay, they'll be open a couple extra Saturdays too!
Saturday Oct 3, 12-5pm
Saturday Oct 10, 12-5pm | |
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| Route of Refusal: A Public Art Walk | |
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| RoCo’s public artwork BELONG puts censored language directly out into public space. On Saturday, October 3 at 4pm we will walk from BELONG to Rochester’s Federal Building, where an ICE detention center is planned. As we go we'll spread these banned words along the route, extending this powerful artwork across Downtown Rochester. Join artist Gianna Stewart, RoCo, and others for a community reading (at RoCo) of the censored words that make up BELONG. From there, we’ll proceed together to the Federal Building and leave our mark en route as an act of refusal. This program is organized as part of the national Fall of Freedom weekend. | |
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| Our programs are funded by people just like you! Please support our work by becoming a member today.#rochestercontemporaryart#fineartmagazineblog.blogspot.com #sunstormfineartmagazine.com#fineartdiscussion#artfundiversity#fineartstoires#artfunsanctuary#artfunnalternative |
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