Some Are Standouts

At Rochester Contemporary

137 East Avenue

Rochester, New York

Here we are at the beginning of a new season, and the art community here is a buzz.  Talking with Bleu Cease, the seasoned Director at Rochester Contemporary, he mentions that this is the 19th year for the 

6 x 6 show that recently opened at 137 East Avenue.  He said that this year there is slightly more than 6000 entries for the show which is now up on the gallery walls!  You could say that there is really something for everyone in this year's exhibition.  At $20 per piece you could start an art collection, or add to the one you have already started!

Great variety at the 2026 Summer Show for  6 x 6

Since it is my birthday, I treat myself to a couple of interesting works of art, and I have just the right place in mind for them at my studio!  It is remarkable what people can do with such a small dimension of 6 inches by 6 inches!  I look for the standouts, these are the pieces which I find are memorable, but you might have already passed them up!  I know some of the artists in the show - I can tell by the colors and the technique.  I usually send in a few of my paintings to this summer happening.  In the end, we want to support this great effort at RoCo, and this is one way we can help them raise funds for what they present each year.

The big wall at RoCo, there is something for everyone

When you go and visit this yearly show, sometimes the art on the top row is hard to really see clearly ( at least for me ), but you can go online and view the show - especially if you have some time and can't actually go to the gallery.  Also, if you have been to RoCo and bought something but you can't pick it up in July, you can have them send it to you ...you just have to ask!

The 6 x 6 show is one way for the gallery to raise funds for the year ahead, and I applaud the volunteers who do the hard work of mounting the show on those tall walls, HATS OFF TO YOU ALL!

Lee Hoag presents "Evoke" at

R.I.T. City Art Space

30 Adventure Place

Rochester, NY

Down the street, across from The Strong Museum of Play, there is the new R.I.T. City Art Space.  They recently moved into this new location, and it is an attractive space for modern art, and here I found sculptural works by Lee Hoag.  Lee's exhibition is called "Evoke" and the show runs until August 1st, 2026.  You may have seen some of his artwork in a Finger Lakes exhibition, and it really does speak for itself.  I don't think you could confuse Lee's art with other things you might see in an area art gallery. His artwork does remind me of a time  ( maybe in the 1970s ) when the artworld had to reckon with minimalism.

Lee Hoag's "Mind Field" (Lost Our Minds)

In some ways, Lee Hoag's emphasis is on industrial design.  His surfaces are always immaculate, and evocative, and they leave a lasting impression.  The structures he works out are strong and they have an aesthetic appeal, but not necessarily a utilitarian view.  In other ways, I think his conception is a kind of critique of an already established order, maybe of an outgrowth of capitalism.  Go see for yourself!

Lee Hoag presents "Medusa" at R.I.T. City Art Space

 

Saddle Up

 

Thru July 15th, 2026 "Horse Power" at

Main Street Arts

Clifton Springs, New York

Yes, we had a beautiful day for a ride out to Clifton Springs to attend the opening of "Horse Power" a large group show at Main Street Arts, 20 West Main Street.  When we arrived, there were many people in attendance, and 57 artists whose work had been selected for the exhibition.  I saw a window display of sculptural work by Jappie King Black, a noted artist from Brockport.  The pieces she displays are haunting and have a dark, fragile personality.

Over the years I have seen many group shows at Main Street Arts, but this theme exhibition has a wide range of larger and smaller pieces with many paintings and some photography, all about horses.  There is a strong sculptural work that greets us as we all walk in.

A surprising thing about this presentation is the fact that I don't remember another theme show that has a focus on this animal - as popular as horses are.  I do remember having seen some wonderful horses in a carriage competition held in Pittsford at the Walnut Hill Farm, but that was many years ago!

Jacquie Germanow at Main Street Arts with her painting " Innocence on The Run"

Our friend, Jacquie Germanow has a beautiful and evocative acrylic painting in this show and we stopped to admire it and speak with the artist.  Her painting of a horse/unicorn is surrounded by waves of color, and if you look closely there are arrows pointing in the air giving this animal a very vulnerable appeal.  We spoke about the fact that she had just varnished the painting, and I had to ask her why... she said it had many layers of old paint and some colors were lost and needed refreshing!

"Abundance" by Ann Clarke ( textile collage and embroidery )

This show also has remarkable variations, and a fabric collage caught my attention.  This work is called "Abundance" and the artist is Ann Clarke.  In this artwork, the horse image comes along with a panoply of other focus features, and I just thought that the embroidery and composition must have been a real challenge to put this work together!

"MoonShadow" a painting by Valentina Yannotti

If you visit Main Street Arts, be sure to go upstairs ( you could even take the elevator! ) to see the art on the second level because there are some fine pieces like this painting above, by Valentina Yannotti.  Right nearby there is a wonderful photo ( is it printed on glass? ) called "Black Knight" by Diane W. Dersch. This black and white photo has a terrific texture, and really captures this alert animal!

"Black Knight", photography by Diane W. Dersch

 Upstairs there is a fabric collage by Beth Brown that I think you might enjoy!  All told, this show is fun, and it brings home the wonderful variety of approaches that artists can take with a subject that is certainly NOT ordinary!

 

Opening & Closing

 

At Monroe Community College

The Mercer Gallery

We can thank those who come out to support the arts and we celebrate the fact that we do have a lively art community here in Rochester, and you can come and see the Annual Member's Show at The Mercer Gallery.  University art galleries in our area serve a vital function and that is they offer the opportunity to see a wide array of artworks that otherwise might be hard to find!

On Sunday, May 31st, the opening  for The Print Club was well attended, with almost 40 different artists represented in this Annual Member exhibition.  Most art galleries act like retail stores, trying to make sales.  Since the Covid pandemic it has become a lot harder for retail sales to gain back their strength.  So, in the breach the university gallery - like the Mercer Gallery,  introduces the public to lots of new things...

As I have been working on a book project about The Print Club, I was eager to see this new show, and I also participate by showing one of my recent prints in this Annual Member's Exhibition.  Before I even went in to see the show I was introduced to Keely Wu, a young artist and printmaker who is just finishing her first year teaching printmaking at R.I.T.

Two prints by Keely Wu: "Hamster Death"  and "Just A Bird"

Once inside The Mercer Gallery, I found two framed prints by Keely Wu - and in this show they have character/characters:  "Hamster Death" ( a drypoint etching and screen print ) and "Just A Bird" ( screen print ).  There is a bit of the comic in both of these figurative, and colorful prints.  This is just the beginning...

Prints large and small at The Mercer Gallery

The Print Club 95th Annual Member Exhibition

A deep dark print by Nick Ruth was given "Best of Show" award  ( above on the left ) and there were several honorable mentions given to other artists.   I think one of the prints that stood out was by Myles Calvert of a gigantic teapot.  The wall label said it was a woodblock print, so I just wonder how this image was made!

Print by Myles Calvert

More than 20 years ago, I was once the President of The Print Club, and now in attendance is the current President, Richard Kegler, who spoke about the Member's show and gave out awards.  Richard has a letterpress monoprint in this exhibition with the title "Stars Not Aligned", and it has curious patterns or superimposed grids making an abstract environment.  Another past President was at the show, and she exhibited a lithograph of an interesting monument with a title of "The Stone Empress" ( see below )...

Katherine Baca-Bielinis

Many different styles of prints you can find at The Mercer Gallery, so just check the hours there online, if you can take a break and see the show.  I think there is something for everyone  to enjoy'1

Landscape prints by Laura Wilder