Meet The Requirements

Luvon Sheppard At The Memorial Art Gallery

Rochester, New York

We spent years in the same office, but I did not know that Luvon Sheppard was a high school wrestler!  I did know that Luvon was born in Florida, but I did not know that his father was always away.. I do remember that we attended a memorial service for Luvon's mom after she passed, and that we have her edict "Meet The Requirements" pasted up on our refrigerator!

Three days ago, we went to "Meet The Artist" at The Memorial Art Gallery, and heard a wonderful interview with Luvon that was a real inspiration.

Interview with Luvon Sheppard in April 16, 2026

Mr. Sheppard has been teaching at Rochester Institute of Technology for over 50 years!  Today, his specialty is watercolor and he is also into collage.  Images of his artwork were projected onto the big screen as the interview progressed, and as the "Book of Luvon" opened, one could get a real sense of the contributions he has made to our community, and our country.

Luvon also owns the Joy Gallery on West Main Street, and there he has supported many exhibitions by other artists over the years.  This is a real factor in our area - to provide opportunities for artists to show their stuff!  It was pointed out in the interview that Luvon has been engaged for years beginning with his community based effort to establish "All Of Us", bringing arts to a wider audience here in Rochester.

 

A new venue has opened with Museo de Arte at 3495 Winton Place established by artist Kathy Clem

In the evening we attended the opening at the Museo de Arte, and we met with Kathy Clem who mingled with the crowd.  Her idea was to open a new space for the community and present a project that is a big group effort to create artwork for a building within the gallery space.  It is called the "Felted House" and not only is the little building wrapped in felt, but there is also artworks inside on the wall and ceiling that offer attractive felt work done by a large group of art volunteers.

Bravo!  Kathy Clem is inspired with a wide view of community engagement and she also has space to create new work and show this to the public.

Museo de Arte is conducting an open call for your art!

Applications are due by late August, 2026

There is still much work to do, and at The Museo de Arte there is an open call to the community to submit artworks for a show that will open in October of 2026.  So, get involved, applications are due by the end of August!

Tomorrow Is Today

Luvon Sheppard holds his portrait in a recent show at R.I.T.

We are in a quickly changing environment, it will soon be Spring, and the flowers are already blooming in our yard...  I wanted to write about my colleague Luvon Sheppard, and let you know that he will give a talk at The Memorial Art Gallery this coming Thursday, April 16th from 6 to 7 pm.  There is a need to book tickets, so you can go online and check it out!  Luvon is also the subject of a survey show of his recent artwork at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.  This exhibition at RMSC features his plein air paintings from along the Erie Canal and it will run from now thru March 21, 2027! The RMSC does have an admission charge, so be prepared!

While I was teaching at Rochester Institute of Technology, Luvon and I shared an office, and so we have a lot in common, not the least is the fact that we both have painted watercolors along the Erie Canal, so I am looking forward to seeing what he has done there!  Luvon has made a real contribution to the arts scene in Rochester, also because he has offered many exhibits at his Joy Gallery on West Main Street, which I have written about in this blog over many years..

Bill Finewood at Pittsford Fine Art

4 North Main Street, Pittsford, NY

Today, we have strolled into Pittsford Fine Art , a cooperative gallery at North Main Street, and I had to chat with another colleague of mine from R.I.T. and that is Bill Finewood who you see above.  Bill is a realist artist and illustrator, and he has spent many hours out west near Glacier National Park.  His painting shown here, is the result of hours of work out in nature, as well as in the studio, and it is really convincing.

Bill is the featured artist this month in this gallery which has a number of different  painters whose work can be a real inspiration for us all.

Suzi Zefting-Kuhn

at Pittsford Fine Art Gallery

Another artist who I am familiar with is Suzi Zefting-Kuhn, and she has recently moved her studio operation away from the  Hungerford Building to a new studio space nearby.  She also goes on expeditions and her painting of giraffes is the result of one such tour of Southern Africa.

Lately, I have been lucky to have interviews published, and my artwork is getting seen.  A new magazine is out that features two of my recent prints, and the publication is called  Abstractics.  Below is a copy of the cover for this new volume ( it is not my work  the cover ).

Now, I have to get back to my big project, which I look forward to - and that is a history of The Print Club of Rochester.  I have been doing a lot of writing and research for this organization, and there is really an interesting history to tell!  Eventually there will be a exhibition of prints that will be held in Rochester, and it will be quite something to behold!