Impact

 

Photo by duo Icy & Sot in the "Sanctuary" at 

Rochester Contemporary Art

The exhibition at Rochester Contemporary this week has had a major impact.  The show(s) included in "Sanctuary" - about Borders and Belonging in 2026, as well as I'm(Migration) and "When They Come for Me", speak directly to us - this is a time and place where a powerful story can be told.  Director and Curator, Bleu Cease say's that this show is among the most well-attended exhibitions there, and it is no surprise - considering how much of our daily news is caught here in the headlights!

Pamela Dodds "Documenting Border Barriers"

When you walk into the gallery you will glimpse a wall full of images of border fences, literally from around the world accompanied by full pages of texts that delve deeper into what this is all about.  Pamela Dodds writes that this work emerges " from my dismay in response to news reports of people seeking safe haven from war, violence, economic and environmental crises being violently pushed back and denied safe entry at borders".

When people are in distress, populations can get on the move, as they have for centuries.  A problem can be the redistribution of power and wealth - or the lack of it.  There can be climate change affect, great drought, and persecution that moves a society.  In this one section of "Sanctuary" we see the results and it could fill a big book!.

Detained by ICE, we read letters of support for Dolores Bustamante

We know some of the history here, we know that America has welcomed immigrants which helped build our nation, and we know some of what is going on along our borders today.  We also know there are divisive issues at play, and political parties take a stand.  How do we as individuals fit into this scheme? What can a community do in the face of ICE and its operatives?

The visitor to the gallery can sit and view documentary evidence in the form of videos made by local artists and videographers.  We can begin to understand the effects on our communities and how the fight goes on and the efforts of many people to demonstrate in person.

A quartet of paintings by Jim Mott

I have written recently about the art of Jim Mott who has created a section of paintings in the current show at RoCo and here again he demonstrates his ability to give us a very clear idea of the scenes that incorporate ICE detention centers sometimes in our own town!  There is much to take in at this show so allow time to carefully go through the many aspects of "Sanctuary", and put it on your schedule soon, as this show is open now to November 14th!

Brother-in-law Nick Sears at The Memorial Art Gallery

We had a family visit and so all of us went to see the show at The Memorial Art Gallery of the new paintings by Hugo McCloud that opened in late September.  I have never seen any of this art before, so I was interested in looking at these new pieces and listen to his interview/ video  conversation which is installed in the Docent Gallery at MAG.  My brother-in-law immediately picked up on the idea that these paintings demonstrate a new way to deal with the plastics crisis that is effecting our environment.

The paintings look great and they are a real effort to take colorful plastic sheets and make something artful.  This is indeed a new technique being exhibited here, and it is a kind of collage.

Painting by Hugo McCloud at

The Memorial Art Gallery

  So rather than let the sheets of plastic mount up by the ton, maybe this will influence artists to use the discarded plastics all around us and make something worth contemplating!  See for yourself....