Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch. 

Published April 12, 2018.

Where are you originally from? What brought you to Rochester?

I’m from Syracuse and grew up in Fayetteville. I came to Rochester to attend Nazareth, where I double majored in art history and studio art. Afterwards, I went to RIT for a master’s in art education.

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

I live in Geneseo, about five minutes from Letchworth. For me, it’s a pleasure to be so close to nature. Plus, in just 25 minutes I can head up 390 and have access to pretty much anything. It’s nice to have both the rural and urban environment at the same time. I can both visit Letchworth and go to the Public Market within half an hour. We also have a great arts scene here and so many great galleries in town. My grandpa was on the board for the Everson Museum in Syracuse when I was growing up, so that sparked my interest in art from a young age.

What is your favorite neighborhood in the city? 

I used to live in the Wedge, before it was cool (how obnoxious is that to say?) way back in 2003. It’s really grown since then. Lux used to be the only thing there. I just visited ButaPub for the first time recently, and I love Swillburger. I have celiac disease, so finding places that are gluten free is important.

Since you're gluten free, what are some of your favorite restaurants that can accommodate gluten free folks? 

Salena’s and Swillburger are both great. They’re really good about gluten free. I also love Get Caked for gluten free treats.

If you had $100 and 2 hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time? 

I’d head either to a bookstore to buy books or to Rochester Art Supply to buy all kinds of art stuff. I love spending hours in the Barnes and Noble in Pittsford Plaza, and Sundance Books on Main St. in Geneseo is one of my favorite little independent bookstores.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather? 

I get into my art a lot and love to just be in my sketchbook. I also love Disney World and visit there with my family a few times a year. In general, I think changing your physical space can be so helpful in changing your mental space, so visiting art galleries or art installations can be amazing too.

What is your favorite Rochester memory? 

Last year, my ten-year-old daughter attended the Girls Rock! Rochester camp. She’s shy and reserved, but played in her band at Anthology at the end of the week and it brought tears of joy to my eyes. It’s so exciting to watch something like that; it makes me so happy. I want my daughter to feel like she’s a citizen of the world, and Girls Rock did a great job exposing her to feminism and diversity.

What makes Rochester unique?

It’s a big city but you can find common connections with just about everyone. I love our art scene, our small businesses, and the way that it feels like a small town even though it’s a big city.

If Rochester was a food, what would it be?

It would be a garbage plate. We shove all this different stuff together and somehow it’s still tasty. It just works.

What's it like being an artist in Rochester? How would you describe the creative community here?

The community is really welcoming here. All the small galleries around town give you ways to get your art out there. First Fridays, the MAG, Makers, RoCo, the Hungerford--there are so many supportive people who are excited about art. I haven’t had a bad experience in the art community here. I love creating the art that I want to see in the world.

Who inspires you?

I love so many local artists: Nate Hodge, Andrea Durfee, Todd Stahl, Justin Suarez/Mr. Prvrt, Bill Santelli, and Bill Stevenson. It’s such a good little community. Plus, having WALL\THERAPY here in Rochester is outstanding.

Where are your favorite places to go to get inspired?

I spend a lot of time at Letchworth and Mendon Ponds. I like to be in nature. Visiting galleries and bookstores also inspires me.

Do you have any exciting upcoming shows or collaborations?

In September, I have a show at Roberts Wesleyan with Nate Hodge and Richard Nickel. I also have a show at the MUCCC in November.

What advice would you give to other artists/creatives in the area?

Go to shows. Meet people. Sell yourself. I struggle with self promotion a lot because I’ve been trained to be humble. Get out there, though, and do what you want to do, not what you think will sell. Be true to yourself as an artist and as an individual. Put your passion out there and people will see it for what it is.