Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published September 25, 2020.

Where are you from? How did you end up in Rochester?

I was born and raised here; I attended college in Ohio and worked as a teacher in Kentucky for awhile. My husband and I moved back to Rochester in 2006 and now live in West Irondequoit where we both grew up. I always knew Rochester was my forever home.

What's your favorite way you've supported local during COVID?

As an aspiring artist, supporting other local artists has been my favorite. My favorite thing I’ve purchased in the past few months is a beautiful new mug from Ritual Clay. I try to use my platform, Boomtown Creative, to do what I can, like a promotion where I donated a portion of my sales to Foodlink.

What are some hidden gems you've discovered around Rochester?

Atlas Eats is one of my favorites and probably the place I miss most now. It’s tucked away on this little neighborhood street in Irondequoit and has the most unique food. Another cool spot is the ponds and Braddock Bay area near Edgemere, which a lot of people don’t know about. You can take a kayak out, there are quiet beaches, and it’s the best spot to catch a Rochester sunset.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support?

I currently volunteer at His Branches, a community health center with locations in the 19th Ward and Beechwood. They offer hope, healing, and restoration in underserved communities. I love how they address systemic barriers and help provide care for mental, spiritual, and physical health. I’ve helped with graphic design, flyers, and a mural to help make it a space where people can feel dignity and care in the environment.

I have also served at Cameron Community Ministries. Before COVID, I loved to go with my family and serve a Sunday dinner in their soup kitchen, meeting and talking to people there. I also love what Foodlink is doing--it’s amazing on so many levels.

If you had $100 and two hours to spend in Rochester, what would you do with the money/time? 

If the weather is nice, I’d go with family and friends to a Red Wings game. Or, I’d drive around the Finger Lakes and hit up Three Brothers and Fox Run. On a cold day, I’d go get dinner at Revelry and drinks at Caramel on Park Ave.

If you could only eat one Rochester food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

The chicken cutlet at Fiorella! Easy. I’m normally a pizza and tacos girl. But that chicken cutlet! My mouth waters just thinking about it. It’s so good! 

What's one memory that captures what Rochester means to you? 

One that was super impactful to me as an artist was joining up with one of Shawn Dunwoody’s community art projects at the Frederick Douglass Community Library. You could just grab a can of paint and a brush and work alongside kids and adults for a common purpose. It was organized chaos that resulted in a masterpiece. The people who want to improve our city are doing it and it’s awesome when you get to be a part of it! I really look up to Shawn Dunwoody.

What makes Rochester unique? 

The variety of experiences and culture, all within reach here, is unmatched. I’ve lived in Cincinnati and visited other cities that are neat, but there’s something here for everyone. If you love nature, you can take a short drive in any direction and find lakes, gorges, and waterfalls. There’s so much local history--you can read, go to museums, and visit historic sites. Our food scene rivals major cities! We’ve also got a great music and theatre scene, public art, the MAG. I’d highly recommend taking a class at the Creative Workshop at MAG, it’s one of the best experiences.

What's one thing you'd like to see change in Rochester over the next year? 

I’d like to see more people get out of their comfort zones for the good of the city. This is a challenge to myself as well! I’m from the suburbs; it can be easy to stay in your comfortable suburb or neighborhood. You’re missing out on seeing what the needs are and how you can play an active role in helping write a better story. Get involved with incredible organizations in our city working hard to enact change and better the lives of people who live here alongside us. Join a team and help build a house with Habitat, volunteer at a place like Cameron, sort and distribute food for Foodlink. Meet people who grew up differently and in a different neighborhood from you. Work alongside others and help serve. It’ll change our city and our lives.

If Rochester was an artist, what kind of art would it create? 

It would be a giant street mural that’s colorful and diverse and worked on by multiple people. I think that’s the beauty of Rochester and the art scene here. Our city values art in many different forms. As someone who is trying to break into that world, sometimes it feels like I’m not as good as the next person. But it doesn’t matter, you just need to do what you love! People will cheer you on and appreciate it.

Tell me about the art you make at your business, Boomtown Creative.

I’ve been figuring out a new path for myself over the last few years, and Boomtown Creative is a result of that journey. It merges my love for our community and my creativity. I’m creating local-inspired graphic designs and acrylic paintings. It started with prints of local places that are meaningful to me, and now I also do local-themed designs on shirts, hats, and mugs, which are all available in my Etsy shop. I wanted to create something with a minimalist, modern style that I hadn’t seen done much around Rochester. I’m creating what I wish existed and giving people a way to show off their love for Rochester. I’ve also been doing some freelance work and starting to do some murals.

Where do you like to go to get inspired?

My first creative outlet was photography. I like to grab my camera, get in the car, and drive to Highland Park, the Public Market, the Eastman Museum grounds, or Charlotte. I just walk around and take pictures. I built community through that, and started designing places that meant a lot to me around the city. I use reference photos to get the buildings accurate. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists in Rochester?

• You don’t have to wait until you’re an expert in something to go do it! You’ll never feel ready, so just go do it.
• People will see your love for what you’re doing; that shines through and sets artists apart.
• Value connection over competition. You can learn from other creatives, both online and in person. Anything I’ve been able to achieve is only because I’m surrounded by the most incredible people who have equipped me, challenged me, and loved me.

Any final thoughts?

I’m so happy to be part of this community. There was such a negative mindset about Rochester growing up, and it makes me happy to see people proud to live here and be a part of what’s happening here now. I’m so thankful for the people who have invested so much here. I want to cheer on Rochester and its supporters.