Arts InFocus

Photographer and professor Joshua Rashaad McFadden returns home to unveil the latest evolution of his deeply personal body of work. Consisting of work from seven different series, “I Believe I’ll Run On” chronicles the intimacies of Black life in the United States. From the streets of Minneapolis to the shores of an unknown coast, McFadden’s exploration converges in the Main Gallery of the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, NY, now through June 19, 2022. More information can be found at eastman.org/mcfadden

Up Against the Wall: Art, Activism, and the AIDS Poster is a truly remarkable exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester that features over 160 posters from the University of Rochester's vast AIDS Education Collection. Take an inside look at how the collection of over 8000 posters started, how the Up Against the Wall exhibit came to be, and how artists and organizations came together to inspire, educate and impact the public. Up Against The Wall will be exhibited at the MAG until June.

Learn more about William Warfield's incredible journey and the process behind the bronze statue created in his honor. William Warfield: Cast in History airs Friday, February 25 at 8:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

What began as a grassroots festival and has grown to international acclaim, Arts InFocus is proud to bring you this look into a true Rochester gem.

Since 1995, Gateways Music Festival has brought together professional classical musicians of African descent in Rochester, NY to both celebrate the contributions and increase the visibility of instrumentalists who are often marginalized in their professional fields. Through concerts, lectures, workshops and more, Gateways is redefining a false narrative; boldly exemplifying the talent and number of professional classical musicians of color.

Join us for our conversations with board members Koonce and Kearstin Piper Brown, Soprano, and musicians Kelly Hall-Tompkins Violinist, Armand Hall and Leonard Foy, where we discuss the impact of this local gem, and how it amplifies the need for diversity in classical music.

Photos courtesy of:
Sonia James-Wilson
University Archives, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection, Winston-Salem, N. C.

Eastman School of Music, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, ROCmusic Collaborative, WXXI Classical 91.5, NPR Classical, New York Philharmonic

In 2018 world-renowned sculpture artist Albert Paley and Jesse James of West Coast Choppers fame collaborated to make two sculptures. Each artist started one sculpture and finished the others. WXXI followed their journey. Enjoy this encore presentation of "Dialogue in Metal" tonight at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV

2020 was a whirlwind of a year, but the art scene in Rochester rose to the occasion! Join us as we take a look back at some highlights from the past year.

Herb Smith and the Freedom Trio, one of Rochester’s premier jazz combos, take to The Little Theatre stage, Friday at 8:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV. Don't miss it!

Back in February of this year, Host Teej Jenkins visited Rochester’s The Hungerford building to discover the artists, craftspeople and vendors working and creating within its walls. Join us Friday at 8:30pm on WXXI-TV as we visit The Tea Pottery, Jeanne Simpson - Studio 350, Hodaka Pottery, Type High Letterpress, Christopher Little, owner at Rituals in Metal & Stone, Inc. Dale Klein and more! Also, learn about the latest First Friday offering from the Rochester Contemporary Art Center!

When the pandemic hit, that didn’t slow down Vince Ercolamento at CSE Music School. He and students jumped right into virtual learning. Learn more about Vince’s virtual music lessons, his musical background, and how his visual impairment gives him a unique perspective when teaching his students in our latest story.