Rochester Contemporary Art Center

Rochester Contemporary Art Center
Established 1977
Location 137 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
Coordinates 43°09′24″N 77°36′04″W / 43.156720°N 77.601042°W
Type Art museum
Director Bleu Cease
Public transit access Rochester Transit Service
Website http://www.rochestercontemporary.org/

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) is a non-profit art center located in Rochester, New York's East End District that exhibits and supports contemporary art of all forms. It was founded in 1977 by Tony Petracca and Gina Mosesson. RoCo is well known for initiating its annual 6x6 exhibition.[1][2][3]

History

Founded as Pyramid Arts Center in 1977 by Tony Petracca and Gina Mosesson, the gallery was located in several different storefronts and warehouse spaces around Rochester. In 2001, it was renamed Rochester Contemporary (referred to as RoCo) and moved to its current location in Rochester's East End District. In 2007, Bleu Cease was made the director of RoCo, and 'Art Center' was added to the name.[3] Also in 2007, RoCo initiated First Friday, a monthly citywide gallery night involving up to twenty other art venues around the city of Rochester. In December 2012, RoCo announced the purchase of its 137 East Ave. facility and the launch of RoCo's first-ever capital campaign, The Future Fund.[4]

Rochester Contemporary Art Center is a member focused 501(c)3. Currently it has over 800 members, about 60% of which are artists. Member artists participate in an annual Members' Exhibition.[5]

RoCo exhibits six exhibitions in its main gallery per year in addition to housing 18-20 smaller exhibitions, performances and events.

6x6

6x6x2011 at Rochester Contemporary Art Center

In 2008, RoCo launched what has become a growing international small art phenomenon known as 6x6. Each year, 6x6 returns with thousands of original artworks, made and donated by celebrities, international and local artists, designers, college students, youths, and others. Each artwork is 6x6 square inches, signed only on the back, and exhibited anonymously. All entries are accepted, exhibited and are available for sale to the public for $20 each (in the gallery and online for global purchasing) to benefit RoCo. Artist names are revealed to the buyer upon purchase. Anyone may enter up to six artworks of any medium and there is no fee to enter the exhibition.[6]

Notable known submissions include artworks from Andrea Barrett, Garth Fagan, Philip Glass, Louise Slaughter, and Danny Wegman.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rebecca Rafferty (2008-06-18). "6x6x2008". Rochester City Newspaper. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  2. ↑ Stuart Low (2008-06-08). "Miniature art opening at Rochester gallery draws a crowd". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Elizabeth Forbes (May–June 2011). "RoCo's Bleu Period". Rochester Magazine. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  4. ↑ Sally Parker (2012-12-06). "RoCo art center acquires property in the East End". Rochester Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  5. ↑ Rebecca Rafferty (2009-12-23). "ART REVIEW: Rochester Contemporary Members Exhibition". Rochester City Newspaper. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
  6. ↑ "RoCo 6x6 2013". Rochester City Newspaper. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  7. ↑ "ROCO 6x6x2012: Celebrating Five Years of Making Art Accessible to All". Finger Lakes Travel Maven. Retrieved 2014-05-05.

External links

Coordinates: 43°09′24″N 77°36′04″W / 43.156720°N 77.601042°W