May: Sunday Afternoon Artist Talks

The artist talks have been recorded and are posted on the Flower City Arts Center's YouTube channel.

Fernando Muller kicked off the series with a talk on Mother's Day, May 10th. Fernando is a Rochester based photographer. He was born in Lima, Peru, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 13. As an Artist in Residence at Flower City Arts Center, he is working on a body of work depicting connection, family, and community. During his artist talk, Fernando talked about his technical process, concept, and subject matter, and why choosing the people you photograph matters. Check out his website at www.fernandommuller.com.

On May 17th we had Linda Van Artsdalen. Linda is an artist who has been exploring fiber arts for over 30 years. She combines fibers, felting, quilting, embroidery and photography and print making techniques in her artwork. Her most recent work, wearable art scarves, are a result of explorations into the alternative photographic technique of cyanotype on silk using natural materials to create complex photograms. Linda has exhibited her work through out the Northeastern United States. She finds the inspiration for her art from her observations of the natural world which she incorporates into her work. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently resides in Rochester, New York. You can take a look at her work www.ladyfishfelt.com or on instagram: ladyfishfelt.

On Saturday May 23rd we had Jonathan Merritt. Jon received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alfred University in 2013 and is currently working on his MFA at Visual Studies Workshop while working as a fine artist and freelance photographer. He works in and teaches advanced darkroom and alternative processes like cyanotype and kallitype. His work has been displayed in several exhibitions in NY, and he assisted with rapid capture documentation at the Smithsonian Institution. Take a look at www.jonmerrittphoto.com.

On May 31st we will had Jennifer Pereña. Jen is a former Artist in Residence whose main focus over the last few years has been making prints using the alternative, historic kallitype photographic process. Jen began practicing this process after years of taking alternative photography classes at the Community Darkroom/Photography and Digital Arts Department here at the Flower City Arts Center. Her current work combines digital photography, photographic contact printing, and watercoloring, resulting in unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Jen has been regularly showing her work in FCAC exhibits, Darkroom Club group shows, and the current "Alternative Paths" group exhibit at Nu Movement studio. During her artist talk, Jen will show you some of her prints, talk about the path to learning and practicing kallitypes, how she uses her iphone to capture images that are then converted to digital negatives, and what inspires her. You can see more of Jen's work on her website: kallitypegirl.com or on instagram: kallitypegirl.