Michael Gaffney
Visions of Public Art
Downtown Rochester
Photographic mural
“Since attending the Rochester Institute of Technology, I have been using photography as a tool to express myself. My focus has always been on encouraging the viewers of my works to explore alternate perspectives and perceptions of the world around us through the framing and composition of my photos. I strive to illustrate the beauty of everyday moments and points of view that might otherwise go unnoticed. I hope to give Rochestarians a chance to see the parts of their city that they haven’t seen before. Whether it’s the way the light falls beautifully across the 390 overpass in Genesee Valley Park or the view out from the base of a willow tree in Mt. Hope Cemetery, I want the viewer to go out and engage with the hidden beauty of Rochester and to explore all of the amazing sites the city has to offer.
The use of photography in a project about Rochester is an easy connection but I think it is an important one. While Rochester is obviously home to Kodak and to modern photography, it has also been home to my family for close to 200 years. I have a strong connection to the city and to its inhabitants and although I have since moved away, my heart will always remain in Rochester.”
Visions of Public Art was presented in 2019 as part of [Current Seen] Big Ideas. Small Venues.
Current Seen supports the region's growing contemporary art community by bringing new curatorial voices and new artists together near East Ave. and Main St. in Rochester, New York.
2019 Core Venues (Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Central Library of Rochester, Visual Studies Workshop, RIT City Art Space) and Framework Venues (galleries, community and alternative spaces, and pop-up venues) hosted curated exhibitions of local and national artists related to the general theme: our current moment / our changing city.
Building upon First Friday Rochester, Current Seen is intended to foster collaboration, help spaces achieve greater collective impact, celebrate the act of curation, and aid artists in reaching new expanded audiences. Programs include more than 20 exhibitions and events organized by both experienced and emerging curators spanning three generations. The lead organizer of Current Seen is Bleu Cease, Executive Director of Rochester Contemporary Art Center.