Rochester artist creates living sculpture exhibit

(ABC 6 News) – Art comes in many different forms but one local Rochester artist has found a way to display her art in live exhibits in various places across the Med City.

Artist Jessalyn Finch started creating these masks during the pandemic out of leftover materials like cardboard, hot glue and helmets.

Finch has done three to four of these exhibits in a variety of locations across Rochester. She said she wants to try pop-up events in unconventional spaces around Rochester.

“They’re kind of an exploration of making art into something that looks back at you and is a more interactive experience with the audience and people walking through,” Finch said.

This particular pop-up exhibit was displayed in an empty retail space at the Even Hotels and Staybridge Suites in Rochester. Director of Sales Jessica Taylor said this may become a popular place for local art exhibits in the future before it turns into a permanent retail space.

Taylor said the hotel is looking to partner with local artists to get involved in the community and to offer a unique experience for their guests.

“It kind of brings a little bit of joy because how often do you see somebody walking through a hotel lobby with a snail on their head? And so it’s kind of a little bit of an escape for people and I think it just starts a conversation,” Taylor said. “And then something for them to go home and talk about other than their trip to Mayo Clinic, they can say ‘this hotel that we stayed at did this really cool thing.'”

This particular exhibit ‘Oracles at Even Hotel’ will be on display again next Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Even Hotels and Staybridge Suites on 2nd St.