2022 RCTC Emerging Artists Exhibit opens

(ABC 6 News) – Tuesday was opening day for ‘And Yet We Thrive’ the new Rochester Community and Technical College art exhibit featuring 2022 Professional Portfolio Emerging Artists.

Students create a project for the exhibit through the course Professional Portfolio.

They also learn how to work as a professional artist by creating the entire exhibit as a class.

Last year the class was only able to hold a small exhibit, but this year they are back in person welcoming the community.

"They wanted to reflect on coming out of COVID and being together again," RCTC Art Instructor, Suzanne Szucs said. She added, "Allowing our students the opportunity to publicly express their concerns, their interests, what provokes them what motivates helps us all right, helps us all to be a more full human culture."

One student Kate Cornick created two projects for the exhibit.

Her Professional Portfolio piece is about the insecurities of your body and finding the beauty in them. She did this through a series of photos and sculptures.

She also recreated an 18th Century painting by hand sewing the entire dress in the painting and photographing it like the image.

"It was a lot of anxiety to get it done on time and to have it really be what I envisioned," RCTC Student, Kate Cornick said. She added, "The course was very beneficial in just showing me what it is like to be a professional artist, I’ve been an amateur artist and photographer for a long time and now I have a big part of my professional life ready to go and I can’t wait to get started on it."

Cornick is graduating this year and plans to open her own portrait studio focusing on body positivity.

There will be a reception to meet the artists this Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the RCTC Art Gallery.

Showcased artists from the Professional Portfolio course are Kate Cornick, Chantelle Feddersen, Shana De Hoyas, Eric Soleta, Paris Goulette, Grace Guetter, and Bari Amadio.

The exhibition will also feature the artwork of Directed Studios students Kate Cornick and Timothy Pulzier. Highlighted pieces include digital art, photography, drawings, and sculpture.

You can check out ‘And Yet We Thrive’ Monday through Friday until May 9th. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.