Words by Marléna Ahearn
Photos by Julia Merrell
On the coldest day in January, the RIT University Gallery is full of sunshine and the smell of coffee. Today the gallery is hosting a training seminar but, beginning in March, Rochester Brainery classes will fill the room. Classes for the francophile traveler, the new painter, and the Rochester-architecture-curious will be held at the Henrietta location.
The gallery is available for any kind of event. Jessica Serpe, University Gallery Events Manager, coordinates everything from catering to event set up in the unique gallery space and in outdoor Global Village Plaza venue. The wide open gallery naturally lends itself to endless possibilities, which is how this partnership came to be.
“We talked about running classes in the space,” says Jessica. “So, why not partner with somebody who is already amazing at doing that? It offers something for students and staff to get involved with after class and bring the community in so they can be in this gorgeous space and be creative and learn something.”
Rochester Brainery – RIT University Gallery partnership allows people who live in and around Henrietta to access classes closer to home. It also offers up an inspiring space to learn with its floor-to-ceiling windows, unique lighting for evening illumination, and—of course—art.
The current University Gallery exhibit is three-fold. There are two existing, long term exhibits: a camera exhibition in collaboration with the George Eastman Museum and the Vignelli Center for Design Studies archive exhibit. The current main exhibit is a poster installation by Abram Games (1914–1996) that gives a six-decade look of the social history of Britain, however the larger installations change every few months. If you’d like to see the exhibits, the gallery is always open to walk through.
Having Rochester Brainery classes hosted at the RIT campus helps make it possible for every corner of Rochester to learn and be creative—and to bring different communities together.
“The word we always come to is community. We are central on campus, which is great, and we are positioned perfectly in Henrietta. I’m excited to combine the outside Rochester community with members of the RIT community,” says Jessica.
Sign up for a crash course in Rochester architecture, an evening of acrylic painting, or a practical travel french course and experience the gallery for yourself. The RIT University Gallery is accessible from the visitor parking lot. Click here for directions.