Jonathan Bolt is an emerging media artist based in Rochester New York. His practice primarily uses modern forms of photography that incorporate elements of digital 3D design. Jonathan’s current practice engages personal narrative in exploring the ecological impacts of nostalgia and object attachment through physical and virtual world-building. Jonathan received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Buffalo State College and his Master of Fine Arts from the University at Buffalo.

Jacob Dambra is a ceramic sculptor from Livonia, New York. Dambra attended the Rochester Institute of Technology for Ceramics. After graduating, Jacob built exhibits at the Rochester Museum and Science Center and teaches at both the Memorial Art Gallery and RIT. Their personal work uses animal and figurative imagery to discuss queerness, religion, and relationships.

Markus Essien is a filmmaker and musician originally from Washington, DC. He received his BA in Classics from Howard University and an Ed.M. from Harvard. Markus is dedicated to championing the arts, advancing education, and celebrating underdogs.

Kyle Lascelle is a potter who works primarily in stoneware and fires in soda. He received his MFA in ceramics from RIT and received a BA in Philosophy from Arcadia University. Kyle serves as a studio technician in our ceramics department at Flower City Arts Center. His passion for clay is making and relating to historic pottery and how it relates to ideas of utility, intimacy, people, and the contemporary art world.

Originally from Connecticut, Mev McMahon fell in love with the Rochester area while earning her BFA in Photojournalism at RIT. Her passion for photography developed in tandem with her appreciation for history. Growing up, she traveled with her archaeologist parents to numerous historical sites with a camera in hand. During college, she researched, acquired, and sequenced thousands of images while working as a Picture Editor for major publications such as TV Guide Magazine and NBCNews.com. Not one for NYC living, she moved back to her adopted home to give back in the best way she knows how: using visual storytelling to showcase the work of local nonprofit organizations.

Juliana Muniz is a photographer born and raised in Rochester, NY. She earned her BFA in fine art photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and MFA at Visual Studies Workshop.

Kristin Rapp has woven together a colorful array of arts, education, healing and leadership experiences. She attended RIT for graphic design, SUNY Geneseo for Special Ed and Psychology (BA) and Syracuse University, where she became a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW). Rapp is an accomplished social entrepreneur, therapist, published author, and artist with a Certificate in Strategic Nonprofit Leadership.

She founded and ran a nonprofit organization that educated and employed through arts, technology, and creative entrepreneurship and a private therapy and wellness practice for individuals and couples. Kris actively engages in mixed media arts, photography, dance, yoga, meditation, and singing. She has a passion for creating impact and meaningful social change using principles of restorative practices, transformational justice, and emergent strategy. Kris has lived in the City of Rochester since college and loves the arts, culture, and natural wonders of this area. She has two adult kids, both graduates of School of the Arts, who live, work and create here too.

Bri Shores is from Kansas where she attended Fort Hays State University, receiving her BFA with emphasis in Ceramics in 2018. She then moved to Missoula and earned her post-baccalaureate from the University of Montana. The following year she interned at the Archie Bray Foundation. She currently lives in Rochester, NY and has started her residency at Flower City Arts Center. Website: brishoresceramics.com

Megan is a multimedia artist working in video, photography, book arts and printmaking. She received a BA in Visual Arts & New Media from SUNY Fredonia in 2010 and MFA from Visual Studies Workshop in 2013. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and she has taught classes and workshops to students of all ages throughout New York State.

Hope Taylor is a multidisciplinary teaching artist currently based in Rochester, NY. They earned an MFA at the Visual Studies Workshop in 2012. With over 15 years of teaching experience in visual arts for all ages, their work often incorporates a variety of processes including; drawing, printmaking, sewing, photography, painting, video, sculpture, collage, natural dyes and papermaking.

Liz Webster received a BFA in Visual Arts with a concentration in Photography from the State University of New York at Oswego. Originally from Syracuse she moved to Rochester to teach in the Studio 678 program. She took over administration of the program in 2018. Liz continues to work on personal photographic projects, focusing on silver gelatin printing, cyanotypes, and instant photography.

Kate has a BFA in ceramic sculpture and an MFA in Art Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She and her husband Jim moved up from Tennessee when he began teaching creative writing at SUNY Brockport, and Kate begin as a studio artist at the pottery. She became the ceramics program director in 2006. She and her husband have two daughters and live in Brighton.