"Urban Alchemy" Artists Talk and Reception

St. John Fisher University will host an artists’ talk and reception for the mixed media exhibit, “Urban Alchemy,” now on display at the Patricia O’Keefe Ross Gallery.

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Patricia O’Keefe Ross Art Gallery, Joseph S. Skalny Welcome Center

A large mural of Rochester's famous crows at the Urban Alchemy exhibit.

A large mural of Rochester's famous crows at the Urban Alchemy exhibit.

The reception, which will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, is made possible through the support of the School of Arts and Sciences at Fisher and RocGrowth, a community of 3,000 members supporting new leaders and innovators in Rochester.

The exhibit features the work of Rochester artists Magnus Champlin and Richard Colón. Curated by Richard Glaser, a well-known entrepreneur and community activist in Rochester, the show is a love letter to Rochester, exploring how two artists see the exceptional where others might see the mundane—finding magic in graffiti on a dumpster or the flock of crows roosting on trees. 

Champlin is an illustrator and creative with a design studio located in downtown Rochester. With a head full of random factoids, and a sincere wish to create unusual and captivating pieces to inform and delight, his work goes from the small to larger-than-life.  His work can be seen in various places throughout Rochester, from the illustrated signage at the Seneca Park Zoo and murals in the Rochester Museum and Science Center, to fun art drops left for people to find. Aside from his creative work, Champlin is on various boards and projects to help strengthen the local communities in Rochester.

Colón is a street photographer born and raised in Rochester. His main focus has been to capture the beauty of urban streets and the architecture that Rochester has to offer as well as views that most have rarely seen. His work has been featured in Coffee People Magazine as well as at Ugly Duck Coffee. He also released his first ever photo zine, “Vibe-ography,” in 2022. He is the founder and curator of Behind the Glass Gallery, which showcases work by underrepresented artists in the heart of downtown, and he is a member of the steering committee for ROC Arts United.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Organized by:

Hosted by the School of Arts and Sciences