Saturday afternoon we rolled into Rochester to visit the Genesee Center for the Arts & Education. The President of the board for the Center, Geri McCormick, had sent us an email early on inviting us to see the center, and boy, was it totally worth it! We met Emily Sterling and some of the other instructors at the center (though some we met later at the Corn Hill Arts festival — more in a bit).
Geri showed us around the center, explaining how the renters/keyholders shared the area, what kind of work was made there, and what was donated and how the center raised money. We also had a great time just looking at the work and discussing the processes involved in them.
Geri also talked about how the Center is planning on expanding their papermaking setup, which of course I found delightful.
Geri McCormick and Emily Sterling
Matt and Emily discussing a lino block
Matt in the center
Geri and the center's beater
printing ornaments
After this tour, Emily left to go to work and Geri took us to see the Genesee Center’s booth at the local arts festival, the Corn Hill Festival. This is where I met several other people who made work out of the center and got to talk to them about it. I also got to pull my own wood pulp sheet there (which, strangely, I have never done before!) One gentleman even showed me his handmade laid mould, which, sadly, I don’t have any photos of — but it pulled a beautiful sheet of paper.
The Genessee Center's booth
me pulling a sheet
We then shared some funnel cake at the festival and walked around, enjoying the afternoon. Then Geri sprung a surprise on me: she had invited other artists over to come talk to us at a potluck dinner at her house.
Geri and her husband Bill (more in a minute on his work!) have a great tactic for these potluck parties: they get out the ingredients for build-your-own pizzas, which are grilled on the backyard and shared with everyone involved. Of course this makes for an amazing dinner party.
Geri making pizza
a delightful dinner!
I just want to make a note here that this dinner was one of the most spirited I’ve ever had, which, given that it was with people I had only met, at most, a few hours before, was really something!
After dinner and swapping stories and generally having a blast, Bill offered to show us his wood type studio: Virgin Wood Type. This is something I knew Matt would have a great time with (he really enjoys letterforms), and we watched in awe as Bill showed us the process of cutting and making woodtype.
Virgin Wood Type
Bill making wood type
wood type being made
wood type
We even got to keep a few pieces out of the hell box!
I know it’s coming off as rather effusive (which, to be honest, I am!) but really, the generous spirit of this group was really astounding, and I am so looking forward to the Hamilton Waysgoose, which Geri and Bill might (hopefully) be attending (and we will try to as well!). I am so glad to meet you two, and Emily — y’all are an especially wonderful bunch!
Thank you so much for the lovely time. :)
