Features

Designed as a way to showcase the creative lives of Rochesterians, the Memorial Art Gallery series “Hidden Passions” highlights the ways in which people in the community pursue their talents and interests. For series organizer Debora McDell-Hernandez, curator of engagement at the Memorial Art Gallery, an important aspect of the series is to inspire others in the Rochester area to think about ways to develop their intellectual, artistic, and cultural passions.

McDell-Hernandez says the museum is the perfect place to host such conversations, part of a larger effort to establish MAG as a hub for creativity in all its manifestations.

“A museum is more than just a place for visitors to view creativity on display,” she says. “With ‘Hidden Passions,’ visitors take center stage. It is our hope that hearing people tell their stories about creativity will nurture people’s creative sides.”

Launched in 2015, the program has hosted a wide range of guests. Here’s a sample:

Catelyn Augustine, a massage therapist who runs a gourmet ice cream business, Eat Me Ice Cream.

John Beck, a professor emeritus of percussion at the Eastman School of Music who has been making wine for more than two decades.

Joe Carney, director of advancement for the Memorial Art Gallery, who teaches in the English department at Monroe Community College.

Emma Lo ’15M (MD) made portraits of people served by a project she launched as a student at the School of Medicine and Dentistry to provide health care to Rochester’s homeless.

Agustin Ramos, a private investigator who also crafts cuatro guitars.

Josh Owen, a professor of industrial design at the Rochester Institute of Technology who sculpts bonsai trees.

Ian Wilson ’99M (MD), ’04M (Res), ’06M (Flw), a Medical Center radiologist who leads a public art program called Wall\Therapy, which aims to transform the urban landscape, inspire, and build community.

Mike DiCaprio, a media strategist who grows carnivorous plants.

Spencer Christiano, an archival film projectionist, is also a playwright whose work has been performed by the University’s International Theatre Program.

Danielle Raymo, an office manager who cofounded Rochester Brainery, a community classroom and event space that offers classes to the community.

Nita Brown, a strategic planner who owns MansaWear, a custom clothing company influenced by Brown’s Ghanaian roots.

Gene Olczak, an optical engineer, makes Karma Sauce— a homemade hot sauce that he sells in stores and online.

Laura Fox, an urban planner who also is a rooftop farmer.

Steven Schwartz, an accountant and beekeeper.

Ramon Ricker, professor emeritus of saxophone at the Eastman School of Music, who restores Jaguar cars.

Andrew Ainslie, dean of the Simon Business School, who is an avid cave diver.

Anne Kress, president of Monroe Community College, who is also a quilter.

Wendell Castle, a renowned sculptor who plays folk guitar.

Jefferson Svengsouk, associate professor of emergency medicine, who is also a Native American flute player.

Bruce Ian Meader, an associate professor of design at Rochester Institute of Technology, who is a Beatles enthusiast.

Rosemary Janofsky, a midwife and clinical assistant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who is also an innkeeper.

Omar Soufan ’17, a biomedical engineering student (top), and Ibrahim Mohammad ’17, a mechanical engineering student, who together have organized a rehabilitation center in Lebanon that tends to wounded refugees from the civil war in Syria.

Daniel Hargrove ’17, an international relations student, who has an interest in coral reefs.

Erik Rosenkranz ’18, a mechanical engineering major who crafts long-board skateboards.

Theresa Lou Bowick, a registered nurse who organized a grassroots neighborhood bicycling program.

Nannette Nocon, a financial advisor who is also a children’s book author.

Evan Dawson, the host of Connections, a daily talk show on WXXI public radio in Rochester, who also writes widely about wine.

Aprille Byam ’96, ’97S (MBA), a market researcher who is known as Storychick.

—Jennifer Roach