Culture & Society

Perched above the Public Market is an art studio dedicated to inspiring the youngest among us. Whether it's a Saturday morning market day or one of their weekday classes, Small Fry Art Studio is teeming with joy as kids as young as eighteen months paint and draw and explore their creativity. 

As we know with art, there's generally a deeper meaning behind a painting, drawing or sculpture. Recently, Rochester artist Laural Hartmann invited WXXI's Need to Know into her studio to learn more about the significance of her work. 

The Rochester Museum & Science Center is home to numerous fascinating exhibits. One of them, a diorama of Rochester in 1838, was in desperate need of repair. Luckily, the talented staff at the museum have tirelessly restored this historic gem.

The past two years have been a whirlwind for local artist, Brittany Williams. From Wall\Therapy in 2015 to showing work in Berlin to her first solo show, she's worked to find her voice and perfect her style. She's also committed herself to changing the narrative when it comes to the public perception of women of color. We recently sat down with her at the Brainery, take a look. Aired 7/21/17

Artwork is something most of us would want to preserve. Well, as a lesson in impermanence, sand mandalas are created to be destroyed. Let's visit with local sand mandala artist, Katie Jo, to learn more. Aired 2/10/17

From ancient Egypt to modern times, the skill and art of woodworking continues to hold a place in society. And as WXXI's Need to Know recently learned, if anything it's a craft with benefits that might far outweigh what you might expect. At least that's the case for one local woodworking program which has been teaching teens not only how to build furniture, but also character, personal value, and respect. Take a look. Aired 3/24/17.

Local filmmaker, Adrian Esposito, may be young, but he has already made many films, often about social issues. Having Aspergers himself has made him passionate about telling stories about people with disabilities. His most recent film focuses on the portrayal of people with disabilities in Hollywood films. Take a look. 

Rochester Rehab's program, Ventures PROS, works with people who are living with and often battling mental illness. It identifies an individual's goal - such as joining the workforce or going to back to school - and then works to make that goal a reality. We visited Ventures PROS to learn how art plays a role in their program. Aired 1/27/17. 

Some of the most vulnerable and neglected people in our region, have found an ally and a friend in Rochester photographer Arleen Thaler. Armed with her favorite camera, which she requested from her husband rather than a wedding ring, she documents the lives of those often overlooked and misunderstood. As we’ll learn in this story from WXXI’s Need to Know, this labor of love project isn’t about the photographer, but about getting a community to confront injustices in plain sight. Aired 1/13/17

Art teacher, Todd Stahl, believes in the power of art. Every day he works to further art and art education in the Webster School District. By treating his students as equals he empowers them to believe in their art and to have high expectations. Let's take a look into his classroom to see how. Aired 1/6/17