Flower City Arts Center will once again present its annual photo processes exhibition, “Alternate Paths,” as well as the new “Alchemy & Light” day of demos and talks from artists in the field.
Founded in 2020 by Jen Perena, the show brings together artists who work in alternative and historic photographic processes. It highlights some of the exciting ways artists are practicing analog photography today, how the marriage between the way the images are captured (digitally, using only the sun, with film, etc.), and how the many ‘paths’ one can take to print the images can yield unique works of art.
This year’s exhibition, opening on Friday, September 5, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., features 38 artists—more than double the participants from 2024—and spotlights not only a wide variety of processes, it also represents all levels of expertise, from creations by students new to these methods, to work made by seasoned professionals, university professors and renowned artists.
France Scully Osterman and Mark Osterman, who are experts in the historic-photo process field and formerly of the Eastman Museum, will be this year’s featured artists.
“Alternate Paths 2025” continues through September 27, 2025.
A day-long event of free artist talks and demos, called “Alchemy & Light: A Celebration of Alternate Paths in Photography” will be presented on Saturday, September 6, from noon to 5 p.m. France Scully Osterman and Mark Osterman will be the keynote speakers, kicking off the event with talks on salt printing and ambrotypes. They will be followed by shorter talks and demos by Patricia Bacon (speaking/demonstrating photogravure), Linda VanArtsdalen (speaking about cyanotypes), Nancy Anne Holowka (speaking/demonstrating kallitypes) and Jen Perena (speaking about anthotypes).
The event includes light refreshments, and raffles from alternativephotography.com, CEPA Gallery, Flower City Arts Center, Booksmart Studio and others.
The exhibition, reception, and event are all free and open to the public. Flower City Arts Center is located at 713 Monroe Avenue, Rochester. For information, visit flowercityarts.org.
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