Fifth Annual “Alternate Paths” returns to Flower City Arts Center

Exhibition, demos and talks celebrate the expansive history of photographic processes and dozens of area artists in the modern practice.

(Rochester, NY)- Flower City Arts Center is proud to once more present the 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, Sept. 5, 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.

The “Alternate Paths 2025” artist roster includes: Jen Perena (anthotypes and chlorophyll prints), Patricia Bacon (photogravures), Bill Bates (lith prints, mordancage and polymergravure), Jenn Libby (wet-plate collodion), Nancy Anne Holowka (cyanotypes and kallitypes), Romy Hosford (cyanotypes), Daniel Rothenberg (kallitypes, salt prints, chemigrams and lumen prints), Theresa Swidorski (lith prints from paper negatives), Stephanie Crawford (cyanotypes), Nicole Rowley (cyanotypes), Kathleen Friedrich (cyanotypes), Kevin McGowan (liquid light), Liz Webster (pinhole), Joe Ziolkowski (cyanotypes), Paola Macas Betchart (kallitype), Elaine Beyer (kallitype), Jackie Johnson (cyanotype), Donald Hyatt (cyanotype), Katie Rizzone (kallitype), Nick Brandreth (dry plate salt print), Nick Kundrat (tintype), Clay Patrick McBride (tintype), Eric Kunsman (platinotype), Viviana Kunsman (cyanotype), Jaimee Lindvay (cyanotype and anthotype), Ferris Ramirez (autothermohydrograms), Hernease Davis (cyanotype), Reggie Greene (image transfers), Devin Gray Hull (cyanotype), Kylie Newcomer (cyanotype), Sydney Maas (cyanotype), Patti Russotti (image transfers), Barbara Savedoff (photogravure), Michele Vair (photogravure, kallitype), Kelly Watson (VanDyke Brown), Linda VanArtsdalen (cyanotypes), France Scully Osterman (salt prints) and Mark Osterman (ambrotypes).

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.

To celebrate the milestone fifth exhibition, 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, Sept. 6, noon to 5 pm. 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 runs from noon to 5 pm, includes light refreshments, and raffles from alternativephotography.com, CEPA Gallery, Flower City Arts Center, Booksmart Studio and others.

“Alchemy & Light” is sponsored by Booksmart Studio, Lumiere Photo, Image City Gallery, CEPA Gallery, Praus Productions and Archival Methods.

QUICK DETAILS:

EXHIBITION: "Alternate Paths 2025" opens Friday, Sept. 5 and continues through Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 at Flower City Arts Center, 713 Monroe Avenue. Featuring alternative and historic photo process work by 38 Rochester-based artists.

RECEPTION: First Friday, Sept. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENT: “Alchemy & Light: A Celebration of Alternate Paths in Photography” takes place on Saturday, Sept. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. and features artist talks and demos by six local artists.

The exhibition, reception, and event are free and open to the public.