On Friday, November 3rd, social practice artist, Martin Krafft, will be maintaining a day-long vigil for Rochester victims of gun violence. At RoCo 12pm - 6pm, the artist will be tracing photos of gun violence victims submitted from the Rochester community and invites visitors to join him in the gallery to share in the act of tracing as a collective, creative form of remembrance. At 6pm, there will be a communal gathering, in coordination with Rise Up Rochester, to reflect and share on the impact of gun violence in the Rochester community.

The artists invite you to share beforehand the names of Rochester victims of gun violence by email at director@martinkrafft.com. At the event, participants will read the names, then share their memories and reflections as they are so led. By bringing the Rochester community together to mourn, the project intends to make space for collective, creative healing.

As an ongoing component of the public art installation project, "Who Will Be Next?" the artists also invite you to share a photo of a loved one lost to gun violence along with a letter to that person by email at director@martinkrafft.com. Visitors to the gallery exhibition will be invited to read your letters and trace the faces of those who have been lost as a way of creating greater empathy towards that unfillable void.

About the Artist

Martin Krafft is a social practice artist and filmmaker based in Schwenksville, PA. His work considers how the act of mourning can be a generative, cathartic one, allowing us to build connection drawing from our ability to care. He recently participated in a residency at the Visual Studies Workshop, focusing on his first feature-length documentary, and has previously been a resident at the Flower City Arts Center. martinkrafftphotography

Elena Makansi is an artist and writer based in Tucson, Arizona. Her mixed-media work explores grief and intimacy, especially as it relates to our relationship and attitudes toward nature, death, and fear in a world where violence is a daily news spectacle. Understanding that we are more connected and yet lonelier than ever, Makansi is interested in creating rituals of grieving that help us process this overwhelming loss—of those we love as well as those we never knew. forager.art

Public Art at RoCo

RoCo’s public art program enlivens the East Avenue neighborhood with temporary, site-specific public sculptures and special projects. Support provided by The New York State Council on the Arts, Farash Foundation, Mary S. Mulligan Charitable Trust, The County of Monroe, The Gouvernet Arts Fund, and Members of RoCo! Presented next to RoCo in the Cooney Family Gardens in partnership with Christ Church.