The annual “Saints Preserve Us!” art show returns to the Yards this month for its fourth year. The show of contemporary ex-votos, altars, and shrines features installations, collages, photography, assemblage, and ceramics by 23 artists.
“Saints Preserve Us!” began in 2021, organized and curated by Laurie MacFarlane, Cielo Ornelas MacFarlane, and Martha Schermerhorn. The three creatives independently created retablos, devotional pieces of art, and after identifying their shared interests, decided to put together an art show, with Cielo Ornelas MacFarlane coining the name.
The Yards Collective supports the show, which takes place in its gallery space in the Rochester Public Market. With the promotion by The Yards Collective, one-third of the submissions the “Saints Preserve Us!” team received this year came from new artists.
“The quality and quantity of submissions we received was so exciting because it showed that we were reaching people outside of our circles,” says Schermerhorn.
When curating the show, the team carefully considers the space. The mediums featured each year vary, but this year’s exhibit includes more paintings than the show has ever displayed. For the curators, three pieces by Paul Porell, assistant professor in art at Nazareth University, stand out.
About a decade ago, Ornelas MacFarlane’s mother, Laurie MacFarlane, purchased a photograph by Porell at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s 6×6 exhibition. After two years of organizing the show, Laurie MacFarlane decided to contact Porell, and now this is the second year his artwork will be exhibited.
Other notable works on display include a self-portrait titled “Entering My Jesus Year (33 today)” by Bridget Carey, an artist who uses painting, sculpture, and performance to explore themes of ritual, belief, and mortality. Hanah L. Bell uses iconography in “Matron Saints,” incorporating designs from traditional African beadwork into portraits highlighting the accomplishments of African-American women.
Other artists include Ludmila Begley, Emily Collins, Francesca Falli, Ron Ferrara, Keavy Handley-Byrne, Kristina Kaiser, Susan Kelley, Laurie MacFarlane, Paola Macas Betchart, Dina Noto, Jina Park, Alyssa Reagan, Rivkah Simcha, and Char Smith. Schermerhorn and Ornelas MacFarlane also have work on display.
“This year I get to show a piece I’ve been working on for a while called ‘Nirvana In A Box.’ The feeling of this piece for me is that when we’re looking for peace or nirvana, we are looking for instant gratification. This is a humorous view of that concept,” says Schermerhorn.
“One of the pieces I made is a collage called ‘Bless Our Home.’ It’s inspired by the concept of the kitchen witch, or having those types of good luck charms within the home that protect our space,” adds Ornelas MacFarlane.
The “Saints Preserve Us!” curators hope that visitors will continue to explore how the featured art expresses an emotional connection to spirituality and make attending the exhibit a yearly tradition.
“Last year, one of my favorite tapestry artists came up to me and said, ‘I see this show every year and I love it.’ That meant a lot to me, because someone that I admire so much, and people of that quality, are coming to see the show and finding something there,” says Schermerhorn.
Visitors also have a chance to further engage with the art show this year thanks to a collaboration between Rochester Art Collectors, The Yards Collective, and the curators of “Saints Preserve Us!.” Rome Celli from Rochester Art Collectors will facilitate a panel discussion with Ornelas MacFarlane, Julie Chen, and Rivkah Simcha on Friday, Oct. 18. The panelists will discuss their work on display, and attendees are encouraged to voice their comments and observations.
“Saints Preserve Us!” is currently on exhibit at The Yards through Saturday, Oct. 26. Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment.
Evan Coleman is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].