Behind the Glass July 2026: Julie Chen and Alyssa Marzolf DeWitt

BtG presents two featured photographers, Jamal "Cheeba" David (@cheebaarchive) and DJ Carr (@djcarrr), whose work will be on display at Farmhouse Table Midtown (@farmhousetablemidtown) in downtown Rochester through the end of October.We talk to Cheeba about his film practice, his travel work across Europe, and the photo book he brings to share. DJ shares about his documentary portraits, his Buffalo community projects, and his experiments with print transfer and screen printing. We discuss the craft of shooting film, the care and intent it requires, and how physical prints and books change how people see images.The opening is October 2 from 6pm - 8pm at Farmhouse Table Midtown, and defintiely check out Cheeba and DJ online!Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own BusinessCheck out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/ It’s A LotCheck out It’s A Lot on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/itsalot/

On this episode of Beyond the Glass, where we connect with BTG alum, we catch up with Robert Forrest about his work since being featured, how community has shaped his outlook and his One Day in Rochester project.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

We’re putting the spotlight on Lake Ontario: a body in light — Alyssa Marzoff DeWitt’s big photo-and-performance project about Lake Ontario and how climate change is quietly (and not-so-quietly) remaking it, so if you care about water, weather, or just dramatic sunsets, this is the one to see.Check out the episode on Just Can't Not wherever you get your podcasts or on Lunchador.org!https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e41d4c49-7b18-47bf-a797-93195cdf9a85/The installation of large-scale photos is up for the whole Fringe run and the live performances happen at the Central Library Rundell Arts Room on September 17 at 5:30pm and September 19 at 2:30pm — both shows are free, and you should definitely snag tickets at rochesterfringe.com or just rock up if you’re feeling spontaneous. Expect four very different acts — poems from Meredith Bready, a wind-and-wave-inspired modular synth piece from Precious Kindred, a quad-speaker ambient set by Sam Hirsh, and a noisier turn by Signal Chain Romance — mixed with Alyssa’s immersive, space-based photos that riff on scale, scope, and the sublime nature of the lake. We talk plainly about why this matters: warming water from industry and data centers, ballast-water invasions (hello zebra mussels and surprise algae blooms), and the tangible sadness and wonder that comes when a landscape you love starts to change — Alyssa’s approach is to invite people in rather than scare them off. The episode also digs into the weird political noise (yes, that baffling renaming stunt) that’s now threaded into how people will read the work, so the show becomes both an aesthetic experience and a small historical timestamp. Looking ahead, Alyssa’s got a yearlong residency lined up to expand the project into portraits, experimental water-based prints, collaborations with RIT scientists, and eventually a book — so come see it, sit with it, and follow the journey at alyssamdewitt.com or @alyssamdewittphoto on Instagram; we’ll be there making waves and maybe even a few puns about being shore-ish.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

On this episode hosted by co-curators Quajay Donnell and Rob Bell, September featured artist Mina Kessler discusses her exhibition centered on memory, identity, and community through intimate photography and visual projection. We also highlight the work of Tali Conic, who as an Afro-Latina and queer person, created images that celebrate joy, culture, fashion, beauty and self-expression of community.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

On this episode hosted by co-curators Quajay Donnell and Rob Bell, August featured artists Vic Vazquez and Brittany Williams share insights into their creative journeys, highlighting how their individual backgrounds, life experiences, and community shape their art.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!It’s A LotCheck out It’s A Lot on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/itsalot/

On this episode hosted by co-curator Rob Bell, July featured artists Julie Chen and Alyssa Marzolf DeWitt share insights into their creative journeys, highlighting how their individual backgrounds and life experiences shape their art. Alyssa's series addresses contemporary issues such as climate change through innovative photography, while Julie reflects on cultural observations stemming from her familial connections. The episode encapsulates the interplay between personal narratives and artistic expression, illustrating how art serves as both a vehicle for communication and a means for processing complex emotions.Links:alyssamdewitt.comlinktr.ee/artist.juliecheninstagram.com/behindglassrocbehindglassroc.substack.com

Host Quajay Donnell and producer Chris Lindstrom explore the "little things" with June's featured photographers, Noah and Liam, who reflect on their artistic processes and the influences that shape their unique perspectives.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!It’s A LotCheck out It’s A Lot on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/itsalot/

Host and co-curators Quajay Donnell and Rob Bell talk with April 2026 featured artist Brian Tucker and Tytiana Jordan about their journey, their work, and the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities.Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean RoastersVisit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!Dialed In: A Coffee Podcastet Dialed In to the world of coffee with Aaron and Wade! Tastings, coffee news and opinion and more! https://dialedincoffee.captivate.fm

Our first episode of the 2026 season with March featured artists Erika Matías-De Jesús (she/they) and Olivia Robinson (he/she/they) hosted by co-curators Quajay Donnell and Robert Bell. Olivia Robinson is a Rochester based documentarian who has a passion for being behind the camera and capturing life in its rawest form. She is dedicated to creating a space for cultural preservation and storytelling from her point of view.IG: theorarchivetheorarchive.portfoliobox.netErika Matías-De Jesús aka edj is a Dominican born, NY raised multi-faceted lesbian artist currently focused on film photography. Their work is a boisterous ‘thank you’ to the immigrants and queers before her, in this moment and of the future. IG: earth2edjstungunedj.comMentioned in this episode:It’s A LotCheck out It’s A Lot on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/itsalot/Joe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone.Use promo code Lunchador for 15% off your order! https://shop.joebeanroasters.com

Small announcement on some Big Plan for @behindglassroc in 2026Thank you to our curation team @quajay @byrobbellAnd a big thank you to all of you that have supported our mission of Community Over Competition 💪See you in 2026 and please check out our GoFundMe on our Behind the Glass Instagram page ! @richardbcolon Mentioned in this episode:Joe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone.Use promo code Lunchador for 15% off your order! https://shop.joebeanroasters.comMind of MagnusCheck out Mind of Magnus at magnusapollo.com, and leave him factoids at 585-310-2473! https://mind-of-magnus.captivate.fm