In this inspiring return episode, hosts Nick and Christine sit down with Rochester artist Amanda Chestnut to explore their powerful and deeply personal artistic journey. With over 30 years of experience in photography and a growing passion for ceramics, bookmaking, and fiber art, Amanda shares how they create meaningful work that challenges perceptions and honors Black identity.

The conversation explores the intersections of race, history, and community, highlighting Amanda’s advocacy for equity in the arts and their ongoing efforts to make Rochester’s cultural history more inclusive. She speaks candidly about the challenges artists face in the city, particularly the housing crisis and lack of representation, and their commitment to uplifting others through collaboration and opportunity sharing.

Don’t miss this thoughtful discussion on resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of art.

About Amanda Chestnut

Email: inthismoment585@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blk_amanda/

Amanda Chestnut is a multimedia artist, curator, educator, publisher, and local arts loud-mouth in Rochester, New York. They have made image-based art as a photographer for 30 years. Their artwork has been exhibited throughout New York State, including at the Center for Book arts in Manhattan. Chestnut holds an MFA in Visual Studies from Visual Studies Workshop through The College at Brockport, SUNY. During that time, they held graduate assistantships at Visual Studies Workshop and in the Criminal Justice Department, both at the College at Brockport. Recent lectures and radio appearances focused on community action, equity in user experiences in digital platforms, curatorial practices, arts funding, the English language, and the over-policing of Blackness in the United States.

More About That Sounds Terrific in the 585 – Hosts Nick Koziol & Christine Green

For more information on That Sounds Terrific in the 585, visit our website at That Sounds Terrific and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you or someone you know is doing something terrific in the 585 area and should be featured on our show, email us at thatsoundsterrific@gmail.com.

Special Thanks To Our Key Supporters

585 Magazine and their team for their support with the That Sounds Terrific in the 585 podcast. Be sure to become a subscriber of this terrific magazine - learn more at https://585mag.com

Thank you to Morgan Brown and Meadow Viscuso, our terrific intern duo from SUNY Fredonia for all their hard work and for lending their voices and music to the Intro and Outro of the That Sounds Terrific in the 585!