Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester (must see)

The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) in Rochester is a cornerstone of the city’s cultural landscape and a key institution within the University of Rochester. Founded in 1913, the museum was established as a tribute by Emily Sibley Watson to her late son, James George Averell, and occupies the southern portion of the University’s former Prince Street campus. It serves as a civic art museum and a regional hub for artistic engagement, known especially for events like the biennial Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition and the popular Clothesline Festival.

From the outset, MAG was deeply rooted in community support and vision. University President Rush Rhees, seeking to expand the campus, collaborated with local art advocates such as the Rochester Art Club. The inaugural exhibition in 1913, curated by George L. Herdle, featured contemporary American works and laid the foundation for the museum’s permanent collection-many of the early acquisitions were donations prompted by exhibitions. Herdle’s ambitious schedule of rotating shows, including early breakthroughs like the introduction of Kodachrome in 1914 and a bold George Bellows solo show in 1919, helped establish MAG as a serious venue for fine art. After he died in 1922, his daughters Gertrude and Isabel Herdle led the gallery for decades, further professionalizing its curation and expanding its influence.

Today, the Memorial Art Gallery remains a dynamic part of Rochester’s art scene. While it operates as a department of the University of Rochester, it maintains an independent board and is supported through a combination of university backing, membership, and public funding. Its legacy is one of vision, local involvement, and a continuing dedication to presenting and preserving the visual arts.