How Cocoa Rae makes her studio a safe space for Black, LGBTQ artists in Rochester
From the outside, the red brick building with blacked out windows and an aging directory sign looks spiritless.
But like many of its kind in Rochester, it has a rich history of community and creative cultivation.
Walking inside is like walking through a maze, looking for any indication that one is going to the right place. Wandering takes visitors past local businesses that call the building home.
At the maze's end are glass double doors. Beyond those doors is artist Cocoa Rae David's studio — fresh natural light, floor-to-ceiling windows, comfy couches, hand-painted murals, twinkling lights and a disco ball.
Born and raised in Rochester, Cocoa Rae has always been an active member of the local artistic community. After her studies in Charleston, South Carolina, David returned to Rochester to continue her career in photography, and often found herself craving more spaces that caters toward young, Black and LGBTQ artists.
"Growing up in Rochester, there's not a lot of opportunities and spaces for black and brown creative to have their own spaces unless they have a huge clientele, have a collective support network, or use their own homes as a creative hub. I remember my earliest childhood memories of getting my photos taken at a woman's house who used her big living room space as a studio to take portraits of people. That's when I realized you could cultivate space literally anywhere."
Cocoa Rae David, artist
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One of the spaces in particular, Studio 52, was previously owned by Adrian Elim. Elim, a Black queer artist and known cultivator in the community, used the space for creative expression for a few years and has since moved to Brooklyn to continue their work.
Since taking ownership of the studio near Phillis Wheatley Community Library, David has been the new owner of the space and continued to provide a home for young, Black, LGBTQ artists in Rochester.
"After meeting Adrian, I was fortunate enough to witness them create space within a space. It made me realize how much I desired to have my own space. I made it my mission to obtain a space not realizing that the space I was inspired by would become my own space."
Cocoa Rae David, artist
In order to sustain the space and any supplies needed for her personal projects, David manages a fundraiser and makes her prints available for purchase. She also offers the space to the community by allowing others to rent it out for different events like open mics, meditative sessions, and private gatherings.
Over the past two years, David has faced many challenges, but manages to overcome them, and sustain herself doing what she loves most.
"I was once told by someone that my space was like an oasis in the middle of hell."
Cocoa Rae David, artist
For all of David's work and to find contact information, check her website.
Genae Shields is a Revisiting the Rochester Narrative fellow and a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology's photojournalism program. Follow her on Instagram @genaebriphoto and on Twitter @genaebri. Her website is genaeshields.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester artist Cocoa Rae David hosts Black, LGBTQ artists
