Chris and Richard talk with BTG Alumni Gabriel opens up about his personal journey, including his decision to return to school to study graphic design while preparing for fatherhood.

Gabriel Flores @aetikes_productions

We are live with a.

Beyond the Cl.

Beyond the glass.

I'll say class.

It is also beyond the class.

I don't think any of us are.

Like, session, no doubt.

Professor Richard Cologne attending.

I mean, I was a former Ela teacher, so, yeah, we'll put that hat back on for today.

Mister Cologne, you're gonna learn about one of our former artists.

So there you go.

Yeah.

Mister colonization.

Yeah.

Welcome, guys, to another episode of beyond the Glass, where we just basically touch base with former artists that have been featured at the behind the glass gallery at Mercate hall on Main.

Every last Friday, six to eight is our reception, so please come down and support the featured artists.

Anytime the mercantile on Main is open, you're welcome to stop in and check out what we have featured on the walls.

But, yeah.

So today we have a former artist.

His name's Gabriel.

How you doing, Gabe?

All right, awesome.

Do you.

Do you remember when you're.

When you were part of the gallery?

It was last year, December, December.

Last year.

We ended off with a strong crew.

You were part of that crew, which was great.

So, yeah.

So what has been going on since you've been featured in the gallery?

I mean, we're almost hitting the year mark, so we're.

Right now we're in October.

So, I mean, it's almost been a year, but what's.

What's been going on since?

What do you got going on?

There's a few things, you know, I've been going back to support the other up and coming artists, kind of pushing some other photographers and artists, like.

Like, hey, put your stuff out there.

Just, you know.

Yeah, talk to Richard, talk to Kwaji.

You know, they.

They kind of, I guess, wasn't as confident.

Right.

With their work.

And then when I'm just talk, I see that work, I'm like, you're out of your mind.

Right.

You know, you have to put your stuff out there, and that's good because.

A lot of people need that extra, like, set, you know, viewpoint from somebody else outside of their own work to be like, hey, listen, this is something that maybe you can inspire other people by just showcasing and putting your stuff out there.

Right.

And I think it's the other thing, too.

Like, when you're able to say, hey, I did this.

I had this experience being out there and doing this, and, yeah, this.

This is one of the great intro ways of, you know, learning about yourself as an artist and as a.

As somebody who's contributing to the visual art scene in Rochester.

Right.

And, you know, they came out to support me anyway.

And.

Well, just the artists in general, and they.

I happen to meet them at, you know, behind the glass, and, um, you know, I'm like, if you're already in the scene, you might as well just, like, jump in there.

Like, I don't understand what you're waiting for.

Yeah, some of them, they say they don't have enough content or whatever, so I'm like, okay, come on, let's go.

Let's go and shoot.

Let's.

Let's go somewhere and shoot.

Right?

I love that attitude, too.

Like, hey, I.

You know, there's.

There's no better time than now to try something, right?

If you're trying, you're gonna find something out about yourself or about the work you enjoy doing.

Definitely.

And since then, you've actually, you know, built up a cohort of other.

Cohort.

Other photographers.

Right, right.

That you guys have been linking up and doing photo walks with and, you know, venturing out and, you know, exploring Rochester in different ways.

Tell us a little bit more about that.

Yeah, we have a little group chat on Instagram upstate.

Photographers, I think, is the group name.

Yep.

There's, like, 30 people in there, so sometimes pretty deep.

You can't.

You know, sometimes the chat just goes crazy, and, like, I can't deal with this right now.

Shout out to that chat.

Cause actually, my anxiety is super high, and that's why I left that chat.

A lot of great people in there, but, like, I'm really, like, anal when it comes to, like, my notifications.

They gotta be cleared out.

Yeah.

So, like, my instagram always had that little red dot, and I'm like, no, I can't.

Right, right.

And there's more than just photographers in there.

There's all graphic designers.

Yeah.

A lot of visual artists from there as well.

Fun.

Right.

And I think what's great is that the amount of people in that chat.

Right.

They all, like, telling stories.

Right?

Mm hmm.

And I think it's important to, you know, be able to give people that vantage, that viewpoint, that.

That different side of maybe rochester that people have not seen.

And that's kind of, like, why I like sharing my stuff.

Right, right.

So it's great that we have a mixture of different people actually getting together, you know, helping each other, you know, supporting each other just as you are, and, you know, making sure that they have that confidence to, you know, continue to keep sharing and to continue to keep shooting.

Right, right.

And sometimes, you know, I'll use a different technique, and then they were like, oh, I'll try that, you know, and then sometimes their photos are better than what I pulled off.

So I'm like, you know.

Right.

We just helping each other out.

Awesome.

So besides that, what else you got going on?

You got anything going on in terms of your business side or in terms of what you're doing on your daily life or.

Yeah, as far as the business side, I've been doing a lot of just, like, photos and videos.

I did a wedding.

I don't like doing weddings, but it was like my brother in law's wedding.

So I was gonna say, I bet you was, for a family member.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Me and Q always talk about all the time.

We're like, yo, one and done.

That's it.

We do one for a family.

No more.

Because everybody starts looking at you like, oh, the camera guy.

Let's get him.

I even shot a wedding once.

Like, I had a camera, and they're like, we need somebody who has a camera to go and try.

Right.

I'm like, I can try.

I make no guarantees.

Right, right.

And sometimes, you know, like, with my setup, it intimidates people because I have, like, a black magic cinema camera.

Yeah.

And I have it on gimbal and all this stuff.

They're like, I don't even want to ask your price.

Cause it looks expensive.

Right.

I mean, you gotta put in that work, and, you know, you're professional, so.

Right, right.

Okay.

So besides a wedding, like, you also are in school currently, right?

Yeah, yeah.

I went back to school, to Brockport University right now studying graphic design.

Nice.

Nice.

That seems to be, like, my goal, anyway, to get more into graphic design.

Nice.

Okay.

Now, you also have something going on in your personal life.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Gonna be a father.

Congrats.

Congrats.

Yeah.

So how does it feel?

I mean, it's.

I'm at the age where people have just been waiting.

Then they felt like, I'm never gonna have kids.

Yeah.

The demand is high.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, I sweet the way I look.

I look young, but I'm gonna be 41.

So, like, people are, like, respect on.

The 40 game right here.

41.

I'll be 40 this year.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay.

I think.

I think it's also, like, the.

The interesting thing about it is, you know, when you get to b 40, you have to really take a stop and think about, hey, what.

What is it I want to be doing with the next things?

It's not about the crisis.

Right.

It's not.

It's not a crisis.

This is the.

It's kind of the opportunity to take a step back and look at all the people that helped you get where you are.

Exactly.

And really think about, like, hey, if I'm going to be doing a thing, yeah, I got to make moves that are going to make a difference that I feel good about.

Yeah.

Whatever way in life you're going, it's that opportunity to really think about that and then take action.

Right, right.

You know, my oldest niece is 23, about to be 24.

So I have experience with kids.

It just.

They weren't my own, you know, my nephew, 21, graduated from college, and I'm like, you know, I've been helping him out with some of his stuff.

You know, he just got his license and just bought a car.

Doing well for himself so far.

So.

So how do you feel about it?

How do you feel about it now as somebody who has, you know, people have kids, young people have kids older, how do you feel about it as somebody who's working to improve themselves, going to school, doing all that stuff?

How does that all grab you now at where you are today?

I mean, I think it helps.

Like, me, I'm showing, you know, my child, hey, like, it's never too late to go back to school.

And, like, you know, people have different timings in life.

You know, like, even at the age where we're having a kid is.

Some people have it at 16, some people have their.

Their kid at.

I mean, look at Al Pacino while he was, like 80, 81 or something like that.

I mean, he's got.

He's got old, rich white guy.

Oh, for sure.

Yeah.

But I'm just.

I'm just going on.

I'm just going on the spectrum of how late in life you can have.

Oh, yeah, for sure.

Yeah.

I just find it.

I find it very interesting because it is such a.

It's a different thing, and you're a different person than you were at 20.

Oh, yeah.

I don't think I would be able to, you know, handle much of a child at a young age.

I was too much, like, traveling and wanting to do my own thing, a little more selfish, but now I'm at a point where I can do a lot.

Well, it seems like you're also trying to.

Trying to grab onto community through this whole gamut of creative and visual, you know, visual arts and the creative community of Rochester.

I think that's the other thing, is how much more I care about community now and doing something that's gonna help others.

But I think that's also perspective when you lived.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You definitely, you know, since I moved to Rochester.

Like, I met a good amount of people, but trying to build a community, you know, or friendship is pretty difficult, for sure.

You know, even, like, with the age gap and everything like that.

Some people like you.

You're the old guy, but you've been.

You've been through the.

The gauntlet, so to speak, especially here in Rochester, because there's so many things going on and.

Yeah, I mean, you got a lot of stories and a testimony to tell.

Yeah.

Which is great now, in terms of first Friday and it's network, because since you've been in the gallery, it's.

It's blown up.

Yeah, a lot.

There's a lot of first Friday events to the point where Kawaji and I were like, you know what?

We gotta move to last Friday.

Give everybody else some space.

Yeah.

And I think that was.

Yeah.

Nice.

I mean, we may move back.

I'm not sure I miss it, but it's been given myself the opportunity in Quaja to be able to hop around and see other artists as well.

But.

So what are you been noticing?

Is there any venue that's not behind the glass that you've actually been attuned to, that you've been accustomed to frequently, that you feel like they're really doing, you know, great things currently?

Yeah.

I think I was part of Roko for peace and love with Austin.

Yep.

Shout out to Austin.

Yeah.

I had some stuff there with also Nick Rock street photos.

Dakota was there, too.

Dakota, yeah.

Yeah.

Former artist from this year.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I love that, you know, you got the, you know, got those spaces kind of back to back, checking out all the different.

Different vibes between the two.

And, you know, I think we're all big supporters of what blue's doing over at.

Over at Roko and trying to make that a very visible.

But, Gary, that actually is right.

You know, handling a lot of different aspects of the community.

Right.

For sure.

Yeah.

And that's also, um, some other artists, whenever they have it, like, an event going on, if I can make it, try to make it also with their zines, you know, some of them, I got a.

I got to step up and grab some of these launches.

I think last.

The last zine launch I saw you was the light lock collective over at Akimbo.

Yeah.

Some nice shots, which is pretty cool.

But.

Yeah, man, I think it's great because you got you, you know, now you have multiple venues to now bring this baby to.

Oh, yeah.

Because Kawaji brings the twins sometimes to behind the glass and, you know, brings them around to, you know, start them early, of course, get that.

Get those.

Our jeans up and, you know, up and flowing.

You know, give them the little toy cameras and, you know, or, you know, show them a little bit about what you're doing.

And I think it'd be pretty great.

Yeah, yeah, definitely gotta put the camera in.

You know, that's probably, like, one of the first things I'm gonna get is, like, maybe like, a bib with a camera or something besides the Wu Tang one.

Oh, yeah.

Wu Tang.

I was gonna say baby's first body cam.

Yeah, exactly.

Right here you see everything, right, from their perspective.

Yeah.

I might get an Insta 360.

I like it.

Those are actually really nice little small ones.

Yeah, I have one, but I want those really small one.

You know, I've seen the.

I've seen some YouTube videos where people, like, put them on their, like, cats and dogs and stuff and put them on, like, the collar and have them run around.

I'm like, yep.

First person, baby perspective.

Now, wait, actually, I just thought of something.

Now, you.

Your photography is predominantly infrared, right?

Right.

So have you ever thought of down the line, like, when the baby comes, to actually look into doing portraits of the baby, but in infrared?

Cause that's actually different.

I never seen that.

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna.

Because you're obviously gonna be taking portraits of the baby, you know, you're not gonna pay somebody else.

I don't know.

I would assume, but I think an infrared photo shoot would be actually pretty, you know, pretty legit.

I wouldn't.

That would be dope.

I've never seen that.

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna try that.

I mean, you have a test subject now to try out different things now, like your own personal one.

Yeah.

Used your wife already.

I've tried, but she's just.

She's super picky.

She was like, oh, this one's okay.

I'm like, this one?

Just the one.

Oh, yeah.

That's how it is, man.

That's how it is.

I see you from all the angles.

I like all the angles.

Yeah, he's right now.

No, it's one.

She's like, why is so zoomed in my face?

I'm like, got all my imperfections.

I hear you, man.

The baby won't, you know, just legit.

And just, you know, baby for now would just be sleeping and, you know.

But I think it might be cool because I know where infrared, you get to see some of the veins, like, close to the surface.

Oh, yeah.

Especially then.

Yeah, you get a lot of different things you will never have again.

Right.

It would.

That's pretty cool.

Definitely be a former art that'll be unique for sure.

Yeah, I think that'd be pretty cool to do.

Yeah.

And I also want to try to shoot, whereas a uv.

Yeah, that requires a lot of light.

I was gonna say.

And a lot of, like, specialty, like.

Right, yeah.

So what are the.

Real quick, what are the actual, like, requirements for that?

Like, what equipment do you need for that?

For uv?

Yeah, you just need, you know, just a light source that emits uv, but.

With the camera, you would still.

I just need a different filter.

Right.

Just a filter.

Okay, got you.

So just a uv light and a filter.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Cause I like here in the house, like, we've got a decent amount of those lights because Carrie, my wife, ends up using a lot of them for her display at conventions.

Yeah.

Because she has uv reactive shirts with different inks on them.

So she actually makes a little uv box with these big, you know, lights that are, you know, like, this big.

Just big panel of uv.

Yeah.

So you can real.

They're pretty punchy.

Yeah, they're.

They're super bright.

You know, you have to be careful with those, too.

But I shot a couple of my friends, like, portraits or just like, I guess when they in the studio, music studio, and they have tattoos and the tattoos don't show up.

So I'm trying to figure out, like, if I should do portraits with people with face tattoos, see how it comes out.

Ah, that's interesting.

Oh, yeah, that would be a fun little project.

Yeah.

So once I process and do everything I need to scope out for this project, I might turn that into a zine.

Okay.

You know, if it goes well.

Okay.

Very cool, man.

Well, listen, gabe, this was great, like, catching up, even though it was for a little bit.

But I appreciate you.

Good luck with the baby.

No doubt.

Definitely.

We'll see you at, you know, future behind the glass events.

Because you've been always been a great supporter for, you know, the current up and coming artists every month.

So I appreciate it.

Again, please come out to the mercantile.

Amen.

Last Friday, six to eight, to check out our current artists for that reception for that month.

Yeah.

Where can people.

Where can people find you online if they want to follow all of your work and see what's coming up?

Just on Instagram.

I'm on Instagram right now just trying to figure out if I should just go back to getting a website or not.

Yeah.

But my handle is atticus production.

A e t I k e s productions awesome.

I appreciate you coming over.

And for everybody, thank you for listening to a show on the Lunchadore podcast network.

If you want to learn more about all the other amazing shows on the network, go to lunchadore.org dot.

By the end of the year, we're going to have over 13 shows representing Rochester from all different aspects.

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We'll be back next time with more beyond the Glass.

This has been a presentation of the.

Lunchadore podcast network.

Cologne on his original Rochester tour cohort.

Respect.