ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a world full of endless art forms, artists have seen a limited amount of accommodating and accessible art spaces. The grand opening of one Rochester art studio is providing a space for people of any background and ability to feel welcome and learn more about the arts.


What You Need To Know

  • Rochester Accessible Adventures is partnering with New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation for the Accessibility Education Program — which is expanding the inclusion of people with disabilities across New York state's On the Canals programs. One of its Inclusion Partners with this program is Stony Point Art Studio

  • The interior of this new studio has been intentionally designed for inclusion of people with disabilities in all art programming. Owner Jeannine Pelusio plans towards a fully inclusive creative arts programming along the Erie Canalway

  • Stony Point Art Studio will offer a variety of classes that accommodate various learning styles and abilities, reinforcing the belief that creativity knows no limits

“I remember drawing and painting being a part of my kind of everyday existence,” Stony Point Art Studio owner and art teacher Jeannine Pelusio said.

Art can be powerful. But having an art studio can be life changing.

“When I create a class that's weekly, even a workshop that's only two hours, three hours long, there is a community that gets formed within that time frame,” Pelusio said.

There's an endless amount of art mediums.

“Watercolor, paint, acrylic, whatever it is, these are studio art classes,” Pelusio said. “I'm not gearing it towards one medium.”

Pelusio had found a very limited number of studios to support artists of all abilities. 

“My daughter is special needs and so that experience as a mom and trying to find programming for her that was inclusive was always challenging,” Pelusio said. “I see how that affects her socially and emotionally.”

Accommodating artists with an accessible art space, Pelusio’s Stony Point Art Studio celebrates its new location in Fairport. 

“I can run a class for people of all abilities,” Pelusio said. “And if there are accommodations that need to be had, we can develop a program around that, that will allow for everybody to be in the same space and be able to create art together.”

Partnering with the New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation's On the Canals Accessibility Education Program, Pelusio’s work ensures more equitable access and endless opportunities.

“This space especially allows for visibility,” Pelusio said. “There are clear walkways and ramps leading right up to the door. It has a 60-inch radius for wheelchair access. And the workshop itself is accessible because of what we're doing, which is an intuitive painting workshop, which is something that is easy for anybody who's either already delving into the arts or someone who's never picked up a paintbrush.”

They are opportunities Pelusio says were once never even an option.

“Guests come to me and they say, 'You know, I loved art,'” Pelusio said. “‘When I was in my twenties, I took a class, whatever it might have been that they did, but they had a negative experience. Then they're looking to explore new opportunities and then they come to me and I can give them that space to do so.”

And as her business grows, Pelusio hopes so does her artist's experiences.

“The art making itself is a beautiful thing and I enjoy the process, but really it is about the people,” Pelusio said.

This new location at 114 North Main St. in Fairport will serve as a vibrant hub for artistic expression, offering a variety of classes tailored for children, adults and homeschoolers. In addition, it is a gallery space for local artists to showcase their work, providing a platform to share their talents with the community. The gallery will host regular local artist exhibits, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant arts scene of the surrounding areas.

For general inquiries, class information or artists interested in displaying their work can visit here.