The Grease Paint Alley Clowns have been in operation since 1979, working out of Rochester, New York. Working with 20 to 25 members at a time, the greasepaint alley clowns in total volunteer at least 240 hours per year, to causes such as visitation at local schools, after-school educational programs, all the way to street performances. They currently hold classes in Circus Arts such as juggling and balloon animal making, as well as applying clown makeup, livening the Rochester Community by serving several demographics in the Rochester area. I took studio portraits of 6 members of the group including Donna Gutowski, a current leader of the GPAC who has been a longtime visiting clown, helping to cheer up children suffering from higher-stage cancers in the Golisano Children's Hospital since she entered the group in 2007. Working with her and other members, I created a portrait series of each member of the group, characterizing their clown identities, and their individual motivations for joining the group, comprised mostly of elderly women. This is part of an ongoing project detailing the work of the Grease Paint Alley Clowns in Rochester, New York.

Patricia Wittman Brown has been volunteering with the Grease Paint Alley Clowns, under the name Mommo, for around six years. She describes herself as a classic clown, and enjoys volunteering more than public appearances, and performances.
Rona Sweet Stein has been performing as Farmer Jane since the early 2000s. Many of the performers with the Grease Paint Alley Clowns take on alternative personalities, that match characters they’ve seen in their lives.
Jean Feinstein has been clowning as Puddlz since 2005.
Gina Ruffino has been performing as Mamafino, for as long as her daughter, Bethany. Her name comes from the way Bethany used to call her mama fino as a baby. Having gotten into clowning at the same time, she says that it has brought together members
Bethany Ruffino has been performing as Ruffles for less than a decade, and is the daughter of Bethany Ruffino, a fellow clown. Now in her 20s, she has been performing since 2015, and has joined to support her mother, who is also a clown, as she comes
Donna Gutowski, performing as both Dr. Penny Cillin and Spring-A-Doodle has been performing with the Grease Paint Alley Clowns since a year after her husband’s death in 2007. The Grease Paint Alley Clowns have been in operation since 1979, working wi
Elise Brown has been clowning since the early 2000s when her brother introduced her as a clown to his entertainment company in Rochester. She is from the Genesee Jefferson area, and performs as Bangles, with large hoop earrings and bracelets. She pe
Jean Federico at 75 years old has been volunteering and Performing as granny Jean with the Grease Paint Alley Clowns, for 20 years. She has been performing since a longtime clown and a close friend introduced her to the group. five years ago, she ha