This summer I had the opportunity to assist Andrew Hayes at Penland School of Craft for his metal fabrication class called "Truth in Fabrication." 2 weeks of working in a beautiful shop with some absolutely brilliant people. While there I started a series of sensory objects which hold herbs, more to come!

For the past 9+ years I have spent building and growing Birds Eye View Circus - 20+ classes a week, and anywhere from 8-15 instructors at a time all paid in the top 95% of wages in our industry.

Together we have learned a myriad of circus skills, put on at least 2 dozen student shows, full theater productions, and performed all over the Toledo community with the occasional trip to Milwaukee, Delaware, West Virginia, Detroit etc.

For some time, my life has been moving in another direction. My partner and I want to be closer to our families and Toledo no longer fits into this plan.

I am beyond thrilled to announce that instructors Chloe, Renee, Morgan, and Matt have collectively purchased Bird's Eye View Circus! Given their individual skill sets I could not be more sure of a bright future for BEVC.

Being a creative business owner has been such a huge part of my life and I’m excited to see what comes next. In the meantime Ill be slowing down and reveling in having less on my plate, for however long that lasts.

MUCH LOVE to all the self employed hustlers, studio owners and people supporting small businesses and creative endeavors- we couldn’t do it without you.
-Erin

This Spring I returned to teaching Art, this time at Cochise Community College in Sierra Vista, AZ. I taught 2D Design and 3D Design/Beginning Sculpture, check my Teaching Portfolio to see some of the projects I did with the wonderful students there.

In February of 2020 I joined the 20 Ton Studios, first as an Artist- In-Residence, and then as a collective member. The studio houses 7 artists working in various mediums from painting to sculpture, and of course the various social practice work of your truly.

Circus International Film Festival
March- April 2021

Aber was accepted into the Circus International Film Festival. Screenings will run from March 14th to April 14th, winners being announced April 17. The festival is free, and emails are sent out each day with the links to that day’s video screenings.
You can subscribe to receive the emails on the website, and of course vote for your favorite films.

Aber
Premiers November 14th with INSERIES, The Logan Operahouse Without Walls.

A project very dear to my heart I started last February with soprano Carli Miller to interweave classical music, vocal performance and the aerial arts. We wanted to tell a story about loss, grief, and the redemptive power of love. Aber combines "Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit" from Ein deutches Requiem bbt Brahms, newly arranged for soprano and guitar by Nathan Siler with aerial silks and film. In the process of creating Aber, Caroline lost her grandmother. This piece and this partnership were there to catch her. I am so grateful for this, her, and the amazing team we worked with, Matthew James Miller, Mary Cloud, and Elizabeth van Os.

MINDSCAPES DRIVE IN CIRCUS SHOW
Saturday October 24th
Two shows: 7:30pm and 9:30pm

I am producing a Drive-In show for the Bird's Eye View Circus School

Circus acts, music, and shadow puppetry will be performed by youth and adult students from the Birds Eye circus school, as well as local, national, and international guest artists and performers. All acts are based on themes of fantasy, isolation, mental health, imagination, intuition, enhanced creativity, connection with other people and the absurd new normal we live in. The audience will watch from their cars, tuning in on the radio just like a real drive in circus.

Mindscapes is a socially-distant event, and we encourage you to participate from the safety of your own car or from home.

Tickets for the IN PERSON EVENT here
Tickets for VIRTUAL ZOOM SHOW here

Saturday May 16th 8:30pm Chicago/9:30pm EST
Squishing a circus show into people's living rooms and garages isn't easy, but we make it happen! May 16, join us for the next edition of Sanctuary in Place, live from all the performers houses! I'll be getting all dressed up and fancy-with-no-pants-on and we will have a big Zoom-enabled circus show, just like old times!

Donate here for your show link! It's a $0.00 ticket but you add your donation after that.
https://www.artful.ly/store/events/20409

And would you believe it's almost as fun and awesome as the real thing? People get to do weird things they could never do on a regular stage while creating live circus films for you to watch. It's so fun and DOPE.

Saturday, October 26th, 2019

Directing and Choreography for Bird's Eye View Circus Show Echoes They Left Behind
This show will explore stories of ghost encounters, paranormal experiences, campfire tales, creepy pasta, real life tales of terror, ghost sightings and more. A series of group and solo acts that use a unique blend of physical storytelling with aerial acrobatics, tightwire,and live theater.
Toledo City Paper Article Here

June 17th, 2019

Accelerator Grant Award from the Toledo Arts Commission for the purchase of a Gimbal, a self stabilizing mechanism specifically made for live action shots, reducing camera shake so the footage looks professional, regardless of being handheld. As an interdisciplinary artist working mainly in performance, this is an invaluable tool for developing further work, Thank you for the support TAC!

August 10- Sept 13th, 2019
Peoria, IL

My work will be included in the 2019 Annual Alumni Invitational Show at Prairie Center of the Arts, where I was an Artist In Residence in 2011
Learn More

October 29th, 2018

Women Cinemakers is an online publication based in Berlin, dedicated to highlighting established and emerging female-identified artists working in film. My video, City Steps, was selected for their special biennial issue featuring independent filmmakers and performance artists.

The resulting interview was a 22 page interview exploring the emotional resonance between sound, movement and architecture in City Steps.

Read the full issue here

April 26th-28th, 2019
Annex Gallery, Detroit, MI

My collaborative project Transmission, with artist Lis Chere Thomas was shown at the All Together Now music and arts festival in Detroit, Michigan. The festival included a gallery exhibition, live performance, film blocks, and live music.

Learn More

April 25th, 2019

An interview I did with Hayley Taylor for her WGTE Program, The Rough Draft Diaries about the studio I founded and am currently artistic director of, Birds Eye View Circus

Listen to full 6 minute Interview

January 11th, 2019

Inclusion in Chicago's Women Made Gallery 2nd Midwest Open Exhibition Jan 11th- Feb 2nd

Juried by Amy Galpin, Chief Curator of the Frost Art Museum in Miami, Florida, this multidisciplinary exhibition was a selection of 35 artists from 8 Midwestern States.

Saturday April 27th, 2019
Sanger Library, Toledo, OH

Part of a Feminist education series of events at Sanger library, this panel discussion included Women artists and activists in the Toledo area who have found sustainable ways to generate income through their creative occupations. We discussed best business practices, tools available in the library as well as online, and general outreach needed to sustain a project both entrepreneurial and community minded.

Event Info

November 21st, 2018


Artist interview with Jason Webber of the Toledo City Paper Read Interview Here