Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKvtv3xVtS8&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=66
Evan: So we are back here on the Choose Nine 954 podcast, episode 35, with local artist, our best era best of our street, here in our beautiful brand-new studio in Mass District. If you didn’t know about Choose Nine, we started a social movement to cultivate culture and community here in America, and where I’m from, and enough to keep people to know all the good things that are going on and makes it better to live here and not just for a vacation.
Evan: The purpose of this podcast is to connect you with amazing people like her, doing incredible things in the community. This podcast is sponsored by a Thousand Raised Artificial Reef Project, which is a public art project to de-stress natural reefs, create tourism, and do a lot of great things for our city. If you want to find out more, go to www.bsmsphd.com.
Erin: So I do textile art, with my main art being in fabrics and textiles. More specifically, I love using silk because it keeps its shape. I can sculpt with it, and it’s a heat-set process that, once I do the creation and apply heat, it holds the form.
Evan: Okay, how did you get started on your artistic journey here?
Erin: Well, I started in my grandma’s garage when I was four years old. I started with drawing. Later, I went to college at the University of Florida and got my first degree in creative photography. I was a photographer for about ten years, but I started to get really frustrated and bored with the rectangle.
Evan: Yeah, I can see that. Well, tell us about your studio practices—how did those develop?
Erin: I used to work solely at home, but now I have a studio space on 4th Avenue.
Host: That’s awesome. What made you transition to a public studio?
Erin: It’s something I’ve always wanted. By the time I was 40, it was a goal of mine to have my own working studio, and it finally happened in this amazing Mass District, which blends culture and community beautifully. I didn’t expect it, but it’s been such a great space for me to expose my artwork.
Evan: Are you originally from this area?
Erin: Yes, I’m from here. I went to Nova High and graduated in ‘92. I then studied art and traveled to places like Savannah to expand my horizons.
Host: That’s incredible. So, you’ve been a part of the Choose Nine social movement. We’ve started offering guided tours of the monthly art walk in Mass District and Fat Village. What are your thoughts on the art scene here?
Erin: It’s been so rewarding to be part of this growing and developing community. I’ve been involved in the Beehive events and had my grand opening recently, and I’m really excited about what’s coming.
Evan: Your latest pieces are stunning. Tell us about them.
Erin: Thank you! These are my latest creations—earrings and necklaces that I handcrafted. They range from smaller pieces to larger statement pieces like this necklace, which is around $250. I focus on creating pieces that are lightweight and comfortable to wear all day.
Evan: That’s incredible. And we’re excited to have your space featured in the upcoming art walks.
Erin: I’m looking forward to it! I’m also excited to help other artists by offering my space for collaborative shows and pop-up events.
Evan:: That’s really generous of you, providing space for other artists. You mentioned earlier that not every artist can afford to commit to a lease, so it’s great that you’re creating opportunities for others to showcase their work.
Erin: Exactly. A lot of artists work from home or don’t have the resources to rent a space for long periods. So being able to offer them a pop-up studio or space where they can show their art without that huge financial burden is really important to me.
Evan: And that’s so vital, especially now with the rise of rents and gentrification pushing artists out of neighborhoods. Like you mentioned, people are being priced out of places like Wynwood and Little Haiti, and now they’re moving even further north.
Erin: Yes, it’s unfortunate but true. It’s why spaces like mine, and initiatives like Choose Nine, are so important. We need affordable workspaces for artists to continue creating.
Evan: Absolutely. You might not know this, but we’ve partnered with a group to create affordable artist spaces in vacant commercial buildings. We’re calling it "Zero to Spaces." The idea is to provide these spaces to artists at minimal cost, only charging for utilities and a small administrative fee.
Erin: That’s amazing! What a great initiative.
Evan:: We’re really excited about it. The first spaces are going for about $1.50 per square foot, which is almost unheard of in this market. We’re working hard to make more spaces available for local artists like yourself.
Erin: That’s going to be such a game changer for so many artists.
Evan: It really will be. We’ve got a lot of local support for this, and it’s going to help revitalize some of the vacant spaces around here. Artists and developers are starting to work together in ways that benefit everyone. We’re even working with the city on this.
Erin: It’s so good to hear that the city is supportive.
Evan: Definitely. We’ve got support from local officials who see the value in keeping artists in the area and making sure they have spaces to create. And this is all happening at a time when Fort Lauderdale is redeveloping rapidly, with 20,000 new units going up in the next few years. People are going to need things to do other than just going to the beach, and that’s where the local arts scene comes in.
Erin: Exactly. We’re more than just vacation spots; we have a rich cultural scene that needs to be supported and expanded.
Evan: Absolutely. And if anyone listening has questions about the artist spaces or anything we’ve talked about today, feel free to reach out to us on social media. You can find us at Choose Nine 954 or at Unitas Group.
Guest: You can find me on Instagram and Facebook as well. Instagram has been really good to me so far; I even got a commission for a piece that’s going into the Bellagio in Vegas, thanks to my Instagram presence.
Evan: That’s incredible! Congratulations.
Erin: Thank you! It’s been a dream come true. I never imagined I’d have my work in such a prestigious place.
Evan: That’s huge. Do you also participate in local art fairs or galleries?
Erin: Yes, I’ve been part of several local art fairs and galleries. I’ve even done installations at places like the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Traveling to different shows across the country has also been a big part of my career.
Evan: That’s fantastic. It’s clear you’ve put in a lot of work, and it’s paying off in so many ways.
Erin: Yes, it’s been a long journey, but I’m so grateful for where I am today.
Evan: And now you’re giving back to the community, which is what makes this all come full circle. Before we wrap up, I want to mention a couple of other exciting things happening with Choose Nine. We’re still hosting our Discovery Series, where we give local artists a free canvas and easel, market their work, and create flyers for them. We’ve been doing this for 113 consecutive weeks now, and we plan to keep going strong.
Erin: That’s amazing. It’s so important to give artists those opportunities.
Evan: We also have an event coming up with Sofar Sounds to celebrate their two-year anniversary. It’s a very intimate live music experience where local musicians perform in a secret venue, and the location is only revealed to attendees right before the event. It’s a great way to connect the local creative community.
Erin: That sounds like so much fun!
Evan: It really is. Another event to look forward to is Raw Storytelling, which takes place the second Thursday of every month. It’s an evening of true, unscripted stories told by people from all walks of life.
Erin: I love events like that. They really bring people together in such an authentic way.
Evan: Exactly. We also have CreativeMornings, which is a free monthly breakfast lecture series for the creative community. Our next event will feature Laquana Chatman, the founder of Sweat Nation, as the speaker.
Erin: So many amazing things happening. I’m really excited to be a part of this growing community.
Evan: We’re excited to have you! It’s artists like you who help make this community vibrant. So, for anyone listening, be sure to check out all these upcoming events and follow us on social media for more updates. Any last words before we wrap up?
Erin: I just want to say thank you for having me, and I can’t wait to continue contributing to the arts community here.
Evan: Thank you so much for joining us. We’ll see you all at the next event—don’t miss it! And save the reef!
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