Artist In Residence Program
Highlighting Northern BC's Talent
Erin J. Bauman
March 2024
Links:
Bio
The Panoptical Poet makes flowetry (hula hoop dancing) and poetry to inspire and delight the world around her. She is passionate about social change, and much of her art focuses on highlighting injustice and opening dialogs that help us to examine the many varying viewpoints of our current global reality. Erin has a BA majoring in English and she is certified as a children’s yoga instructor, EFT/TFT practitioner, education assistant, Orton-Gillingham tutor and crisis intervention specialist.
As the Panoptical Poet Erin combines her education and experience to create performances and workshops that suit the needs of the varying venues she works with, and mental wellness is often incorporated into her themes. Erin has hosted events and performed with Robson Valley Music Festival, MoM Festival, Nelson International Mural Festival, Dandelion Festival, Penticton Art Gallery, Two Rivers Gallery, Exploration Place, and other festivals and venues across BC.
Artist Statement
"As an artist I work with several mediums, but I tend to focus all of my art around poetry or writing, as I believe words can be a very powerful tool in creating positive change. I also believe in being mindful about our footprints on this planet and I often try to use upcycling in the art pieces I make. The majority of my written work is inspired by social and political issues that frustrate or concern me. A lot of my poetry writing process is mental. I will hear a word or see a news article, and a line will come to me. I then ruminate on that line and the issue it represents for a few days or a month. Eventually my brain decides how to finish it and I sit down and write whatever comes to me."