A Letter from Joy Christiansen Erb | Recent Successes and Artistic Endeavors

“Fun 2014 Activities and News

Last year was filled with some amazing opportunities that allowed me to create and exhibit new artwork, participate in an artist residency program and travel to Turkey! With the help of a Faculty Improvement Leave from YSU, I was able to have the spring semester off from teaching to work on the development of a new body of work focusing on the topics of motherhood, imagination and collaboration.

In April, I traveled to Nebraska City, NE to participate in an artist residency at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, where I was able to meet and work with some amazing artists, authors, composers and community members. This is definitely an opportunity I would suggest for all of my artist friends! One of my pieces created at the residency titled 13 days apart (26 clementines), which is included in the KHN permanent collection, was recently on display in the inaugural exhibition titled The Residents at the Hastings College Art Gallery in Hasting, NE.

This past summer my work was included in the Griffin Museum of Photography’s 20thJuried Exhibition that was juried by Aline Smithson. I also had five photographs included in an exhibition titled, Environmental Portraiture at Newspace Center for Photography in Portland, OR that was juried by Melanie McWhorter.

The Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography featured the Portrait of a Mother series through a new online exhibition titled New Directions. In addition, David Bram selected one of my photographs to be published in the Fraction Magazine’s 62nd issue.

In November, I presented my work at the Society for Photographic Education’s MidAtlantic regional conference as one of seven photographers selected to speak on the subject of portraiture. The conference was a lot of fun and hosted in Lancaster, PA.

I am beyond excited to announce my recent invitation to participate in the Midwest Photographers Project (MPP). MPP includes a collection of more that 1,000 photographs by both prominent and emerging regional photographers. The collection is housed in theMuseum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, IL.

Last but not least, I had the chance to travel to and photograph in Turkey this past June with nine other colleagues from Youngstown State University and as well as two other amazing friends from the Niagara Foundation! It was an amazing trip that I could talk about for hours. You can see some of my photographs from Turkey on YSU’s website as well as on instagram. Follow me @jchristiansenerb!

Exciting 2015 Events

This year is off to a great start with a solo exhibition titled, Markers opening at thePittsburgh Center for the Arts this upcoming Friday, February 13 from 5:30-9:00pm. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, please stop by and visit the opening. There are several other great shows going up in the center as well, so it should be a fun evening. The exhibition will be up through May, so feel free to stop by when you are visiting Pittsburgh!

I am proud to have had my work selected by Ben Montague to be included in the Image OHIO 15 exhibition along with several of my other photography colleagues from Ohio. The show will be up for another two weeks closing on Friday, February 20th. I will be participating in an artist panel at 1pm that Friday if you are in the Columbus area and want to stop by the Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery.

In March, I look forward to participating in the Akron Art Museum’s Slide Jam: Beauty Reigns event and will be speaking about my work with several other artists. This summer will be a busy one planning for some upcoming exhibitions and talks in Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin. Check out my website to find out details about these upcoming events.

As new things develop and new work is made this year, I will be sure to keep you updated in my fall newsletter! Please keep me up-to-date on what is happening in your lives as well! Happy New Year and all the best in 2015!”