BRATTLEBORO-Fern Circus Collective, from Ithaca, New York, is coming to Brattleboro for one night only to perform their show I Hope You Are Fed at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) on Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m.
I Hope You are Fed is a contemporary circus show that explores the emotions and the world of the five members of the (1)Fern Circus Collective.
"These artists use an aerial world of their own devising, full of beautiful, dangerous, thought-provoking, generous, and tangled messes," organizers say in a news release. "I Hope You Are Fed is about exploring individuality and connection to a whole, what propels us forward and keeps us moving together. [It] will have you feeling, thinking, and questioning long after you leave."
With the creative use of aerial rigging, shadow work, and hand-selected music, Fern "draws the audience into their world," say organizers.
In spring 2021, Fern toured a show created by the collective called Altercation of the Mundane. In May 2023, Fern performed I Hope You Are Fed at the Cherry Artspace in Ithaca and again in September at the Hupstate Circus Festival in New York State.
Fern Circus Collective is a group that has grown up together and continues to evolve through their shared passion for circus arts. Fern was birthed from the troupes found at Circus Culture in Ithaca, and its members say it is nurtured and monumentally supported by Circus Culture founder, Amy Cohen.
Fern's work and play have evolved over seven years of being in community together, creating shows and performances, and immersing themselves in a multitude of learning and teaching experiences, members say. They have honed their skills in both circus arts and the various technical roles essential to show production, including rigging, lighting, sound, and stage crew.
At their collective core is the desire to share members' joy of creation, to be honest, to ask questions, to take care of each other, and to explore and express their existence through circus. Fern holds appreciation for both the aesthetic and the intellectual; emotional and technical exploration.
The creation of I Hope You Are Fed has brought Fern overwhelming support from their local circus community in Ithaca. With help from Cohen and various circus people in Ithaca, Fern has nurtured this show and is able to take it on the road. Their DIY tour has brought them to Buffalo and Rochester, New York, and Brattleboro.
Fern members enjoy finding new connections through their art, they say.
Emily Healey, a circus artist and instructor at Circus Culture commented on their performances, "I Hope You Are Fed is an ever-changing landscape of physicality, groove, and quirk. I was often surprised and delighted, and the artists welcomed us easily into their dynamic, curious, intimate world!"
Tickets for the Aug. 10 show at NECCA can be found at necenterforcircusarts.org. Tickets are sliding scale $10–$50. There will be tickets at the door, but purchasing them online beforehand guarantees you a seat.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.