Artist Statement

Founded in 2010 by Deisha Oliver and Sadie Hawkins, Flight of Swallows is a collaborative effort that is joined by a revolving cast of musicians and movement artists who excel at collaborative improvisation. Their pieces function as conversations between movement artists and musician. They incorporated pop up installations, sculptural elements, site specific movement, and audience participation throughout their body of work.

 

Artist Talk

On June 12, 2022, Flight of Swallows gave an artist talk, inviting spectators into their process and providing reflections on their Art on the Atlanta BeltLine Residency.

 

 

Artist Bio

Deisha Oliver has a lot of history in the Atlanta arts scene in theater, music and gallery worlds. An Atlanta native, she moved back from the Midwest and began working with Whole World Theatre as a microphone runner turned lighting director and box office manager from 1997-2001. With lighting design (from 1997-present) she worked on the road with numerous bands as well as lit many a corporate theater gig. From 2003-2006, Oliver was the founder and artistic director of Twinhead Theatre, where she directed shows and even acted in a few. She has also played cello for numerous bands including Osaka, Envie, American Dream, Tiger!Tiger! as well as put cello tracks down for Ultra Babyfat, Villain Family, The Selmanaires, Ruby Velle and the Soulphonics, and Shathouse Rats. She was also on the board of directors for Eyedrum from 2007-2010. On top of all of those many things, she has been acting since she was four, she geeks out with graphic design, typography and food, and she is a mother of two amazing children.

Sadie Hawkins is Atlanta’s gravity-defying fireball. A burlesque aerialist, fire performance artist, and producer, her acts are charged with a sensuality and a sense of humor whether she’s in the air, on stage or afire. Sadie travels extensively to perform at corporate events, festivals and local productions. She collaborates with several performance groups, and is cofounder of the Flight of Swallows improv movement+music collective. As a producer, Sadie works to provide opportunities for performers and audiences to push outside their comfort zones. Her productions include Last Pasties Standing, an improv burlesque game show; the Cheap Thrills! series of DIY-on-a-budget variety shows, The Men’s Room showcase of male-presenting burlesque, and many more well-received shows she produces regularly. She is also the Branch Manager of Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Atlanta and coproducer of Naked Girls Reading Atlanta.

AnnMarie Spexet is an Atlanta-based engineer and trained aerialist who has performed in and produced works for Fringe Festival, Art on the Atlanta Beltline, CORE fieldwork, and the Atlanta Science Festival. She has also danced with the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company since 2017.