Each month, we feature one of the incredible staff members who help make the magic happen at ACR. This month, we are highlighting Shift Lead extraordinaire, Ericka! They first joined ACR as a volunteer during the height of the pandemic and was quickly hired on as a Reuse Specialist before being promoted to Shift Lead. They have grown to be an important member of our team by offering an empathetic ear for listening, advocating for other staff members, and taking on any tasks that they are challenged with. Learn more about Ericka below and checkout their tutorial for a DIY Kaleidoscope!
How did you find Austin Creative Reuse?Right when I moved to Austin, I began looking up cool places to go! Being from a small town, it's amazing to see all of the different places bigger cities have to offer. As I searched for thrift shops, ACR popped up and the rest is history! I began shopping there, started volunteering, and eventually got hired.
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?I love the people who make up ACR. We have such a variety of amazing artists and thinkers, whether it be my co-workers, volunteers, donors, or the customers. I love to see so many people get together to talk about reuse and art, two very important things in my life.
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with?I'd say all the above! I get interested in so many different forms of art making, which makes working at ACR so amazing. I get inspired every day I go into work. I love to work with glass, many different types of fiber arts, sewing, and printing. I honestly feel like the list could go on and on.What do you do when you’re not working at ACR?When I'm not working at ACR, I like to play video and board games! I used to frequent Pinballz a lot before the pandemic and hopefully will be able to do so again soon. I also enjoy creating art in my free time and hanging with my two cats, partner, and the mini jungle of plants I accumulated over the year.
What’s the craziest thing you found in donation mountain?When sorting, I personally love coming across the weirder items that we get, such as teeth and bones. I also love looking through old vintage children's books. Those illustrations always make me happy!
Ericka's Bio:
Ericka has never met an art medium that they don’t like, so they’re always drawn to trying new things out! That’s how they came across ACR. A second hand art supply store? Can it get any better? They have a BFA in Art Education and conservation of the environment. In their spare time they like browsing through thrift stores, reading/listening to books, creating art, and watching their shelves mysteriously get more plants on them.
Ericka's Bio:
You can find more of their art at @rickamade