Our Story
Skyflower: From Vision to Nonprofit
Skyflower, pronounced skyFLOWer, aims to build community and promote environmental activism through outdoor aerial arts. This vision was realized by the founders Nicole Evans and Priscilla Mewborne as they hosted their first outdoor aerial and camping event for adults in Northern California on July 25th-26th, 2022. Skyflower has since developed into a nonprofit as of March, 2023. Our latest event was September 14-15th, 2024. Between the three events, we've brought together 31 aerialist from around the world and we look forward to providing more donation based experiences in the future. Ultimately the goal of these events is to create community through authentic self expression using various aerial apparatus outdoors while simultaneously caring for the environment through trash clean ups.
Core Skyflower team pictured. (Nicole Evans on the top, Meredith Calderas in the middle, and Priscilla Mewborne on the bottom)
Skyflower Aerial Retreat was an incredibly inspiring and educational experience. Getting to practice aerials off a highline was something I’ll never forget, and I learned so much from the knowledgeable staff about safety, equipment, and what it takes to approach aerial work at such heights. I especially appreciated how personalized the experience felt. The staff took the time to get to know each of us, meet us where we were in our own practice, and make sure we felt supported and seen. It never felt like a one-size-fits-all experience, and I really valued the individual attention and care.
I also really appreciated the care that went into creating the retreat experience, from the family-style meal to the incredible amount of time and effort that goes into setting up the space net. It is no simple task to rig these lines and create safe access points at such heights, and all of the staff worked tirelessly throughout the process to make sure we could safely access and enjoy the space. Knowing how much work happens behind the scenes made the experience feel even more special and gave me an even deeper appreciation for the opportunity.
Lastly, I really loved being surrounded by people from across the country who share the same passion and curiosity for this art form. I left feeling inspired, challenged, supported, and incredibly grateful for the experience and for the people who made it possible.
With love and gratitude,
-Christina