THE DIARY 01: Shantell Martin - Get Drawing
People cross paths at different moments along the arc of your lived experience. The beautiful energy of Shantell Martin blew into my universe this past spring. Shantell and I met through dance – I thank @Boston Ballet for this introduction. Shantell celebrated the World Premiere of “Kites,” her first ballet and experience with choreography, as part of Boston Ballet’s #ChoreograpHER Series.
Performance photography by Rosalie O’Connor Photography courtesy of Boston Ballet.
Choreographer: Shantell Martin | Scenic Design: Shantell Martin | Lighting Design: Brandon Stirling Baker | Costume Design: Shantell Martin in collaboration with Lisa Dezmelyk | Music: Tromba Lontana and Short Ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams* |*by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes
If you are at all familiar with Shantell’s work it is essentially visual movement. Her lyrical lines and spirited twists and turns can make you smile or feel tension – it’s all in there, in those simple yet complex linear moves. This leap from the page to the stage felt like a natural place for her to explore – bringing the physicality of her drawing into lyrical movement where musicality, the human form and a playful richness of the performance, the stage set and costuming meld into an alternate “Shatell” universe.
Shantell Martin, New York based British Artist. Albright-Know-Photo-By-Connie-Tsang.jpg
Shantell in the work:
Collaborations are a large part of where Shantell’s work has evolved. An exciting explosion of interdisciplinary collabs takes her lyrical work from fashion to environment, nft’s to social change, making lines in the snow and in the sky, Shantell allows her own curiosity to take her into a variety of mediums where she forges new creative relationships and produces work that keeps her curious and growing.
Amref Health Africa Benefit Pitchers via Amref Health Africa
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She designed this ceramic pitcher in support of Amref Health Africa’s work to to help to bring clean water to remote communities on the African Continent.
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Shantell Martin X The North Face via thenorthface.com
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Her drawings live powerfully within architectural spaces and travel around the human form through exciting fashion collabs such as: Shantell Martin x The North Face and more recently with Burton/Anon X Free Your Line Collection.
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Shantell Martin X Anon for the Free the Line Collection via Burton.com
Shantell-Martin-The-May-Room-Governors-Island-Photo-By-Roy-Rochlin.jpg
Stirs up:
Child-like Sensibilities //
Freedom to Play //
Spirit of Exploration //
Experiential memories –
a kite, a wink, drawing, doodling, a swim . . .
Me, Denise Korn, at age 11 under the rush of the water, Warren Falls, Warren, VT . . . not a care in the world.
The-Curiosity_Agenda Reflection:
Why do we constrain ourselves with rules? Why do we imagine constructs and barriers that may be keeping us from trying new things, pushing our perspectives and opening up to new people, adventures and inspiration that is all out there just waiting to be tapped? Thank you Shantell for sharing your story and creative mindset so that we all can learn to jump in more often, give it a go, let the curiosity take us places and “get drawing”!
