Announcing Shantell Martin’s First-Ever Walking Path to Debut in Times Square this October
Image courtesy of the artist
(NEW YORK, NY — September 4, 2024) — Times Square Arts is pleased to present Shantell Martin’s The Path: A Meditation of Lines, a 160-foot long mural that will be painted directly onto Times Square’s Broadway plaza. The public artwork, which will function as a meditative walking path, will be accompanied by guided meditations, performances, and conversations during the exhibition’s seven-week run — designed to engage the district’s multitude of visitors and build community in Times Square through daily offerings. The piece will be on view from October 1st - November 20, 2024.
Known for her distinctive black-and-white line drawings that playfully explore themes of intersectionality and identity, Martin’s meditative practice draws on philosophy, performance, design and fine art. Often inviting the audience into her creative process, Martin lets the spontaneity and movement of her line-making lead rather than seeking a predetermined outcome. Martin will transform one of the busiest intersections in the world into a space for contemplation — which sees hundreds of thousands of pedestrians daily — encouraging New Yorkers to take pause and find a meditative moment.
The design of The Path: A Meditation of Lines is a sprawling 160-ft long walking maze that invites viewers to navigate its intricate paths. As one follows the twisting, turning lines north, the phrase "You are in the right place at the right time" is prominently displayed along with other phrases that signify the forward motion of a journey, whether physical or metaphorical, that might be possible amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
"Walking, much like drawing, can empower you and move you forward—both metaphorically and physically. Putting one foot in front of the other is a simple yet powerful act, and I hope that this message and activity can be translated through this project with Times Square," says artist Shantell Martin.
Free and open to the public 24/7 during its exhibition on Broadway plaza, The Path: A Meditation of Lines is accessible for anyone to experience along with public programming, weekly in-person meditations, and a guided audio meditation voiced by the artist which will be available on Bloomberg Connects, onsite and on the web starting October 1.
“Shantell’s meditative approach to artmaking and her offering of a walking path is the perfect antidote for the attention economy of Times Square. We’re so excited to see her distinctive lines cut through a slice of Broadway and create a space that invites Times Square’s commuters, office workers, theater ushers, sanitation workers, seniors, students and tourists in a meditative moment this fall,” says Times Square Arts Director, Jean Cooney.
Celebrated for her public artwork, Martin has often drawn for live audiences with a stream of consciousness approach. Her signature black and white palette intentionally leaves room for filling in the blanks and becomes an infinitely suitable canvas for any kind of environment, although Martin is purposeful in her selection of space. The artist has previously showcased her line works in a former chapel on Governors Island, as a stage display for a Kendrick Lamar concert during Art Basel Miami Beach, on the entirety of the iconic lobby of Lincoln Center for the New York City Ballet, and on a basketball court in Rockaway, Queens.
Despite being situated in one of the most chaotic and vibrant locations in the world, The Path: A Meditation of Lines offers a moment of reflection, encouraging passersby to pause, engage with the artwork, and perhaps find a moment of peace amidst the urban frenzy concentrated in Times Square. The Path: A Meditation of Lines's abstract nature allows for various interpretations, with the winding paths and interconnected lines referencing the complexities of life, the challenges of finding direction, with the ultimate goal of self-discovery, much like her previous work.
Also in Midtown Manhattan, Rockefeller Center and Art Production Fund will be presenting a site-specific installation by Martin as part of the ongoing Art in Focus free public art program. This comprehensive exhibition celebrates the diversity of Martin’s practice featuring the artist’s large-scale wall drawings, live and spontaneous, free-flowing illustrations, and installations of her KOOBs series - all on view in the public spaces at Rockefeller Center now through November 7.
ABOUT SHANTELL MARTIN
Shantell Martin, a multifaceted artist known for her work across various disciplines, has achieved notable success in the realms of fine art, education, design, philosophy, and technology. Her journey includes collaborations with prestigious institutions such as MIT Media Lab, NYU Tisch ITP, and Columbia University’s Brown Institute, as well as choreographing for the Boston Ballet. Martin's art explores themes like intersectionality, identity, and play, and she has showcased her work at renowned institutions, including the Denver Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, the 92Y Gallery in New York, Albright Knox Gallery, and the New Britain Museum of American Art. Her involvement in media and technology innovation, particularly at the Brown Institute for Media Innovation, highlights her role in integrating visual art with storytelling and technology.
ABOUT TIMES SQUARE ARTS
Times Square Arts, the public art program of the Times Square Alliance, collaborates with contemporary artists and cultural institutions to experiment and engage with one of the world's most iconic urban places. Through the Square's electronic billboards, public plazas, vacant areas and popular venues, and the Alliance's own online landscape, Times Square Arts invites leading contemporary creators, such as Charles Gaines, Joan Jonas, Jeffrey Gibson, Pamela Council, Mel Chin and Kehinde Wiley, to help the public see Times Square in new ways. Times Square has always been a cultural district and place of risk, innovation and creativity, and the arts program ensures these qualities remain central to the district's unique identity.
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