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Shantell Martin
Installation

Denver, Colorado

Industry
  • Community Art Plans
  • Public Art
Region
  • Mountain West
Scope
  • Art Activation
Client
  • Denver Theater District
Highlights:
  • Outdoor, public installation covering 2,500 square feet of sidewalk

  • Four days of outdoor painting allowed the process to serve as performance art

  • Sidewalk installation extends to three billboards and one original sculptural bench

  • Establishes the Denver Theatre District as innovative and experimental

  • The second installation of our Terra Firma initiative

Press/Media
  • October 23, 2017, “Shantell Martin Paints Sidewalks in Downtown Denver,” 303 Magazine

  • October 19, 2017, “Artist Shantell Martin Turns the Convention Center Plaza into an Urban Canvas,” Westword

  • October 19, 2017, “Artist Shantell Martin transforms downtown Denver’s walkways with black-and-white drawings,” Denverite

  • October 3, 2017, “International Artist Shantell Martin to Paint Denver Sidewalks with Huge New Mural,” 303 Magazine

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The Story

Internationally renowned artist Shantell Martin created a giant black-and-white, stream of consciousness drawing on the sidewalks of the Denver Theatre District that covers an area on 14th Street from Stout to Champa including the entire outdoor plaza of the Colorado Convention Center. Part of the Terra Firma series curated by NINE dot ARTS to enliven a 16-block area of downtown Denver through interactive, immersive and experimental art and culture events, the installation will remain on view for two to three years. In addition to the ground drawing, Martin designed a sculptural bench that says “DON’T HIDE + YOU ME” installed near the Light Rail stop at 14th and Stout. Martin’s iconic style and inventive visual language of characters, figures and phrases immerse pedestrians in a complex yet meandering world of exploration, introspection, and conversation. The installation serves not only as Martin’s largest and most public-facing installation to date but also the first on the ground. Created over a four-day period, Martin’s work bridged performance art as she scooted across the sidewalk at times on a skateboard while drawing with spray paint. As the second installation of the Terra Firma initiative, Martin’s installation solidifies the Denver Theatre District’s position as one of the most innovative arts districts in the region.

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