"If there is something different about you, you are given this freedom"
June 19, 2019 10:03 AM   Subscribe

London-born, NYC-based visual artist Shantell Martin in conversation with Ilana Glazer. The artist discusses growing up "brown with an afro" in white-working-class southeast London, connecting with her grandma as an adult, Tokyo vs. NYC club culture, never giving up, and art vs. shame.

That last topic comes up toward the end of the talk, prompted by an audience question that references an Ask Polly column from last November: ‘I’m Broke and Mostly Friendless, and I’ve Wasted My Whole Life’. (Ed. note: while this article was new to me, it has been the subject of a previous front page post: Inhabit yourself.) Ilana relates to the process of producing art "out of the things you feel ashamed of," but Shantell demurres: "Not to say that this isn't a journey, I just think I'm on a different one."

Shantell Martin is currently the (first) artist in residence at NYC's 92nd Street Y: "Founded 145 years ago to serve the Jewish people, 92nd Street Y promotes individual and family development and participation in civic life within the context of Jewish values and American pluralism."

Further context: You may recognize the interviewer from the recently-concluded TV series Broad City. (Broad City previously on MetaFilter.)
posted by The Minotaur (1 comment total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
This is fascinating - I love the discussion of the collaboration and discussions with her grandmother.

Also, because I know I was curious - Shantell Martin's website. Specifically, this is the Dear Grandmother series.
posted by dinty_moore at 11:24 AM on June 19, 2019


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