Prompt 84. Follow the Line by Shantell Martin
With so much going on in the world, I have found myself overwhelmed with the daily onslaught of news. It has been predominantly frustrating, tragic and often horrific, especially as the fight against systemic racism and police brutality has become a worldwide movement.
In light of this, as an act of mindfulness and self-preservation, I made it a priority to stay informed but also to control what I ingest and how much. I listen to my mind and body for guidance when the instability of this moment has stirred within me the need for silence.
For many years, my work as an artist has focused on mastering a vocabulary that truthfully represents individual and collective identity. This new world we live in is not just asking us but also rightfully forcing us to reconcile with the past. It is asking us: What do we want this world we live in to BE in the future?
In my work I have asked questions to get to the core of who we are. I have used a pen and paper as my tools, distilling the process into a language of lines, lines that have now become synonymous with my own being.
Your prompt for the day:
Turn off anything that may be distracting you from your Self. Now listen to the sound of your own body. Do you need silence? Maybe. Maybe not. You might need some music; if so, honor that. When you feel compelled, sit down with a pen and paper and meditate on what you would look like if you were a simple line. Let go of fear. Let go of anything outside of the moment. Begin drawing. Follow the line and let it lead the way.