Shanna Melton is a visual artist, poet, and community organizer. Her first poem was published when she was thirteen and she has continued pursuing her artistic dreams since. She has performed in poetry venues from New York to Boston. Drawing and painting have always come naturally, but the idea of having a professional art career did not become a reality until 2001 when she began displaying her art at local poetry venues. Shanna has created and participated in multiple art exhibits which resulted in many pieces being sold. Community involvement has always been an important part of Shanna’s experience as she has been active in organizations focused on college preparation, culture, art, and HIV/AIDS peer-education.In the beginning, art was the second love because it was not being pursued actively as poetry. Now, the two are of equal importance since both have had such a tremendous personal impact as well as becoming a tool to unite the community. Her work carries the essence of women, men, people of color, and poetry. Shanna has participated in many art exhibits including Women’s History and Black History Month’s 2004 at the Bridgeport Innovation Center, Ambiance Cafe, Blackout Arts Collective "Read to Succeed Annual Bridgeport Book Drive", and many poetry events throughout the tri-state area including her own Lyrical Voices. She also coordinated the 2006 Black History Month Exhibit titled "Freedom" at City Lights Gallery in Bridgeport, CT
All this experience has since been put to use in ways that assist her community. Co-founding a monthly event called Lyrical Voices: A Night of Poetry and Arts, has been one of Shanna’s greatest accomplishments. It provides a platform where artists can express themselves freely while networking with people who have similar interests. People have come from Virginia to Connecticut with the sole intention of experiencing this venue called Lyrical Voices. It has acted as a great vehicle for community interaction and self expression. Everyone who walks in has a story to tell and many find the courage to stand up and become an orator.The Writers Group is an extension of Lyrical Voices. A large number of people said they wanted to write but never had time or that they didn’t think they were good at it and would not know where to begin. This inspired The Writers Group because it is intended to provide the time, motivation and feedback necessary for the creative process to take place. People attend prepared to leave with new material, ideas, and perspectives on the topic that was chosen for the group. It has been very successful in that people who have not written in years participate in the group and leave with pages full of words they had not known how to release.The future holds many possibilities for this artist. Shanna hopes to take her words, paintings, and ideas around the world so that people can be inspired by her work. The mission is to turn all her visions into reality. She knows that the world is the best inspiration for creativity and she would like to take in as much of it as possible. In her words, "They say the beginning of forever is in my eyes…I think I will keep them open".
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