Calling upon the wild of our survival consciousness, SHiFTiNG TECHNOLOGiA melds this with precise movement as a technology of the future. At the inner-section of dance/movement, visual art and voice this work seek to evoke creation as communication. ...that we ARE the language of our past and also the story of our future.
"In the very earliest time, when both people and animals lived on earth, a person could become an animal if he wanted to and an animal could become a human being. Sometimes they were people and sometimes animals and there was no difference. All spoke the same language. That was the time when words were like magic. The human mind had mysterious powers.
...
Nobody could explain this: That's the way it was."
~Translated by poet, Edward Field in 'Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit
Photo Credit: David Schlatter
The work of Movement Graffiti connects the responsibility of the world we see to the reflection of the world we feel, and the potential to change both.
About Shawn Stone
Born and raised in small town rural Iowa, Shawn was a self-taught gymnast until the age of 12 when he began competitive USAG gymnastics. At the age of 16 he began his own program teaching tumbling at a local dance studio in his community, as his own gym was 100 miles away. Shawn became a four-time letter winner in NCAA gymnastics for the University of Iowa while obtaining his BA in Studio Art and Communication Studies (2005). He began his professional performing career in 2006 as an acro/dancer in the world famous Folies Bergere at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. He then performed in Cirque de la Mer (’07, ’09, '10) as well as Riptide (’07) at Sea World, San Diego where he did flying trapeze, Chinese poles, tumbling, dance and character work. At the peak of his acrobatic career, Shawn performed in Le Reve, The Dream created by Franco Dragone at Wynn Las Vegas (’10 - ’13). At Le Reve he was an aerial soloist along with disciplines in aerial harness, acrobatics, swimming, diving, hand-balancing, character work, banquine, dance, and partner work. In 2014 Shawn was the Artistic Director and Choreographer for Gladius the Show, an equestrian/acrobatic spectacular that performed in Golden, CO and Austin, TX.
In 2014 Shawn began taking dance classes, mainly ballet, about a year after a back surgery on his lumbar spine. Dance became crucial to his physical and mental healing while providing a new relationship, outlet and focus for his passion of movement. During this time, Shawn also created his first complete series in oil paint, entitled Stability, which consisted of a year and half’s work of painting the spine with a single brush on 24 canvas’. He debuted this show at Eden Art Gallery in Las Vegas (May 2015).
Shawn has 20 years of teaching experience in different fields and contexts including studio art, gymnastics/acrobatics, youth behavior and dance. He continues to paint contemplative abstract works and is interested in further exploring the relationship between visual art, movement and choreography. Having a fascination with the mind and psychology, including studies at the master’s level in art therapy, much of Shawn’s creative work explores the relationship between the mind, body and soul.
Shawn is honored to have accomplished his Masters of Fine Arts in Dance at the University of Maryland (2019), where he amplified his path of dance/movement, creative research and teaching. He is highly invested in the research of contemplative practice in art making, as well as multi-disciplinary creative work. Currently, Shawn coaches gymnastics based strength training at Physicality DC and teaches dance/creative process to high school students.
