Celebrating 20 years in Nevada as an artist, educator, advocate, and scholar, L. Martina Young, is once again recreating and sharing her talented uniqueness in the performing arts. Young performed her latest work “Grace at River's Edge,” last year for Artown, but recently held a reading/DVD signing at Sundance Bookstore in Reno. Grace at River's Edge is “text and dance improvisation.” The performance includes a 16- page booklet of text adapted from Young's second excursion to Greece. The presentation includes a talk on the mythology of different cultures of the Greek Graces. It is a combination of mythology, philosophy, dance and music that runs just over an hour.
“I am looking at the myths throughout human culture and looking at them through a Depth Psychological viewpoint,” she explained. “What do the myths have to say about human consciousness that we have been told over the millennial.” Having earned a degree in Comparative Mythology and Depth Psychology, Martina says, “Myths give us insight into how we think, what our philosophies are, what we stand on as far as our values. Mythology gives us a window into human culture; our most lofty ideas and grave moments.
Martina plans a concert series beginning in fall. “I'm very interested in publishing my work and my goal is to perform before a larger audience.” Grace By River's Edge is a limited edition publication published by Black Rock Press of the University of Nevada, Reno. To learn more visit Martina's Web site: www.theaestheticbody.com for more information about her work, up-coming events, residencies, and just plain conversation! About the Artist
Martina Young is a recipient of Nevada's 2008 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in the Arts. She completed her Ph.D. at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA.
She is a pioneer of Pilates work in Northern Nevada having studied the practice over 30 years. A tenured dance professor at UNR's Dance program from 1987- 1994, she taught students and held Pilates workshops. She continues to teach Pilates at her personal studio The Lighthouse/Studio 5 0 2, located in the Artists Lofts in downtown Reno.