Alys Beach, Florida - (May 7, 2009) - DJ Mag recently named Tokyo-based Shantell Martin one of the top 10 VJs in the world, and now she'll be the headlining performer during the 2009 Digital Graffiti Festival at Alys Beach.

Digital Graffiti is the world's first outdoor projection art festival, with artists using the latest technologies to project their original works onto the town's iconic white walls. This year's festival will be held on June 6th, 2009 from 8:30pm until Midnight.

Using the latest drawing tablet technologies, Shantell illustrates the music that she hears, mesmerizing crowds with art that's drawn in time with the beat. She projects her unique real-time illustrations onto walls, screens and sometimes the dancers themselves. Shantell says that she isn't simply drawing, but rather, is reacting to the music, the dancers and the moment.

"It's completely spontaneous," said Shantell. "I just get out my tablet and wait for the music."

As the music changes, with the push of a button, Shantell will just as quickly erase everything that she has drawn, shifting themes, subjects and colors. "Nothing is rehearsed, nothing is practiced," she said.

After living in Japan, Martin recently relocated to New York City. Since graduating from London’s Central Saint Martins University of Art & Design with first-class honors in graphic design and illustration, Shantell has been expanding conventional definitions of drawing, using it as a base from which to storm and occupy the design, fashion and music scenes. Like her drawings, Martin herself seems to be in an unstoppable state of constant and conscious movement. By turn illustrator, VJ, sketch projector, videographer and more, each persona is linked by the common thread of her trademark continuous-line style, each project a further entanglement of disciplines and an exploratory step into a new world the artist creates as she moves through it.

The 2009 Digital Graffiti festival will be hosted by style icon India Hicks, an internationally-known author, TV host and fashion model for Ralph Lauren, Gap, and J. Crew. India is Prince Charles' second cousin, and is in line to succeed to the British throne. She recently hosted the second season of the Bravo TV series Top Design. Sometimes referred to as "Photon Bombing," "Guerilla Projection" or "Urban Projection," underground artists around the globe have been using the latest design, animation and projection technologies to cast dynamic images onto skyscrapers and other urban structures as a means of artistic expression. But Digital Graffiti is the first outdoor festival specifically organized to showcase these unique talents. Last year's festival attracted digital artists, filmmakers, musicians, interactive designers, photographers, VJs, producers, celebrities, agency executives and fans of art, technology and architecture. This year, digital artists from around the globe will compete for $6,000 in cash during the second annual Digital Graffiti festival.

To purchase festival tickets, or for more information about Digital Graffiti, please visit www.digitalgraffiti.com.

Shantell is represented in the U.S. by 303GRAND in New York (www.303GrandNYC.com). For more information about Shantell Martin, please visit www.shantellmartin.com.

ABOUT ALYS BEACH

One of the most beautiful new towns in the world, Alys Beach is located on Scenic Highway 30A in Florida’s panhandle, along what The New York Times said "may be the best beach in the continental U.S." The resort town's extraordinary architectural vision drew inspirations from both Bermuda and the family courtyard homes of Antigua, Guatemala. When complete, Alys Beach will be home to 900 villas and courtyard homes, as well as restaurants, parks, shops and other resort amenities. Alys Beach is the first Fortified® community in the world, and all homes are built to Florida's Green Home Designation Standard. For home sales or vacation rental information, please call 866-481-8387 or visit www.alysbeach.com.