Jamie Marshal

Tigre Mashaal-Lively (Jami Lewis Marshall-Lively) was born on the night of Jan 10th 1985 in Philadelphia PA. Growing up in Philly was an important influence in Tigre’s life and art. Tigre began making art as soon as they could hold a pencil.They would put pencil to paper and in one fluid motion a drawing would emerge. From banging on pots and pans as if they were drums, to instantly dancing to music early on, it was apparent their sense of dance and musicality was there from the beginning. As a young child they attended Moonstone Preschool which nurtured their creativity and love of learning.

In their teenage years they joined the group the Wayfinder Experience, a roleplaying camp which continued to build Tigre’s skills as an artist and storyteller, while also fostering a strong sense of community. Wayfinder helped Tigre navigate through rough teenage years and over the years that same community became a second family.

After completing their high school education they attended Bennington college in Vermont, a small art based program which provided the opportunity to explore and connect with all areas of the arts. Alongside their continued development in visual arts they further honed and refined their skills in dance and movement. Bennington was a place where Tigre was supported in their growth as an interdisciplinary artist. They developed a strong interest in puppetry and mask making and continued to pursue their interest in mythology and storytelling.

Upon graduating from Bennington Tigre returned to Philadelphia where they took a position as the art teacher at Moonstone Preschool, where they had attended as a child. Tigre loved working with the children, and through this job they fostered a lifelong love of teaching both youth and adults. 

Eventually Tigre left Philadelphia for the allure of the Bay Area where they continued to develop their art, dance, and work with kids and community. While in the Bay Area, Tigre met Anastazia Louise, founder of the dance company, “Bad Unkl Sista”. Staz became a mentor and friend to Tigre and gave them a platform to radically expand as a dancer and artist. A turning point in their life, they found a creative outlet that could meet the width of their growing vision.

From the Bay, Tigre began a life of travel and art making. They began creating inspiring art installations, altars, and meditation spaces at festivals across the globe. This eventually led to Tigre receiving a Burning Man Honorarium and creating the “The Solacii” in 2017. A large-scale immersive sculpture made in collaboration with Staz and friend and fellow fabricator Lucas Reshi. This work centered healing through grief and brought to life Tigre’s mythical figures and stories. 

In 2019 Tigre moved to Santa Fe, NM and quickly found a home and a new community. Through their artwork they brought focus to social justice issues, liberation, and community healing. In 2020 in response to the worldwide call to support Black life and to deepen in connection and community with Black artists, they formed Earthseed Black Arts Alliance with Raashan Ahmad and Nikesha Breeze. Bringing social justice and community action into the forefront of their work. 

In 2021 they created Stark Raven Fabrication with Calli Beck and Lucas Rishi, widely expanding their capacity to create large-scale art and installations. Through these important collaborations Tigre brought inspiring works to the community of Santa Fe. This  included the “O’Gah Po’Geh community Altar” at the Railyard and “Coyote Song” at the MRC. With Earthseed they created Black education programs in the New Mexico public schools and a summer program for Black and Bi-racial teen girls. In addition, Tigre presented a gallery exhibition of their work called “Entangled Futurities” at Form & Concept Gallery in Santa Fe alongside Pascual Ehmer which eventually led to bringing the Solacii to Santa Fe, where it has become an important gathering place for the community and a powerful symbol of love and healing. 

“Facing The Fearbeast”, which became their final creation, is a monumental interactive and immersive sculpture presented at Burning Man 2022. This inspiring work captured hearts and minds, and moved tens of thousands of people who experienced it. Developed in collaboration with Make Love Visible, Stark Raven Fabrication and Earthseed Black Arts Alliance. The sculpture utilized over 2000 pounds of repurposed tires, 4000 pounds of hand formed steel, and multiple highly detailed resin figures. One of the most impactful parts of the work was an original soundscape created with Raashan Ahmad, that drew people in to the complex dialogue of healing and mental health awareness. Tigres exquisite storytelling ability allowed people to viscerally experience the tender relationship between facing our personal and collective fears and healing the inner child in all of us.   

In Tigre’s words, “My work is the substance and the evidence of an intimate and vulnerable dialogue with the inner and outer worlds. Utilizing the body as an altar, a vessel, a conduit for transformation, the work strives for ever deeper and more authentic knowing. The beings that populate my expressive world are inherently transcendent: embodied mythopoetic metaphors that exist beyond binary dichotomies of life/death, male/female, human/animal, body/spirit, self/other, light/shadow. These transcendent visions, both liminal and encompassing, are motivated toward healing and understanding our relationships to ourselves, with each other, and with the world.”

Tigre dedicated their life to the joyful pursuit of dance, artistic creation, unabashed self expression and social justice. Tigre’s passing brings up a well of grief for the loss of such a cherished and bright light that shone as only Tigre could. We are asking everyone to join us in holding this event with grace, forgiveness, and absolute trust in Tigre’s Spirit. 

Tigre is survived by their mother Linda Marshall, their father Donald Lively, their partner Jhana Goldenflame, their cat IshqAllah, Uncles David (Nava) Marshall, Gary (Ilka Oberst) Marshall, Cousins Itai, Ma’ayan, Aviva, uncles Nate (Linda Carter), Ricky Lively, Cousins Muhammad, Maryam Hasnaa, Hidaayah, Jalal, Nory and many other beloved family members. They are also survived by their family and community in Santa Fe, as well as the uncountable friends and loved ones all over the world.

The memorial service will take place in Santa Fe at the Rivera Funeral Home this Friday Oct 7th at 10am. The service will take place in the chapel and is open to all. Masks will be required. There will be a reception to follow. 1-5 Saturday Form and Concept Gallery Donations to support Tigre’s legacy can be made to Make Love Visible and Earthseed Black Arts Alliance.