Meet Zoe Kanters
My “SHE & I” series is an exploration of the beautiful intertwinement of Mother Nature and Feminine Energy. To further develop this study, I invited my talented friends to give a voice to each pair of paintings.
Each woman has some connection to Michigan and/or the Great Lakes. They either practice a creative profession or pursue creative expression in their free time, something I respect and resonate with on a deeply personal level.
I’m proud to know each of them and I’m excited to share with you both their words and unique stories.
My hope is that this series openly invites fresh voices and perspectives different from my own, and perhaps different from yours. You may read more about this project here.
Now, without further ado… Meet Zoe Kanters.
“WHAT SHE’S MADE OF” 11x14 // “WILD ROSES FOR ZOE” 11x14 (available May 16th at 10 am CST)
Some hide fearful behind a veil of fearlessness,
others relish in the light of their true spiritual makeup.
But in the end, no matter what mask you put on,
underneath it, the reveal will always be the same.
For we are all made up of flesh, bone, blood, and stardust,
just trying to escape.
To free ourselves from confinement,
from control of our own making.
We try to exist behind the pain until we are forced to confront it.
And for me, that day has come.
Signed,
Zoe Kanters
*This poem was taken from the opening lines of Zoe’s film “U.P. There” that she co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in. Continue reading to learn more about this triple threat and my best friend!
About Zoe
Zoe Kanters is an actress, writer, and producer living in Los Angeles. She is the co-writer, co-producer, and co-star of @uptheremovie. Zoe grew up in Chicago, working in film and theatre, and as a teenager, moved to the beautiful, but very rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is where she learned everything from how to change a tire, to raising bees to surviving all extreme weather. After graduating from The University of Michigan's BFA program, she moved to LA to continue acting. Some of her credits include The Stand at Paxton County, By the Bog of Cats, and Nasty Habits. She's so excited to announce that U.P. There will be premiering at the Newport Beach Film Festival in April, and will have a wider release later this year.
She & I:
Zoe and I first became friends in our early days back at the University of Michigan, but it wasn’t until our senior year of college that we really got to know each other. By that I mean, we shared the attic in a house with 6 rooms and 9 roommates. Not only did we share the attic, but the slanted ceilings led us to conclude that the only logical place for our twin beds to sit were right next to each other. We fondly named this arrangement our “unibed” and I only thought it fitting that I share this piece of Zoe’s amazing script on the day that I am flying out for a reunion with this very house and you better believe Zoe and I are planning on sharing a bed together. Unibed pillow talk for LIFE.
I’ve always deeply admired Zoe’s talents and drive to pursue her passion and she is a constant source of inspiration for me. I am GIDDY that as close friends of hers we earned exclusive access to an early viewing of “ U.P. There “ and I’m just beyond proud of her and Daniel for their recent acceptance - and a SOLD OUT SHOW - in the Newport Beach Film Festival! She’s one to watch my friends.
Thank you, Zoe for contributing to this project!