Local2Local - MosaicoX, the curators of Austin's Local
/“If you’re throwing a function and you don’t have proceeds going somewhere right now, you’re doing it wrong.” -AH
Meet the ladies of MosaicoX, the curators of Local (well Austin’s local).
Ashley on the left, Claudia on the right
MosaicoX or Mosaico Experiencia is a women duo featuring creatives Ashley Hicks or known by her DJ name as Adzua-Gette (from The House of Shakur) and Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi or Mazapan (de Puro Chingón Collective). The two DJs started Mosaico Experiencia a year ago as a way to support Black and Brown women and self-identified women artists. And basically to listen and play any music they wanted in a club environment. (Disco Trap anyone?)
So what does the Experience do?
CAG: “So the name became because we wanted to create experiences for people to have a safe place for everyone to just come and have a good time.”
MosaicoX creates “little festivals” specifically curated to the different vibes they want to showcase that night, whether that’s a poetry event, music event or an event for healing. They’re using their connections to grow the Black, Brown and women community of Austin.
CAG: “...We not only have performances and music. But we also have a community of women that have their art for sale [in a marketplace environment.]”
The events and markets primarily support and prioritize women of color and self-identified women directly in response to the venues being hard to access for artists.
AH: “It’s a network for Austin, because we know a lot of people and artists. … It’s really just a space to bring people in and give them a platform to share.”
The platforms they create are often quick turnaround but well curated events that give an open forum for people to network and showcase their talents while giving back to a charity and their community.
“It really is just … a disruption of whatever ‘Scheduled Programming’ is.”
And we love disrupting the norms at CopyWrite.
Focused on event planning, curating and connecting artists with PAID gigs in safe environments, MosaicoX is creating a more consistent and concise way to keep the party going.
AH: “We started this for Black and Brown unity, because we just don’t see a lot of Black and Brown link-ups in Austin.”
Though they separately work in different collectives that target their own culture (Ashley of The House of Shakur and Claudia de Puro Chingón Collective); they thought ‘Why not merge who we are?’ to create a bigger impact and more visibility to the movement.
Connect with them on Instagram at @mosaico_experiencia or email them at mosaico.experiencia@gmail.com to experience an event or link up with them to plan your next event in the Austin area. They’re working and open to collaborative efforts to grow the culture and your passion. (Maybe you'll see a CW x MosaicoX event soon? **insert thinking emoji here**)
“Don’t start no shit, won’t be no shit.”
So lastly, what do you want people to know?
CAG: “Continue to support POC business owners.”
AH: “...And let’s be conscious of how we want our entertainment in our lives.”
CAG: “PAY ENTERTAINERS… Gawd Damnit.”
F*** EXPOSURE. (... said every artist ever.)
And lastly (for real this time):
AH: “I just want to plug my band… Mamis.” Where Ashley is the guitarist killing it in the band and their EP is dropping real soon.
We hear you Mosaico.
/Syn for Austin
Photos by Whitney Devin. Follow her on Instagram and see her work on whitneydevin.com
