Crowned In Color: Bronzeville ArtWalk 2025

“The Sugar Shack” By: Ernie Barnes

/CW Fam, take a moment to reflect on the image pictured above. What do you see? What emotions come over you? What place does this painting take you to? Ever heard of the phrase, “You just had to be there?” For the first time in my life, I felt that this statement did not apply to me in relation to Ernie Barnes’ The Sugar Shack.

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Saturday, (August 9th, 2025), taking place in the heart of Bronzeville, Food For Health, located at 2007 N Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee, WI, presented Crowned In Color: Bronzeville Artwalk. Within the first two steps of walking into the historic venue, a feeling of being transported into Barne’s The Sugar Shack occurred, and it no longer felt like modern day.

The textured tan walls, grand coffee brown stairways, emerald green conversation pits, and speakeasy-inspired dim lighting heightened the ambiance and expectations for the evening ahead. Many may have assumed it would be like any art gallery, where there’s a smooth volume level, a serene musical buffet, and three thought-provoking questions asked to the guests by the welcoming curator. Although that describes a successful art gallery, the Crowned In Color: Bronzeville Artwalk was a unique night for not only the people of Bronzeville, but also for the undying substance of art. 

Growing up throughout the city, I was in every after-school club you can think of; heavily exposed to the different mediums of art such as painting, spoken-word, drawing, and music. Hence why I was as confident as Jordan in game 6 of the 1991 NBA Finals, walking into the showcase thinking I knew exactly how the event would look and feel. I couldn’t have been more wrong as it felt as if I stepped into a modern Harlem Renaissance. What is your definition of art? Is it a form of escapism and peace from your reality? A creative activity you do with your friends or boo as a hobby? This is the question that was continuously spinning in my mind at the beginning of the artwalk, so the only thing that made sense was to ask the sources who were brewing the curiosity and questions inside me—the artists themselves.

“Art is living and not existing. It is beauty in pain but richness in happiness.”-Graphic Designer Savvy Breaux

A sense of euphoria and regalness overcame my spirit and mind as I viewed Savvy’s art pieces throughout the night. As the jack of trades and I talked about their pieces, I observed the deep appreciation and admiration for both bright colors as well as Asian culture that Savvy incorporates into their catalog. Since the age of eight years old Breaux knew the significance of what art is and how it is one of the engines that keeps not only communities going but individual journeys as well. With inspiration as Andy Warhol, life has always been Savvy’s muse when it comes to creating, which is why when asked the question, “Why is art important to Bronzeville culture?” no hesitation occurred.

Artwork By Savvy Breaux

“Representation is born through our art. There’s a massive correlation between Bronzeville’s community members and the city. Walking in spaces like this, it never feels like you’re in Bronzeville or Milwaukee period. We need to change that and start making spaces and places like tonight the norm for Bronzeville’s culture.”-Savvy Breaux

“We are art. Everything we do, from the swag we wear, relationships we have, and interests that make us different from one another, is the bed of art. We don’t even know the type of foundation constantly laid out for art by just being.”-Artist, Tierra Bender 

Bender had a light in their eye the entirety of our conversation. Fascination ran through my veins as they outwardly showed excitement and passion for their art being displayed, Untitled.17. From the moment I witnessed the self-portrait, I was at a loss for words. The continent of Africa immediately struck my mind. Bender then shared how the piece they chose to showcase at this year’s artwalk was a work in progress from the years of 2019-2022. Pieces of Tierra’s parents, Princess Diana’s funeral, and even an old resume of Bender’s made the project whole. 

“Finding yourself is a process. I incorporated things such as what I know love to be in my piece because that is the journey I am constantly on; finding out who I am and where I am going. Art is my coping mechanism.”- Artist, Tierra Bender

Untitled.17 By: Artist, Tierra Bender

This year’s Bronzeville Artwalk was not only the conclusion of a competition between all the artists. Each of their artwork was displayed in businesses in the neighborhood of Bronzeville, and everyone in the community had the opportunity to vote for which piece was their favorite. However; the evening served much more purpose than that. A student scholarship was given to one of CopyWrite’s very own, Arianna Theresa Shelander. The 21-year-old Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design was a featured artist in the artwalk and was completely shocked by her tear-jerking win. She received $500 as her award to continue pursuing her artistry and maintaining the balance of being a full-time mother but also an artist who has a story to tell.

Ari claiming her Student Artist Award alongside her son and artwork

“Art is my only way of coping. I don’t know where I would be without it. Besides my children, Riley and Huey, art is the only time I see light and positivity so clearly. When creating my artwork, I was inspired after birt,h seeing my stretch marks, a revelation came to me. They reminded me of roots underneath trees that give birth to life. Tonight’s piece is a visual representation of that. ” -Artist, Arianna T. Shelander

Artwork by Artist: Vedale Hill

For the last fifteen years, Bronzeville week has celebrated, uplifted, and anchored the acknowledgement of African-American cultu re, art, history, entertainment, and businesses. I don’t know how to explain it, but the city always seems to have a bright spotlight shining down as well as care-free energy around this time every year. Energetic and proud curator and visual translator of the night, Dante Nash, founder of AVRA,  wanted to keep this momentum going by concluding the event with a special thank you to a legend in our city. Another one whose hands help build CopyWrite to what it is today……drum roll please! Vedale Hill, professor at MIAD, teacher, and community leader, was given his flowers to close out the night. Hill has voluntarily taught and mentored countless youth who want to do something productive and motivating to themselves. Vedale is never one to boast; he always remains humble but has been on a mission that nobody talks about for over the last decade.

He left a message to all the guests in the building that I believe is my duty to share with you:

“Never change who you are, your morals, values, or purpose in life for anyone. Yes, you are all dope artists but now what do you do after you’ve learned you are dope? Our young brothers and sisters need to know how to never be taken advantage of and to start fulfilling our own communities by helping each other. I take on all responsibility when it comes to teaching and helping all generations of my people. We are all we have! Let’s not lose sight of that!” -Artist, Educator, and Mentor Vedale Hill

Comment down below which art piece or artist spoke to you the most in this article.Will you be attending the Bronzeville Artwalk next year? Share some of your favorite moments from this year’s celebration of Bronzeville week in our comment section of all our socias @copywritemag.

Support the artists with a follow on Instagram or purchase of their work from the event:

@savvybreaux_ 

@tierrabender 

@vedalehills_artstudio_mke

Lastly, go show love to Ari, the student artist award recipient of the night and donate what your heart desires after reading her story here:

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW

Gallery Night MKE: Art as Memory, Healing and Power

ALL IMAGES BY Brooklyn “BK” Anderson /CW INTERN

Four local artists transformed the CopyWrite [/CW] Creative Studios on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive into a vibrant showcase of personal narratives and community connection during Gallery Night MKE, held Friday and Saturday, July 18-19, 2025. 

The two-day event brought together diverse voices through the work of Vedale  Hill Jr., Vedale Hill, Kennedi Adamas, and Ariana Petrie, each presenting deeply personal pieces that resonated with themes of identity, healing, and resilience. The work is a part of their placement in THE  CREATIVE COLLAB | Bronzeville Artist-in-Residency Mentor Program.

Vedale Hill Jr., 13, presented “A Kid’s Place,” including a carpet art installation that transformed a Paw Patrol map into a memory collection using toy cars from different periods of his life. The interactive piece included personal elements like his silhouette and a "Cotton Candy Dripping Sunset" design referencing Milwaukee's notorious nightfall. The teenage artist even collaborated with his father, who added a heart and logo to a building in the piece. 

“I choose to use art as a memory,” Hill Jr. said. “Art is something that can remind you of some of the best things in your life,” he added, expressing pride in his artistic evolution from childhood and what it will be in the future. 

Vedale Hill, one of THE CREATIVE COLLAB mentors, exhibited “Lost and Found”, embodying his philosophy of repurposing materials. The father-son duo's shared artistic presence highlighted how creative expression transcends generations, with both Vedales contributing distinct yet connected perspectives to the exhibition. Using a terry cloth cape and a pallet with gold basketball rims as an infinity symbol, Hill addresses the representation gap in superhero imagery, which encourages him to reimagine characters with locs, curly hair, and tattoos. His work draws connections between sports culture and community empowerment, citing basketball players and rappers as real-life heroes in urban communities.

For this piece, Hill's motivation stems from Big Sean's lyrics: “No heroes where I'm from, bullets  only things flying,” which inspired his two-dimensional painting work featuring a bullet flying in a cape. 

Kennedi Adams, 25, showcased “The Zone”, square journals that serve as both artistic expression and mental health coping mechanisms, large scale multicavas, and other symbolic visual artifacts. The mixed media art pieces evolved from word-only entries to visual explorations of trauma, racial identity, and personal growth. The journals originated from fears of losing artistic motivation in art school and function as what Kennedi describes as a  “filtration system” for overwhelming thoughts related to complex CPTSD. 

"Someone told me that you lose all motivation from personal art," Kennedi said, flipping through the creatively cluttered pages of her journals. "My thought became this void that would get sucked in and regurgitated. It was forcing me to  confront it, and I could confront them in my head as much as I wanted to, but being  able to watch that growth in myself and that this art is something that I did for  myself and by myself, that was great." 

Ariana Pierre, 21, presented "The Curious Mind," centered around her major piece  "Curiosity," which shows self-portraits of herself at age 2. For the first time, Pierre integrated her twin children's handprints into her artwork, driven by her desire to provide them a better childhood than she experienced. Her work explores healing the inner child through art as a coping mechanism for childhood trauma. 

“I want to make little me proud and honor childhood dreams,” Pierre said,  explaining how her artwork shows darkness fighting against colorful elements representing resilience and the loss of childlike innocence. 

All in all, gallery visitors engaged with pieces that tackled complex themes of mental health, racial identity, childhood trauma, and community representation.  The artists' willingness to share personal narratives through their work created connections between creators and those who came to indulge. 

/CW Creative Studios highlighted Milwaukee's budding artist community, showcasing how personal storytelling through art can foster broader conversations about healing, identity, and social connection. Each piece served as both individual expression and community dialogue, demonstrating that art's power to bridge personal experience with collective understanding can bring people together.

Sky Abner for /CW

Community Arts & Funk Festival Announces 15th Anniversary Celebration: A Vibrant, Family-Friendly Showcase of Art, Music, and Unity in Downtown Milwaukee

*INFO PROVIDED BY Community Arts & Funk Festival

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MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Get ready for a spectacular summer celebration! The Community Arts & Funk Festival is thrilled to announce its 15-Year Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, August 16, 2025, taking place at the iconic Peck Pavilion and South Grounds at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, located at 929 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI. This milestone event, celebrating visual and performing arts, along with the distinct funk genre of music, promises a dynamic and family-friendly cultural experience for all ages in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. The festival will highlight local artists with vendor showcases for guests to support and purchase local artwork, as well as a fine arts competition for local artists to win a $1000 prize!

Set against the backdrop of downtown Milwaukee, the Community Arts & Funk Festival provides a unique opportunity to promote intergenerational dialogue between emerging, established, and underground performing artists who share common performance and musical roots. The festival's musical focus on the funk genre, made popular by legends like James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and Parliament-Funkadelic, aims to educate the broader listening public about its rich history, inspirations, and evolution from R&B, Jazz, Gospel, and Rock, and its profound influence on the Hip Hop generation. This powerful combination of funk music with local, regional, and national visual artists creates a cross-cultural, demographically diverse, family-oriented community event rooted in authenticity and intentionality.

"We are incredibly excited to mark 15 years of the Community Arts & Funk Festival," says Brad Bernard, event organizer. "This anniversary is a testament to the power of art and music to bring people together, foster creativity, and celebrate our shared community. We've poured our hearts into curating an unforgettable day that highlights exceptional talent and promotes positive connections."

Festival Highlights

Star-Studded Musical Lineup & Performances

Prepare for an electrifying day of music and performances. The event will be hosted by esteemed radio and TV personality, Andrea Williams.

The official performance schedule includes:

• 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM: Youth Dance Performances

• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Youth Poetry Slam

• 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Live Music Performances by:

• Act 1: B.Wyzdom (2:30 PM - 3:15 PM)

• Act 2: Trace Ellington Experience (3:30 PM - 4:15 PM)

• Act 3 (Headliner): Switch (4:30 PM - 6:00 PM)

The headlining act, Switch, is a legendary American R&B and Funk band, celebrated for iconic hits such as "There'll Never Be" and "I Call Your Name." Intermissions of 15 minutes will occur between acts, during which a DJ will keep the funk music playing.

Prestigious Fine Arts Competition

Visual artists are invited to participate in a judged fine arts competition, vying for a $1,000 'Best of Show' award, along with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. The announcement of artist awards will take place from 12:35 PM - 12:50 PM. This competition will showcase a broad spectrum of talented urban and suburban visual artists, encompassing both academically trained and self-taught individuals, presenting a wide variety of subject matter, concepts, and technical approaches from across the local and regional art scene.

Local artists are strongly encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity to showcase their work and compete for cash awards and prizes. Find more information and the application form here: https://www.artsandfunk.com/call-for-artists-1000-prize

Engaging On-Ground Activations

In addition to the main stage performances and art competition, attendees can enjoy:

• Free 3D Photobooth by The Booth Mke

• T-shirt Design station provided by Fruition MKE

• Community Mural led by artist Ken Brown

• Kid-Friendly Art Activities by Artists Working in Education

• Local Food & Drink Vendors (Saz’s & more)

• Local Artists & Creator Vendors

• Publishing/Copyright and Royalties Workshop provided by MuSample Music Business Consultant 

Local Flavors and Unique Finds

Attendees can explore a diverse array of offerings from local vendors and food trucks, providing a variety of food and beverage options available for purchase throughout the day.

Local art and food vendors are encouraged to apply to be a part of this vibrant community event: https://www.artsandfunk.com/vendor-booth-payment-form

Media Sponsors

The Community Arts & Funk Festival is proud to partner with our media sponsors:

• RadioMilwaukee 88.9 FM

• WMSE 91.7 FM

• V100 100.7 FM

About Community Arts & Funk Festival

The Community Arts & Funk Festival (CAFF) is dedicated to celebrating the rich tapestry of visual art, R&B, and funk, highlighting the profound power of live music and artistic expression. Each year, the festival strives to create a memorable experience that showcases talent, fosters community engagement, and promotes cultural awareness. The festival is a testament to the idea that when the power of funk music is combined with the works of local, regional, and national visual artists, it provides the perfect combination for curating a cross-cultural, demographically diverse, family-oriented community event rooted in authenticity and intentionality.

For more information and future updates, please visit: https://www.artsandfunk.com/

TOGETHER WE CAN HELP ARI WITH COLLEGE TUITION & CHILDCARE

We asked Ari to write her own story. . . But as a community, we can turn the page together. It takes a village.

From the /CW Fam

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My name is Arianna Theresa Shelander. I am 21 years old.  A single mother of twin boys, Huey & Riley, who are one year old. They were born on June 17th, 2024. I delivered at 35 weeks, one month premature. I was confined to the hospital for a week after having them. Huey, my firstborn, came home when I did. Riley, the younger twin, stayed in the NICU for a week due to having difficulties swallowing. The experience was depressing. The separation anxiety and guilt I had only been able to take one of my children home, was devastating.  I was a first-time mother of twin premature babies, which requires a different amount of care compared to a full-term birth. 

At first, I was unaware of the need. I had no guidance on true motherhood . Postpartum had gotten to me, and again I was unaware. My kids weren’t dressed properly for the weather at their first appointment [who knew that babies needed layers even in June?]. They dropped in weight after leaving the hospital. My mother wasn’t around to let me know. I was 20 with 2 babies.  It was scary. I constantly questioned myself: Am I doing this right? 

I eventually found out that I had been experiencing postpartum psychosis. It’s similar to PPD (postpartum depression). I was not in my right mind after having my kids. Also, due to the drop in hormones I fell into a psychotic episode. Once Riley came home from the hospital, I was hospitalized for 3 days to stabilize my mental condition.  After having two seizures post birth, due to high blood pressure, extreme blood loss, and hospital negligence. [This is a narrative many Black women face during maternity, and some instances even result in death]. But I don’t want to be just another sad story. I want to face the battle head-on, earning a better life for myself, so I can provide my children with the stability & foundation I never had.

I’ve been trying my best, but I still struggle with some depression, guilt, unhealed trauma, and attachment issues. Due to domestic violence, I am a single mother [Again, a narrative that seems repetitive in my community]. Overcome by his alcoholism, the father of my children got blackout drunk one night, and tried to kill me [the twins were 3 weeks old]. He trashed my apartment, broke my phone, a window, and almost choked me to death. This was not his first time putting his hands on me. He was controlling me, my decisions, and finances. I made so many sacrifices for a man who wasn’t willing to change. That’s still hard for me to stomach.

I have found a few places that had resources, and a small village has started to grow. WE have just barely made it. A full-time student, a mother of 2, with a tumultuous childhood. My mother, Lisa, a bi-racial woman in a white family, passed away in a car accident when I was 16. She had 8 kids. I'm the 7th of that 8. Four boys, four girls. . . .Brandon, Jackie, William, Derek, Brianna, Azaria, Arianna, and Keaton. I, being one of the youngest, have always felt the most abandoned. She struggled with addiction and became a crack addict.

My siblings all have similar messed-up stories. We all have different dads [take that how you want]. Six of my siblings were adopted into the family, and two were adopted out of the family. I was adopted by my aunt Penny. For years, I hated my mother; I blamed her for everything. Until I got older and understood things differently. She died before I knew her for real. Now again, my aunts and uncle are all white…My uncle was raping my momma for years. I can’t imagine what my mother went through growing up. My aunt Penny, who “raised” me, is my mother's older sister.  The “scandalous” details of her birth, a white woman [my biological grandmother] cheated on her husband [with a black man, my biological grandfather], then released allegations saying she was raped. 

But it doesn't end there, my father is incarcerated due to the sexual assault of me and his niece. I was in foster care and group homes till the age of 18. I am now Arianna Jane Petrie [a name that still feels like an eraser of my true identity]. My aunt changed it because she felt my name was “ghetto”, when she adopted me at 4 years old. The last name Petrie has no kin to me. I’ve been unable to change my name back to my original [the cost that has always been too steep for my financial situation]. 

I was abused mentally, physically, and emotionally by my aunt & family. I was being racially attacked, beaten, and starved. Which did cause mental distress. I started self-harming at the age of 11. When I was 11, I was sexually assaulted for the second time. By my cousin’s boyfriend.  I self-harmed until I was about 16. Around that time was my first suicide attempt. I was taken from my aunt's house at the age of 13, because she beat me with a mental cane, and even though there were multiple police reports/ cps visits, I finally got removed from her care after she fractured my wrist and broke my finger. 

From the age 13-18 I was moved pretty much every month. I was placed in a group home after, group home. No “parents”, just staff 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift. . . then the owners. We were the kids everyone gave up on, for whatever your circumstances. Every adult in my life who was supposed to protect me did the exact opposite.  The things I saw and experienced as a child, as a teen, as a human needing guidance, still affect me to this day. I had to teach myself what I know now, learning the hard way, making mistakes, attempting not to be what the world expects me to be. I had to choose, and it’s still a choice every day to not become a statistic. A statistic of the Black community and of my family. I chose better, I’m choosing better.  

Despite all of this, I graduated from high school. I completed my freshman year at MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design). My 2022-2023 year, I took a leave, because in the school environment I experienced microaggression, very obvious discrimination, and other situations that felt racially charged. To this day, I struggle with identity issues, mental health, and some traces of postpartum. I still have PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and a fear of abandonment. But I have to succeed for my kids. 

Since MIAD is a private school, the state of Wisconsin won’t approve my childcare. They are also trying to cut my financial aid, due to my grades dropping from unforeseen circumstances. My car broke down before I started school again in January. When my kids were only 6 months old. So the only transportation I had was the bus. Frigid temperatures, raining and snowing, my babies had RSV twice. The school wasn’t too accommodating to the situation. But the choice to be a good mother over coming to classes was a slap in the face. But it's my reality. I can’t leave my kids with my mother or father. No family to step in. No true support system to offer care.  For months, not even their dad was around. It was all on me.  

So here I am asking for help. Putting it out into the world to see if anybody is willing to assist. To add to my efforts, to do great things. I will graduate from college, so that I can have a career that will allow me to support myself. I will secure a dependable car so that I can transport my children safely. I will work hard to maximize my skills in art & use my professional development that I am learning as a mentee in THE CREATIVE COLLAB | Bronzeville Artist-in-Residency Mentor Program. I will continue to develop my poetry as I use it to tell my story & walk in my truth. I will be the best mother for Huey & Riley. I will be the guidance for them that I never had. I will protect them, provide for them, and love them. 

All I need is for you to hear my story & be willing to invest in me, as a member of your community, a fellow human being, and a person who plans on paying it forward, tenfold. 

Creative’s Making Impact By Lifting Other Creatives w/ The Creative Collab | Bronzeville Artist-in-Residency Mentor Program

Creative’s Making Impact By Lifting Other Creatives w/ The Creative Collab | Bronzeville Artist-in-Residency Mentor Program

[A mentoring-focused Artist-in-Residency program that connects youth with a professional creative]

Creativity is best cultivated through collaboration. However, opportunities for creative collaboration can be sparse depending on age, locality, and personal network. Statistically, we know that “28% of surveyed Milwaukee-based creatives are strongly considering relocating to another city due to a lack of creative opportunities, jobs, and support here” [Imagine MKE, 2023]. Retention of talent [cultivated locally] will always be a problem unless we address it intentionally, constantly, & economically supported.

Under the leadership of Jazale’s Art Studio, Vedales Art Studio [Vedale Hill], and /CW Creative Studios + Shop [Owned by CopyWrite, Magazine, Media & Design, Lexi S. Brunson] we have cultivated the collaborative means to propel many creative career paths while navigating Milwaukee’s economic & opportunity disparities in the creative sector. From fine arts to media, fashion to performance, and all the intersectional practices of creative entrepreneurship in between, we have found a methodology that can help creatives excel in their personal and professional goals.

Today, we launch THE CREATIVE COLLAB | BRONZEVILLE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY MENTOR PROGRAM is a mentoring-focused Artist-in-Residency program that connects youth with a professional creative. Each youth participant will have access to mentors across the creative spectrum in their area of interest. Participants will be immersed in a diverse creative environment, where they will witness everyday practices of creative professionalism, methods of creative production, problem-solving, the proper methods of documentation, and how best to utilize their specific skill sets. This program will provide mentors & mentees stipends to emphasize the value of creative practice while navigating the economic necessities of a quality & sustainable practice.

MAGE BY COPYWRITE MAGAZINE VIA /CW SUMMER HIGH SCOOL INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE | VISITING MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM -DERICK ADAMS, OUR TIME TOGETHER EXIBIT

“We have to understand that creative success directly correlates with access to resources & a creative network. A big piece of that narrative is funding.  An artist should no longer be asked to starve. I know I don’t starve well! If we can help young creatives understand their value to society, while giving them the professional tools to navigate this industry, then as a community we all will reap the reward”, said Vedale Hill. 

“Collectively, we have sat in rooms that have had the social capital and funding force that could fortify the creative industry in Milwaukee. However, time & time again, some people refuse to educate themselves on how creative talent enhances a communities cultural identity, promotes economic growth, and improves overall quality of life. If we take creatives out of the equation, there is no success in any industry. We want the next generation to have better opportunities than we have. So here we are attempting to do the right thing for all the right reasons. We hope that our community can support that in an active way”. - noted Lexi S. Brunson.

IMAGE BY COPYWRITE MAGAZINE VIA /CW SUMMER HIGH SCOOL INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE | BEQUEST YOUTH LED FASHION EXPERIENCE AT /CW CREATIVE STUDIOS

As of today, May 16th, 2025, THE CREATIVE COLLAB | BRONZEVILLE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY MENTOR PROGRAM applications are now live. Qualified applicants include Creatives 13-25, who are Milwaukee County residents, are enrolled in middle school, high school, or a post-secondary educational institution, with proof of exemplary creative skill sets. Financial needs are highly considered. Spring/Summer 2025 Cohort pre-screened participants will be notified of their acceptance via email by May 20th, 2025. Other applicants will be notified if they are accepted to a cohort on a rolling basis.

Special thanks to The Brewers Community Foundation for helping us pilot the program with their sponsorship contribution. We are still looking for additional funding sponsors for 2025 cohorts to further THE CREATIVE COLLAB's capacity, mentoring opportunities, and communal impact. [All sponsorships are tax deductible through Jazale's Art Studio's 501C Status]. If you are interested, please contact us at jazalesartstudio.org@gmail.com | copywrite.mke@gmail.com, Attn: The Creative Collab 

Want to be a part of our communal impact? Please consider donating at:

For Press inquiries, interviews, and other media-related requests, please contact Lexi S. Brunson, Editor-in-Chief of CopyWrite Magazine, at: Copywrite.mke@gmail.com 

/CW

CUSTOM PORTRAIT HOLIDAY ART SALE | BY VEDALE HILL

Are you ready to get IN THE CUT? | A New Behind The Scenes Series Showcasing Unorthodox Media Life

Creative Media life is no joke, but somebody has to do it! Get to know the /CW Fam, from a behind-the-scenes lens of /CW HQ [/CW Creative Studio + Shop]. This TMZ, MTV, on the “porch”, in the “stu” style mash-up of hot takes, out outlandish game planning, creative advocacy, and unorthodox business practices, is a way to show a more intimate glance at the work we do “when nobody is watching”. The hyper-glamorization [fakkkkkkkkeeee] of content creation is a crucial element of the media landscape that we have avoided all too long. Here is an opportunity to do it our way, ten years in the game *wink wink*.

Stay tuned for the opportunity to see the raw and uncut content in our latest project, and invites to drop into the studio for conversations about Art, Fashion, Music, Community, Culture, and so much more. /CW is a collective of real people who experience real-ish on the daily. When it comes to running a business for those who look like us, having ambitious goals, and feeding that creative hunger, you never know what might happen with the /CW Fam. 

Meet The /CW Fam

Lexi S. brunson | owner/Active Editor-IN-CHIEF

CARLOS M. VERGARA | CREATIVE DIRECTOR + OPERATION MANAGER

VEDALE HILL | FACILITIES MANAGER 

IMANI ORTIZ | Specialized Content Journalist + HOST OF THE INTERSECTION PODCAST

PAM WILLIAMS | MEDIA + PRODUCTION

Jamai fisher | shop + studio assistant

Nkenge S. Roberson | In-House Visual Content Creator

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment and Social Journalist

James Dean | Studio + social media assistant

Keep your eyes on the lookout for bi-weekly episodes on copywritemag.com/in-the-cut [Youtube, Instagram, & Tik Tok] because IN THE CUT is about to turn some stuff up! 

Create. Inspire. Repeat. - Meet AVRA

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DESIGNERS OF

ISSUE 21: BACK TO BLACK?

Avra’s mission is to “provide our clients with the creative and professional edge to tell their brand story and reach their full potential. By fostering the visions of diverse Midwest-born creatives, AVRA provides an elite range of branding and strategic communication services tailored to deliver a dynamic impact.”

You're Invited to the opening Exhibition of CULTURE: BETWEEN SPACE & PLACE By Lexi S. Brunson

You're invited to experience a spatial art installation created by CopyWrite Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Lexi S. Brunson. Also, get your copy of Issue 21 Back to Black at the exhibit [where the installation is featured].

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Through my professional practices as a writer, researcher, media maker, interior designer, and creative, I have noted that between Space & Place, we find Culture [Big C]. Since Culture is nuanced, it creates an opportunity to reimagine what space is through the multiplicity of mediums, contextualized via identity, locality, and temporality.

I have taken this concept, through a casual practice of interpersonal interviews, observation, and pursuing/inhabiting spaces where cultural dialogue [spoken & unspoken] occurs. By creating a series of “vignettes” that exist [& will exist] in multiple mediums, I share cultural narratives that reflect the internal perspective of the BIPOC community. Not as a monolithic lens but as a note of existence we often assign with diminutive importance. The nostalgia-induced conversations that transpired during installation with staff, visitors, and other people popping by, validated that these places [even when repurposed as art] are truly threads of understanding in a web of misinterpretation WE do not subscribe to.

AN ILLIAD - SnapShot Press Release

photos by Michael Brosilow

Humanity has a way of showing us its values. 

Our fate lies somewhere between the unknown and the unhinged [what a spectrum]. However, it is usually through reflection, anecdotal and historical, from a distant past to a very near present that we see the repetition of lore and find ourselves questioning the meaning of it all.

Sunday’s [September 22nd, 2024]  Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s performance of AN ILIAD, was an emotional display of genius, wrapped in the tradition of Grecian tragedy, smothered in the plight of modernism oblivion to the human condition, and how “WE” got here. Lisa Peterson & Denis O’hare’s interpretation of Homer’s The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles, bares us from the smoke and mirrors of social exchange, grounding us in the power of mono-interpretation storytelling. However, it is N'Jameh Camara (The Poet) and Kellen “Klassik” Abston (The Muse/ Composer) that brought the shores of Troy and the backdrop of the Aegean Sea into reach within the circular “void” of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

IT’S GIVING DRAMAAAAAAA!

As N'Jameh drowned herself in a bottle of “spirits” she walks us through the tale of Hector and Achilles, the Trojan War, and the fate of their battle. Her monologue was striking. When & where are we? In the “now” of disruptive political turmoil, or in the “then” of disruptive political turmoil? In the “now” of men policing the body of women or in the “then” of men policing the body of women? In the “now” of socially induced hysteria or. . . It did not matter, N'Jameh as the poet reminded us that these fates could be our own and that we must not shrug lightly at the flaws of man, because we are MAN. 

With just a suitcase, a bench, and a few layers of clothing N'Jameh flings her head back and stairs into the eyes of the audience [the people] then rushes to gesture the interactions of warriors, lovers, enemies, friends, and family. She makes us grieve the death of Patroclus, the same way we grieve, the limp bodies of boys found slayed on street corners in rival “hoods”. She makes us speculate Helen [Helen of Troy or Helen of Sparta depending on who you ask] agency in her selection of suitors. Was Helen into Paris or nah? Does Helen even want Menelaus to defend her or does she just like to see men get all hot and bothered over her? [Is killing the highest or lowest form of flattery that can be offered]. 

All I know is that when N'Jameh reflects on what war this landscape of carnage reminds her of, she list every war that humanity has documented, and my eyes flooded with stinging tears as if the waves had crashed upon me and I was destined to drown.

The mantra of monikers. . .

Peloponnesian War

Crusades

Powhatan War

Mexican-American War

World War I

Arab-Israeli wars

Vietnam War

Israel–Hamas war

. . . It went on and on for what seemed like forever. How could we not see it? How could we not understand that we have failed to protect our species from butchery? How could we not plead for forgiveness when we have all let our egos slaughter our potential for collective peace? N'Jameh wailed in a dialect of pain and her voice carried through the room into some distant pit of sorrow. I have been to many performances, but I have never felt so soul-crushed in viewing the truth. 

I am guilty. We all are guilty.  

This ability to drag our senses into the thick of it was not an isolated win. Klassik’s arrival into the theater as The Muse allowed for an auditory awakening or a soundtrack to a collective soul cry. His layered vibrations made us hear waves on the battle beach, the clash of metal weapons against armor, and the vastness of hundreds of thousands of ships arriving. His musical composition was boisterous and delicate all at the same time. We needed his contribution, we needed the liquid “spirits” to release this auditory vision for The Poet to relive, what we all must rectify. 

AN ILIAD is an experience that humanity needs. It is a scream for repentance in public intimacy. As we find ourselves pinned into battles that may be sanctioned by the Gods [Yours, mine, theirs, ours, or no one's] and ask for conviction in our uncertainty [who deems our deeds good or evil?] We must remember that we are all villains in someone's story. 

[& the comedic relief was there. But only enough to make us say “Ohhhh boy we’re screwed.”

I invite you to approach your humanity and experience Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s AN ILIAD, for the sake of us all.

Lexi S. Brunson 

Editor-in-Chief /CW