the Not-So-Accidental Conviction of Eleven Milwaukee "Anarchists" - SnapShot Press Release

photos by Michael Brosilow

“LET’S JUST BLOW THE WHOLE THING UP!”

Ahht, Ahht, Ahht! Don’t you dare snark at the thought. 

We all have said it. If not out loud, it has definitely crossed your mind. And if it hasn’t, are you even human?

The true question is what is the “thing” that would actually make you do it?

The Not-So-Accidental Conviction of Eleven Milwaukee "Anarchists" defines that moment by taking a comedic aside into history, local history, in a Milwaukee that seems so distant from our present society but is in fact, the foundation of what we now bear witness to. The trial of “The Milwaukee Eleven” and the police station bombing of 1917 is dismantled through planned improv [if it's not a term I'm coining it now], a black box theatre with a trunk full of doodads, and a chair [Yup, just one chair]. 

Why? Because many of us have forgotten that empathy is civility. . . but just hold that thought. We will get there. 

Saturday's [May 4th, 2024] 4:00 pm production was quite interesting. It's not just because playwright Martín Zimmerman intended it to be [as he allowed his burning questions of the story to reveal themselves on the stage. Questions like, How do you make sense of people about whom we have such fragmented, contradictory information?] but also because the longing to wrap ideas [in the form of art] in a nice shiny bow, instead, creating a knot of complexities with tattered ends is uncomfortable. In the opening scene it seemed like we were all slated for 90 minutes of a four-person recall of historical facts [I mean cool I guess if you're into that]. But then the bomb exploded, the butter was squashed, and chaos ensued. 

That chaos took the form of two-syllable curse words, catty disagreements, and a baby blow horn. What part of the story should come next and what is the best way to depict it? Actors Elyse Edelman, King Hang, Dimonte Henning, and Kelsey Elyse Rodriguez were charged with playing several roles, embodying the people and the police, the righteous and the ridiculed, the holy and the sinful [& these characters are not juxtaposing beings but multiplicities of humanity]. 

That’s where it gets tough. 

It was strategically unhinged and while much of the audience laughed, there were many who winced at the potty language but did not bat an eye at the reminder of people's lives, livelihoods, and freedom being taken from them. Who made the bomb? There is no one name or evidence to support one intended target. Why did they make it? If it was indeed an act of anarchy then it must be an act against the systems that were “ruling” Milwaukee at the time which allowed for bad working conditions, bigotry, discrimination [ethnic is a loaded term around these parts], and poverty to persist.  If it's an act against religion then what god allows for a 4-year-old child to be taken into custody by the police? This little midwest town in the free world is starting to look tragic but it's not like 1917 was an isolated occurrence. Just last week students calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were met with police batons and monkey noises [but y'all ain't hearing me though]. 

And that for me was more disturbing. 

That type of discomfort reverberates through every life choice and decision made [or avoided]. It sets the tone for the future and the narratives we uphold from the past. Zimmerman was smart to let us grapple with analysis as the actors analyzed. The actors were bold in allowing us to see their range as they unpacked and then reboxed how to approach historical narrative in its grandiose and in its pretentious posturing of justice.

At the end of it, I couldn't care less who Clarence Darrow or Augusto Giuliani was. All I wanted to know is why we keep letting others write and archive our history. When will we realize that the archive does not have to be documented through the lens of our oppressors? When will we realize that the most vulnerable populations have always been bastardized by the systems that self-assign themselves as protectors?

It's ugly and society is a mirror of that ugliness. 

The Not-So-Accidental Conviction of Eleven Milwaukee "Anarchists" is rhetoric for self-assessment. If you are not terrified of the possibilities of what can happen when we disregard the needs of our fellow human [as terrified as I was to watch that slow-mo fight scene where unarmed cops were in a shoot-out with civilians] or if you don’t question your sanity when you become desensitized to violence [physical, mental, or emotional] then wtf are we actually doing here?

I don’t know if I liked what I saw but I do know that more people need to be confronted with narratives that make them cringe. If you know someone who needs to light a fire under their complacent a**, then send them to see this Milwaukee Chamber Theater production. 

Something has got to change.

Lexi S. Brunson 

Editor-in-Chief /CW

The Mountaintop

We’ve all seen the different narratives and adaptations of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout our lives; “Our Friend Martin,” “Selma,” “Selma, Lord Selma,” season 1 ep. 9 of “The Boondocks,” etc... All of these have been historically critical to the importance of passing down his legacy (or in the case of Aaron McGruder, a dramatized and comical take on what could've been his realistic response to the world as it is today), but no story has captured the nature of King as a man like “The Mountaintop.” The legacy of Dr. King is one of the most impactful pieces of America’s history without saying; nearly 60 years after his death, men like County Executive David Crowley are able to be recognized on opening night with the “Mountaintop Legacy Award” for perpetuating the very character and vision that compelled Dr. King to carry on in his mission, in our very own city. However, only a fresh perspective can provoke new respect for the journey of a leader; A human journey. Prior to making a special appearance on their “Legacy Night” showcase later on in this month, Milwaukee Chamber Theater saved us some seats for opening night as well where I sat a row or two in front of Director Dimonte Henning who was finally able to marvel at the fruition of this vision for the first time after taking on the script. I caught up with him right after the show..

CW: “What I really want to know is how you came to get your hands on a script like that, because when I came into the theater, I didn't expect the story to be told that way. So what made you wanna take on that narrative?”

DH: “You know what, I'm at a point where I like to tell stories that mean something to me. If it doesn't mean anything to me-, I can't put myself and my creativity into a space where it doesn't mean anything. So, Dr. King's story-, it means so much to have it told in this way; this reimagined depiction of the last night that he was alive. I felt like I needed to tell this story and I needed to find the right actors, the right designer team to help uplift this story. And so, Bryant [Bentley], he reached out to me. He [asked me] do I wanna direct this? I said ‘absolutely, yes.’ It's been a long time coming. Bryant first approached me about this show 2 years ago, so to be here on opening night with the audience, to see the vision come to life, is a gift, it's a treat, it's a gift from God and I don't take that for granted. It's because the story means something to me.”

With the deliberate use of only the 2 actors on stage for the entirety of the story in a single setting, a Memphis motel room, and the size of Milwaukee Chamber’s theater room contributing to the intimate atmosphere, there was no escaping the raw humanity and chaotic rollercoaster of morale in the writing and its display in the genius and dedication of the actors, on and off stage. Henning shares as a lover of history that the details of this depiction were taken from fact and research, bringing real life to this dramatization. 

DH: … I'm sure that he didn't interact with the maid how he does in this play, but there are a lot of historical moments and facts brought into the play… One thing that really impacted me was the night that he did the “I Have a Dream” speech, the FBI listed him as the ‘Most Dangerous Man in America,’ and I was just like, wow! How is that possible? This man who just brought all of these people together is now listed as a dangerous man in America..and we all know why that is, but just understanding who he ws as a man and, giving it to Bryant Bentley who played Dr. King, we had a lot of conversations. We spent our first week of rehearsal-, we have 3 weeks of rehearsal-, We spent our first week just talking about ‘what is this play about? What story do we want to tell? What is the relationship between Dr. King and Camae? Who are these people?’... “The foundation of all of my work is authenticity. If it's not authentic, then the audience is gonna see right through it, so it has to be authentic:..:  finding the truth in these characters. And then we did intimacy work. Our intimacy director, KaiLee Evans, came in and she worked with both of our actors. They go through a process every night. They have an opening process as soon as they get here. Then, they have a close out where they just connect and talk with each other and make sure that they are on the same page. There's some intimate moments where they get physical with each other, and it's important because you wanna keep the actors safe…because it's just them two on stage… If you mess up that relationship off stage, it may bleed on stage. So we just wanna be sure that they're safe, so that's where that came from.”

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall will be showing at the Milwaukee Chamber Theater until March 24th. The CopyWrite fam will be present on March 22nd as guest hosts for one of the last showings of this marvelous story in celebration of black excellence. We hope to see some of you there!

/CW Naomi-Re’a 

SnapShot Press Release: Laughs in Spanish [Gallery Life Off The Wall]

Nobodies documenting the Telenovela that is gallery life. 

You know the pretentious acting curators, the thirsty for stardom gallery assistants, and the notably irrational and irresponsible artist who would prefer to be on some remote island with a stiff drink, conjuring inspiration for their next big thing.

Ashley Oviedo, Isa Condo-Olvera, Jenna Bonofiglio, Arash Fakhrabadi, and Rána Roman [All Images provided by milwaukee chamber theater via Michael Brosilow]

Okay well maybe somebody is, but these idiosyncrasies void that this performance of art culture is an overtone of whiteness that fills gallery white walls, with white washed economics, and white narratives that are positioned to be “profound”. 

*Did she really just go there?*

Ohhhh, yes! I did!

The scene I just “painted” [See what I did there? Lol]  is one that can be drastically altered when considering how non-white bodies navigate these spaces. These bodies start to resemble people whose characteristics feel familiar, feel like friends, feel like family, and feel like voices I intimately knew existed but seldom get to hear.

Saturday's [September 23rd, 2023] opening night of Laughs In Spanish, by Alexis Scheer took me there. Giving the audience Miami realness with the complexities of the modern human experience including motherhood, divorce, pregnancy, abandonment issues, high off THC conversations, same-sex relationships, immigration, and a monologue by Rána Roman that had me totally reanalyzing my own journey into motherhood. Its scenic set design of gallery aesthetic with Miami glam by Em Allen, had my critical “interior designer by trade” mind fangirling on that vibey beach air balcony hidden behind those opaque white rolling walls. With DJ Palante giving the music vibes in the lobby, to a Latinx artist installation curated by Katie Avila Loughmiller, the tone was set before the show even began.  It truly brought me back to my last visit to Art Basel. [If you have never been, this play will inspire you to book that trip].

Labeled as a “crime comedy” [Yes, because stealing art from galleries is definitely a trope the world needs more of. Art is valuable, monetarily and culturally!] It cleverly uses its title as the punchline in an exchange of wisdom and remorse that is easy to share between strangers, when it should be saved for the people you love.  

How do you “laugh in Spanish”? 

¡JAJAJA! 

I died at the subtlety of that hilarious cultural exchange and felt warmth in knowing my upbringing had allowed me to understand [and have access] to the inside joke.

This again is a familiarity that Isa Condo-Olvera [Mariana] , Arash Fakhrabadi [Juan], Ashley Oviedo [Carolina], Rána Roman [Estella] and Jenna Bonofiglio [Jenny] provided by pulling at emotions through their characters that went beyond the surface.

Mariana reminded me of my mother; guarded and jaded by the world. But of course there is a reason why.

Juan was ready to risk it all for Carolina. [Love me like that or not at all] 

Jenny, is that voice of annoying reason that you really should listen to. [Don’t you hate it when they’re right?]

Carolina questioning her career for motherhood echoed by Estella’s choice to be ambitious to inspire her daughter but failing to hit the mark in Mariana's eyes is. . . me. 

Can I escape the narrative that a woman can’t do it all? Only time will tell.

Laughs In Spanish is a think piece. It’s “profound” without pretentiousness. It's relatable without stunting the growth and impact of Latinx culture. It is palatable because it is plausible. If you know you know and if you don’t, Alexa will understand you want to change the song the first time you ask. 

So if you need a little art in your life, consider looking away from the walls and feeling up a seat at the Milwaukee Chamber Theater.

Lexi S. Brunson for /CW

Juxtaposing perspecetives | An In The Field Reflection from /CW Summer 2023 Youth Interns

As many know, this summer CopyWrite Magazine with our partners Jazale’s Art Studio, hosted four Summer Youth Interns. Aligned with the authentic nature of both organizations' creative practices, we found it fitting to immerse our interns in “In the field” research that showed them the juxtaposing nature of our creative community. With a guided tour of the Bronzeville neighborhood and the Milwaukee Art Museum, each intern noted their perspectives of community, culture, and space. They wrote their perspectives in the format that best served them, also showing that communication varies depending on how you view the world. [Its the agency in methodology for us]. It should be a reminder to us all that archiving perspectives brings light to future questions. What are WE saying to the next generation and what will they say about us?

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Cameron Barker | Reflection

Bronzeville

Walking through Bronzeville introduced me to a new perspective on art that is used when investigating what art is and who it is for. The installations in the Historic Garfield Apartments allow for people who typically can’t go to museums and displays to interact with and view art, and the style of art used allows for it to add to the space subtly without being overpowering. In addition, the preservation of the artwork done by the kids who went to the school before it was transformed, shines a light on the real history of buildings in the local environment. By preserving the artwork, it gives importance to the artists. Every kid that worked on that piece is at a much later stage in their life now, and for them to be able to look back at what they did and see that it was preserved also gives their past value, and further shows them the importance of having experiences like that in their childhood.

The development being done in the Bronzeville area is another thing that interested me on our walk. The initiative to build a high school for minority students in this community is an important push to further strengthen it and give kids better access to quality education, while also counteracting gentrification in the area. As these development projects become completed their is a high probability to displace people who already live in this area. If property taxes rise, and people simply can’t afford to live in the same place as they used to, then they’ll be forced out and people with more money than them will move in, renovate, and paint over the vital history of this area. Fortunately for the present residents, the people who want to come in and gentrify the area may be put off by the proximity to a high-school for minority students, which in itself is an interesting dynamic. Why do the people with the money to support and engage in development not want to be close to certain demographics? They’ll support from afar, but when they have to go to the communities and interact with the people who live in them, they are hesitant or unwilling.

Going to the Bronzeville Collective shows me the work that people in the community are putting in to maintain and support local entities. The store had a variety of products including candles, apparel, jewelry, and self-care products all of which are made by black, brown, and queer producers. Knowing that the money that I spent is going to someone who looks like me or lives in the same community as me, builds a stronger relationship between me as a consumer, and the designer or producer. Money isn’t everything, but one thing money is for certain is power. Money is the power to support a family, the power to protect a family, and the power, if in the wrong hands, can move families. The importance of knowing where money goes is so significant especially when supporting local businesses, because it’s much more likely that the money they receive goes directly back to the communities they are a part of. Local businesses bring money into communities and the money they bring in flows in a cycle throughout the community, strengthening it and moving it forward.

Milwaukee Art Museum

The Milwaukee Art Museum differs vastly in the way they display and interact with art when compared to people in the Bronzeville area, and the dynamic between the two paints a polarizing picture of how each entity perceives each other. The people who purchase and display art in museums base the worth of art on not only its visual appearance but also the context it was created in. They believe that beyond the surface, art can convey messages through the artists’ perspective, but also by analyzing what was happening during the time the art was being created. If an artist were to paint a beautiful flower during WWII, some appreciators of the art may claim it’s worth more because the content of the painting contrasts with the context of the time. While people who view art at the museum level may think about these intricacies of appreciating art, people in communities such as Bronzeville may not view art in the same light.

The worth of art is completely subjective, and to some, the value of a canvas with paint on it is more than that of a car, a house, or even a private jet. For the people who consume art at such a high level, the price of a piece in their eyes is completely justified, no matter the amount. On the other end of the spectrum, people who don’t go to the museum at all, and don’t care for art simply cannot see the value in the things that others would say are valuable. To them, ‘Summer Sentinel” by Anne Truitt is nothing more than two blue blocks put on top of one another, with their only value being in the material the artist used to make them. To not see the deeper meaning, if any, of the artwork is not the fault of the viewer. If the artist intended to convey a message, in some way shape, or form, then it must be able to be received by the ones who look upon their work.

The disconnect then is created when the people who believe they see the deeper meaning, and believe that they understand what the artist is trying to convey also believe that people who cannot see what they see are “below” them in some way. They blame the inability of others to perceive the value of art on their economic status, their education, or the color of their skin. In opposition, the people who do not care for artwork ridicule those who appreciate it, calling them delusional, only making up meaning for art so they can buy and sell it for a higher price. When money plays such a big role in determining how art is consumed and viewed, it becomes hard for each side to see where one other is coming from. Why should someone spend any amount of money to view art, when they can simply spend that money on anything else? And why should people try to show art to those who don’t go to museums, if they don’t understand it? Of course, generalizing doesn’t do either side any justice. Some people are more fortunate and do not place much value on art, and some people are less fortunate and greatly appreciate art. To break down these negative connotations, art should be more accessible to everyone. Sculptures should be in more places, architecture should be more expressive, and spaces should be designed with an artistic mindset.

Art is everywhere, but not always uncovered.

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Nahsialis Vang | Reflection

Bronzeville

On Friday July 14th, we toured around the Bronzeville community. Looking around the area, you can tell that it is not well-established physically. Trash on the ground indicates littering and heavy on historical buildings, it becomes aware that it looks a little rusted. But through the exterior aspects of Bronzeville, we also got to experience the internal aspects of Bronzeville, art and community courtesy of Lexi and Vedale.

In the building shown as 18 Public Schools [now the Historic Garfield Apartments] within the Bronzeville community, it is actually filled with residents who live in the building. As we got to go inside the building, we explored the aspects of what makes the building. Externally, it is a historical building that was built in 1887 but the interior, it looks rather modernized even if the scent was similar to older wood and rustic metal.

As we got to explore more of the building, we got to learn more about the history and aspects of what makes it a community. The building was previously used for a school which you can tell by the layout of it. Going on the top of the building, you can see the artwork that was painted from a class in the 1990s that was restored in an area where locals can intermingle with one another in a gym turned community room. It is important to understand the community as “people who help salvage and curate it are just as important” (Lexi).

Art Museum

Establishment and community is just one of the many things that set apart the Milwaukee Art Museum and Bronzeville. This may also include the type of art that is in each place, the cost, which includes both the pieces and the admission fee, along with simply the “feel”. Understanding that there is a difference is simply the first step to realizing, the audience is targeted differently.

When first walking into the Art Museum, there you can tell the establishment is well put together and relatively neat. Before actually entering into the art museum, water was forbidden as it could potentially be a hazard to the artwork that was in there. This specific establishment was designed for us to continuously walk around and just indulge in the many art pieces that are within. It is not relatively loud so you can hear the footsteps everyone takes while roaming.

With each footstep and pivot you take, you can see the different artworks that would not necessarily be in a place like Bronzeville, or connecting a community and showcasing what community is. Just looking at who owns a collection, you can tell the expensive taste that is homed into the Milwaukee Art Museum. With a simple name like the Bradley Collection, you can tell how expensive it is as the many known places like the Bradley Center and the Bradley Foundation are linked to that family. Noting expenses, a simple portrait of a woman “was acquired for about $3.5 million, according to museum sources” (Schumacher). The piece is called Alice Hooper by John Singleton Copely which was created in 1763.

Although there are many differences between these two places, one thing in common is simply, art. Finding art anywhere allows the “little C culture” (Lexi) to be showcased anywhere. It allows the ideas of art to be intersectional, interracial, and international which allows all people to be inspired by what they see. Art is everywhere and can inspire audience.

Works Cited:

MAM makes largest acquisition in its history by Mary Louise Schumacher of the Journal Sentinel - September 12, 2011

https://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/129672823.html

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Frederick Calhoun | Reflection

When touring the Bronzeville neighborhood and the Milwaukee Art Museum, I noticed different things throughout each. Bronzeville was more of a “hood” beauty, while being at MAM was more on what I think a white resident would want to experience. Even with that said, I learned about finding beauty in different spaces.

Now, I’ve always found the “hood” to be perfect in many ways ; but every time I see something being built up from nothing. It makes me happy to be situated and living.

Bronzeville is an area in Milwaukee that is usually looked over when tourists visit. It has hidden beauty throughout it. The corner stores, the beauty supply stores, and the Black owned businesses bring joy to my face as I noted down each one on our walk. The development in the area seems to be focused on Black identity too. This includes America's Black Holocaust Museum’ and The Bronzeville Collective, along with a collection of academic placements being built. Creativity is often overlooked here, because of the location, but I feel as though a lot of people should take their time and find beauty! Now, I’ve always found the “hood” to be perfect in many ways; but as I see so many things being built up from nothing here, it makes me happy to be living in this time off growth and change.

The Milwaukee Art Museum area [by the lake] was great, but it made me feel a bit loose being inside the space. It was more of a white space [physically & racially] than anything. To be completely honest; there were limited art pieces by people of color or Black people in general. Some of the work that stood out for me discussed the hardship of the Black experience and not the joy [which was already a strike for me]. However, the Derrick Adams exhibit, Our Time Together, did show the essence of Black joy rooted in community, people, and neghboor-“hoods”, just like Bronzeville.

So to compare Bronzeville to the Milwaukee Art Museum there's absolutely one that is more enticing to me. Being more open to Black culture, seeing a lot of people “doing their big one” by focusing on enhancing their careers and wealth, seeing how art lives here without pre determined boundaries, Bronzeville is more my speed.

Finalizing my thoughts, this was one of the best experiences ever. It of course was not my first time visiting Bronzeville or my favorite spot on the walk, The Bronzeville Collective, but every time I visit it's even more breathtaking. That community & lifestyle just speaks to me!

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Jazale Hill | Reflection

Outside Vs. In

You never know what a house looks like until you walk through the door. There are structures I drive or walk past daily and imagine what it might look like inside. Although most don’t think of a home as art or their neighborhood as creative, it is. The way many buildings are placed with grass in front, the side, the color, the shape, it is all art. It took creativity for someone to build your neighborhood, giving many a sight to see instead of just looking at cars driving, garbage on the roads, or civilians walking. A house is not just a HOUSE. IT IS ART.

The house I live in is art, LITERALLY. Vedale Hill, and partners at HomeWorks: Bronzeville plan to expand our neighborhood in Bronzeville. They hope it can be a legacy that changes - the community. 2408 N Vel R Phillips ave, a new legacy. The inside is a beauty but how the house looked 2 years ago when first purchased was not as appealing. Many would not think there's a balcony looking down from a mezzanine to the lower level, or that a huge chandelier is hanging in the middle of the gallery space with edison bulbs all over. This is because this house is not located in a neighborhood many would imagine a luxury house to be in. The Bronzeville area is known for many successful black owned businesses, as well as the poverty surrounding it due to inequitable policies. That is why many, but NOT ENOUGH of localists are planning to redevelop our neighborhood inside and out, while trying to offset the gentrification that is already happening. Meaning, not only will you notice changes physically upon buildings but in people as well, attempting to lower crime rate and stupidity spurring around, helping those in need, and expanding knowledge.

Around the city of Milwaukee there has been construction everywhere! Making it tricky for many to get to point A and B but these new additions and redevelopment in historical buildings such as ThriveOn King which will be located at 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and the Milwaukee Public Museum soon to be located in the Haymarket neighborhood on 6th and McKinley. Those two and many others are the start of sculpting a new future for many.

2408 N Vel R Phillips Ave, also known as the house on 4th and Meineke, is a Legacy building in my eyes. July 15th, 2023 was a day of celebration because one house got demolished of the three buildings on the property. It is the most expensive show I will ever see [costing $50,000 to demolish due to a faulty foundation], the most genuine show I will ever see, and the most impactful show I will ever see. It was a day of freshness and renewell, because Vedale Hill, my father, will start and continue to build his legacy of ART for his community and family.

“Come Out And Show Them”

July 18th, 2023 Jazale’s Art Studio and Summer interns of Copywrite Magazine took a trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum to make a comparison of the Bronzeville neighborhood and soak in the art displays.

Glenn Ligon’s (2015) “Come Out and Show Them”, is an art piece that “ visually echoes” Steve Reich’s song (1972) “ Come Out” inspired by a trial of two men, wrongfully accused in Harlem during spring of 1964. Wallace Baker and Daniel Hamm at just the age 18, were tried and brutally beaten by 6 to 12 officers. In custody; they were then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Because Hamm was severely bruised but not bleeding the cops weren’t going to acknowledge the need for any treatment for Hamm. So, in order to get treatment he had to show proof and he said “ I had to, like, open the bruise up and let some of the bruise blood come out to show them.” [My research says].

This then became symbolism against police brutality, and inspiration for Steve Reich’s song, that then became inspiration for Glenn Ligon “large black-and-white silkscreen paintings” that is covered edge to edge with the phrase “come out to show them”. A part of this collection is displayed in the Milwaukee Art Museum, which is where I was visually drawn to. Then, I read the description and it hit me, “that’s deep.”

“Come out and show them,” was very inspirational to me; the way the colors of black and white flowed, walking along the words becoming visible. It turned out not to be just words, it's meaningful to Black society, and it made me think of not only the story of Wallace Baker and Daniel Hamm but others who were victims of police brutality. The physical appearance of this art piece is an aesthetic of Black culture with a mixture of layers visible to the eye. Then the mental aspect of this piece is a far deeper story of inspiration and Black reality.

The Outside vs. Inside will forever be a barrier to many. Once you meet the physical you just have a moderate understanding, but when you meet the mental you have a new world of appreciate, that can inspire many. Art is one of the many ways that a human mind can be reshaped whether it’s expanding or introducing new information. Glenn Ligon’s “Come Out And Show Them,” introduced new information and broadened my imagination. I was able to see an example of art that was inspired by music which I have never seen before. I was also interested in the story of Wallace Baker and Daniel Hamm which is an important aspect of history I enjoy learning about.

Sources:

Beta, Andy. “Blood and Echoes: The Story of Come out, Steve Reich’s Civil Rights Era Masterpiece.” Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2016, pitchfork.com/features/article/9886-blood-and-echoes-the-story-of-come-out-steve-reichs-civil-rights-era-masterpiece/.

Tani, Ellen Y. “‘come out to Show Them’: Speech and Ambivalence in the Work of Steve Reich and Glenn Ligon.” Art Journal Open, 21 July 2020, artjournal.collegeart.org/?p=13202.

Mikal Floyd-Pruitt [An article by Evelyn Patricia Terry]

Mikal Floyd-Pruitt, chosen as one of five recipients of the prestigious Mary Nohl Fellowship in January 2023, receives additional funding toward production and career development. Administered by the Lynden Sculpture Garden, The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund and Joy Engine provided funding for the Nohl Fellowship Awards.

Mikal Floyd-Pruitt, chosen as one of five recipients of the prestigious Mary Noh Fellowship in January 2023, models a cape he designed. Photo credit: Charlotte Floyd-Pruitt

Winning in the top category of “established artist,” Floyd-Pruitt’s multi - faceted practice includes interactive events and installations, painting, sculpture, clothing design, assemblages, rapping, music, and filmmaking. Floyd-Pruitt co-directs HomeWorks: Bronzeville, a development initiative, based in Milwaukee, focusing on local creative entrepreneurial talent by way of property ownership. He also created I Am Milwaukee, a lifestyle brand promoting unity and creativity.

Partnering with many community sectors, Floyd-Pruitt contributes uniquely to the Milwaukee art scene. Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School teacher, Nora Justin, engaged him to work with her class of thirty Latinx 7th-grade students. After asking them to write essays on the meaning of freedom, she wanted her students to share their thoughts with the world. Interested in the power of word play, Floyd-Pruitt recorded the students reading sentences from their essays, reinforcing that their words are powerful and meaningful. The project expanded to include Floyd–Pruitt’s thoughts on freedom as a rap collaboration with the students’ words. He then invited further collaborations with musicians Klassik and Sista Strings to transform the recordings into a fully produced song. Together student and professional artists produced a vibrant video, El Color de la Libertad, co–directed by Floyd–Pruitt and filmed by Wes Tank. It premiered at the Milwaukee Film Festival.

Then there is Splash! Free and open to the public, this energetic community engagement project invites neighbors and other participants to work side-by-side with Floyd-Pruitt and invited artists to create public art. In 2022, driving south on Vel R. Phillips Avenue (former 4th Street), I happened to witness the award-winning artist and diverse participants enthusiastically hurling paint-filled balloons at a two-story boarded-up HomeWorks: Bronzeville property scheduled for demolition. Located on the corner, the unchoreographed performance irreverently covered two sides with erratically splattered colors, soon transforming it into a Floyd–Pruitt “Splash!” public art production. Although exterior house paint, injected into balloons, appears totally random and spontaneous, methodical research enhances the process.

Diverse participants enthusiastically hurl paint-filled balloons at a boarded-up property scheduled for demolition for Floyd–Pruitt “Splash!”  Photo Credit: Wes Tank

Incredibly creative, Mikal Floyd-Pruitt’s amiable humor and intelligence coupled with a pleasant demeanor reminds me of his family members that I have interacted with. My association with the Floyd-Pruitt family resulted from an art presentation I made to a MacDowell Montessori class. Mikal’s older brother, now professional artist Anwar Floyd–Pruitt, and my daughter, now documentary filmmaker Talleah Bridges McMahon, shared a kindergarten class. Following my art presentation, I learned that Anwar convinced his parents, Dr. Eugene Pruitt and Charlotte Floyd-Pruitt, to purchase one of my watermelon pastels—specifying that they choose a large size.

Fast forward, years later, both Floyd-Pruitt brothers graduated from Harvard University, following in the footsteps of their father. Mikal, in 2006, graduated cum laude, earning a B.A. in Visual Art and Environmental Studies with a filmmaking focus. Both eventually returned to Milwaukee. The Terry McCormick Contemporary Fine and Folk Art Gallery, my home gallery space, hosted an exhibition of their artwork with artist Kevin Boatright. Despite our generation gap, I was privileged to watch Mikal perform before the pandemic at Center Street Days and in Jazale’s Art Studio owned by brothers Vedale and Darren Hill. I even experienced my first Splash! painting on the Artery, now renamed the Beerline Trail.

Diverse participants enthusiastically hurl paint-filled balloons at a boarded-up property scheduled for demolition for Floyd–Pruitt “Splash!”  Photo Credit: Wes Tank

Mikal, most significantly during the pandemic’s height, chose mostly to stay inside. Ideas germinated in his mind. Just as before the pandemic, he now ceaselessly produces distinctly dissimilar bodies of artwork throughout the city while also exhibiting and performing nationally. This $35,000 Mary Nohl Award, plus a $5,000 career development award, continues his bold and captivating movement forward after a brief hiatus. Fueled to flourish, look for the opening of his exhibition along with the other 2023 Mary Nohl Awardees in June 2024 at Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art.

Evelyn Patricia Terry | Guest Writer for /CW

Contact: terryevelyn@hotmail.com

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Check out this upcoming SPLASH! event by Mikal

Quad MKE | Paving The Way For The Next Generation

This article has been prepared by a /CW “Teen” Summer Intern.

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For the sake of the new generation, generations to come, and those who have been working hard to pave the way, Quad MKE is partnering with Running Rebels, SHARP Literacy, The BrandLab, and JobsWork MKE to enhance sustainable careers within the city of Milwaukee. Partnering together right-where the people “that's what it takes to build community” Says Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President and CEO of QuadMKE.

More Info on Quad

Quad (NYSE:QUAD) is a 3 billion dollar experience company, who “has a soul and believes in commitment”, says Joel Quadarrci. This company works to connect Milwaukeeby providing sustainable careers, education, and strengthening the community. The collaboration with community leaders enhances QUADs primary goal, which is to eliminate barriers that make it hard for citizens to be successful. Quad recruits, train, and even help expand their existing employees' understanding of challenges these recruits face. From a printing company to a marketing company, Quad is still on a long term road of shaping and investing into populations that need a more creative approach. This will broaden their company as a corporate stakeholder, as well as help partnerships triumphing in this market.

Quad MKE’s Open House

Located in the Century City Tower[4201 N 27th Street], QUAD MKE’s open house is hosted. It was full of appreciative and humble go getters from our city. Vibrant and spacious artwork by Vedale Hill [Who is my wonderful father], and Reggie Baylor [featured in Issue 20 of CopyWrite Magazine] have given many a sight to see. Even Joel Quadarrci, had to bask in the way the artwork creates the positive aura in the space, noting that the investment in the art applications is just another way to appreciate the people who help shape the creative landscape of MKE. Another wonderful sight to see was the diversity in the building, localist, artists, and leaders coming together as one for the better Milwaukee.

pictures vedale hill intilation at quad | /CW images

You're probably wondering, with so many impactful people at this event, “WHERE THE FOOD AT?”.Yes! There were wonderful food and beverages provided creating a value dynamic of “breaking bread” that we love so much at /CW. There were which a variety of options such as, spinach and artichoke dip, Buffalo Chicken dip, Nashville Hot Chicken slider, Golden Barbeque Chicken slider, Veggie Vinaigrette cream cheese pizza, and some celery [one of my veggie favs] to be on the healthy side of things. Last but not least, DESSERT! Brownies and cookies kept us there feeling up on sweets and a business resource group SUMOS Uno had yummy churros [I had about 3 of those] bringing that “Big C” Culture for the win.

Many wonderful speeches were made by partners of Quad about what's next, barriers that will be challenged, and how they will “change the face and voice of the marketing industry” and “exposing the young to creativity”, Kelli WIlliams, The BrandLab CEO assured. Joel Quadicci was sprinkled with many thanks and a framed art piece by Reggie Baylor, which about 60 kids thanks to SHARP Literacy, participated in making. Those little niceties matter, because who knows maybe one day those kids will be sitting in the boardroom at QUAD headquarters helping continue the legacy. . .

But, WHAT COMES NEXT for QuadMKE?

I hope there will be more interaction with the people. We don’t want the disconnect that comes with corporate dollars from the people who do the labor. We want to see bright futures where people can get training that builds carriers. We want CEO’s, like Joel, to come to see the people where they are and be transparent in how we all help make millions.

It’s a reality we are all ready for and together we know it can happen.

Jazale Hill /CW Summer Intern

10 Years of #SupportTheLocal [Happy Anniversary to CopyWrite Magazine]

“This was never the plan, but clearly it was the purpose.” - Lexi

This July [15th] we celebrate 10 years in the game [& 8 years in business] at CopyWrite Magazine. This year we reflect upon our communal impact, our advocacy in the creative industries and our dedication to changing the narrative in the most unapologetic way. We hope that this 10 years inspires other voices to rise up and create their own legacies of service. We all have a super power, ours just happens to be #AllThingsUrban. As always, thank you for helping us #SupportTheLocal. Without our community, there is no us.

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A Poetic Note From The Editor

Imagine not having vision.

Imagine not knowing how to feed inspiration.

For me it's unimaginable.

Because every time there was hesitation I imagined the regret of not attempting to do what was called to me. An unavoidable life of lifestyles.

And the snags were rich.

Rich of lessons that needed to be learned and pain that fueled every great fire.

My inspiration was dedicated to survival and stability in the most tumultuous terrain and paths least traveled

And here we are. 10 years later a vision in my own little hell like heaven. It's warm and chilly all at the same time. An uncomfortable comfort I have mastered. This space was meant for me.

A Reminder of resilience, joy, and so much life lived. I made myself a home to share with the unhoused souls. How fuckin ironic.

And for all those who walked the path even if they strayed away or were left to take a different road or could only travel parallel, you are here as inspiration, clarity in the blur of time, grounding every decision in fact filled with emotion. You are the nuance of a narrative indeed changed.

Let us all celebrate the win.

"A dirty river rat for two two in a Dynasty w/ a doll & a muse"[IFKYK]

Love & All Things Urban,

Lexi S. Brunson, Owner / Active Editor-in-Chief /CW

SnapShot Press Release: Milwaukee Pull Up, It's a "Partyat4" | A Milwaukee 'Ish interview with Partyat4

I believe the phrase “renaissance man” is overused.

Where it is defined as, “a person with many talents or areas of knowledge” that theory of humanism has long been surpassed by the reality we call the 21st century [You know the era of social media, Artificial Intelligence, BBL’s, Catfishing, & fake “real” N*gg*s]. 

But with that critique also comes the opportunity to coin a new phrase for a man who embodies various talents, has an authentic aura, and carries his grace with just enough posturing to appeal to a mass audience of tastemakers and fan like dreamers. Maybe we should call him a “virtuoso of the era” or maybe we can just make the moniker fit the prototype.

Let’s just call him . . . Partyat4.

Now everybody knows that I firmly believe [& I have the receipts] that Milwaukee breeds creative genius [I said, what I said. So fight me!]. However, that creativity is usually mystified by the infantile infrastructure big money has mishandled. So our talent usually sees a need to leave our “little big-city” to make things pop. The problem with that is some never come back and totally disown their 414 roots. So when we were informed that Partyat4 was repping his native land and showing his face around these parts, we were pleasantly surprised [& also curious what part of town he is from, where his grandma stay, and what he rep when “Who You Wit” by Lil John come on LMAO].

Lexi S. Brunson asking Partyat4 where his “grandma stay” Lol. Just Playing, but she did ask where he is from in Milwaukee.

So when your /CW Fam was invited to his Meet & Greet / Listening Session happening at Scene 1 Restaurant & Lounge MKE [5526 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208] on April 27th, 2023 we accepted [with the caveat that we would like to chat with the man of the hour]. What follows is that very casual, “Let’s just do a Milwaukee a** interview” we had standing on the block in front of a red sprinter van covered in images of Partyat4, with all his people around [What a mutha f’n sight to see LOL].

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CW: “First of all, why are you HERE?”

Partyat4: “It was my son's birthday. My first born, London. Then after that I had the listening session. So I felt it was more conducive to stay the whole week instead of flying back.”

Back to ATL that is. With a buzzing music & creative market, Atlanta has become the base camp for many Milwaukee linked talents [Including K Camp, Lakeyah, and Josie Thompson]. With one of his good friends from high school [S/O B] moving to Atlanta and him feeling Atlanta to have a strong music culture when he made his decision to move three years ago, it just felt right. 

CW: “There is this idea that people don’t make it out of Milwaukee or that there is no talent in Milwaukee. . .”

Partyat4: “It’s a stigma.” He said with a playfully smug look on his face.

CW: “It is a stigma. It’s definitely a thing. But you are a multifaceted talent. Of course, I have interviewed many recording artists before. But I was really intrigued [that, that's not all you do].”

His creative punch card includes, Fashion [yep, he can design & sew], visual arts [like drawing & painting, somebody get this man in the gallery], culinary arts [his PR team informed us he was once upon a time a Hyatt chef], and his music lexicon includes rapping, singing, song writing, and production [get’er done then!]. With those skills fitting several of CopyWrite’s pillars of focus [Art, Music. Fashion, Community, and Culture], we could do a whole magazine issue on him.  

*wink wink, nudge nudge* 

Partyat4: “Yea, I just hate to put myself in a box. I’m all about expression and creativity in general. So I paint, I sew, I am definitely into fashion. I just hate everybody wearing the same sh*t, so to speak. Excuse my belligerence and what not. . .”

Belligerence, Sma-lligerence! I have heard and seen some crazy sh*t in my time covering the creative scene. One of the craziest is that cookie cutter, straight off the mannequin style that these “sheeple” try to pass off as originality. Speak your truth my guy! No apologies needed here.

Partyat4: “I just try to be unique the best way I can. It’s 2023 everybody is doing their own thing. Whether it’s podcasting or selling something or cosmetics. . . I just try to be me to the best of my capacity.”

And that's not that easy to do in an industry that is known for making individuals “more marketable”. But maybe that’s just it. Maybe there is really a space for someone to fit the mold and break it at the same time. 

CW: “How did you figure out that you had all of those different types of talents?”

Partyat4: “Just being bored really. I had a sewing machine a few years ago. But I just got another one [a gift]. . . I was kind of board at 3AM and I had just smoked my last blunt and the weed man was sleep. . .” [That’s what we call a tragedy lol]. “So I just got the f*ckin with the sewing machine. I probably watched a minute and a half video on how to thread my particular model. After that I just got to freakin’ sh*t.”

But hear me out though, ya man's is cold! I checked out a few of his pieces on IG and he takes that DIY steez to a whole different universe. [Those Beatles and Mushroom Booty carpet pants go crazy!]

Partyat4: “I think people, as individuals, we get stuck at the learning curve. We be scared to initiate things. But once you get past that and jump off the porch, if you will, you can be surprised at what you can do. Like ingenuity wise you can do anything.”

Partyat4 & Lexi S. Brunson, editor-in-chief of /CW | /CW image

Now of course I didn’t stray away from the big question of “Why” leave milwaukee when his talents would allow him to probably make it anywhere and he was honest that something just didn’t make this space feel like the catalyst.

Partyat4: “I just felt like in Atlanta the culture was more music oriented. People there are helping each other. They are more intune with what is going on and on an individual level it feels like people want to see each other win. Not to say anything negative or cognizant of Milwaukee culture. But I just feel like something here, whether it's gate keepers or something, it keeps us in a shell.”

Are y'all listening out there? Hello, is this thing on? *pats imaginary microphone hard*

The narrative is repetitive. We have heard this story and thus, it holds weight. A weight that is quite costly in an era that no longer relies on manual labor but on the contrary Culture [Big C], Community [Bigger C], and Capital [C.R.E.A.M. , Biggest C]. 

Partyat4: “I appreciate [Atlanta] for that. I mean I be low down there. But still.” He laughed humbly. 

There is nothing wrong with being low. It actually allows you to analyze a space, then ebb and flow as you desire. Its strategy and it creates the spark of greatness.

CW: “I think it's okay to be low down there and then somewhere like here [in Milwaukee] you could be a star. I think it's also about cultivating that love at home, and look, you’re here. There are a lot of people from Milwaukee that don’t rep Milwaukee. So the fact that you are even here we fux with that.”

Partyat4: “On the low, not to say no names but there are alot of people from here and they act like they are from where they got poppin at.” [Read between the lines this whole article is a smoke signal].

CW: “Ohhh you noticed that too?”. I said sarcastically. Because, yall funny and we see you!

Partyat4: “Yeaaaaaa!”, he said with the same sarcastic cadence. “That's cute or whatever. But like for me, I moved away but it was more for stimulation of what I had going on. And n*gg*s show love here and I had a great turnout tonight so I’m blessed for that. But it's something about when you can move away and I’m very competitive. . . but it just feels really good to not only come home and get support but be somewhere else, where you're not from, and get that same support where people come out because they believe in what you are doing. It makes you go that much harder.”

Partyat4 performing a live set a Scene 1 Restaurant & Lounge MKE | /CW Video

We believe that Milwaukee definitely has the fandom to pour into its talent but the creative infrastructure is still on the rise. We know big labels have been tip-toeing into our showcases, parlaying with the DJ’s, and sitting in our clubs looking for hungry MKE acts to sit on their rosters before the door burst opens and we are permanently on the map. It’s noted but transparency would probably feed more of us. Just sayin’.

The work Partyat4 is doing is a part of that story. It is a part of a bigger picture that has been shadowed by the decline of the industrial revolution in the midwest, the “I didn’t know Black people lived in Milwaukee” foolery that comes from the ignorance of our rich cultural history, plus the beer and cheese motif that disregards how many of us have more girth to us then that. 

CW: “A part of my job is holding people accountable. So you are HERE. I am HERE. The request was to show up & show out. So I showed up & I’m showing out.”

Partyat4: “And I appreciate that.”

CW: “So I really want our audience base to know who you are and that is our Milwaukee Creatives. That’s who I serve. Since you are this multifaceted talent, you have something to share. That means you have to come home every once and a while for that to happen.”

Partyat4: “My kids are here so I have no choice but to come back. I’m blessed to have other obligations so I am on the road a lot but I’m here fasho. I’m only an hour and half away flight wise.”

CW: “Okay! And we are going to make sure of that!”

Real. Rap. Raw. It’s not a threat but a friendly promise. With a network of community supporting Partyat4 [like our media family at Hyfin and all the CORE DJ’s who showed up that night] and other creatives that blossom from “The Good Land”, we can change the game. Oh and trust, these ways we play to win.

CW: “We want to see you at the radio stations. We want to see you on our stages. So get you a** in there. You have to get acclimated. I think it's really important that when we have talent that is making the waves that you are making, we make a notation and vice versa. So we will be on the lookout. We will be watching for you. We want to see more of you. Bigger venues. Bigger turn outs. Let's make it happen. Let's make it pop.”

Partyat4: “Oh man, I’m trying to turn sh*t up. I’m Party for a reason.”

CW: “Emmm hmmm. Partyat4! Why didn’t this party start at 4? We were ready then!”

We all blurted out in laughter. “Noooo…it ends at 4!”said one of his guys standing nearby, peeping our whole conversation. 

But my “still young enough to take risks, but too old to know better” aged self had to leave around 11:30PM LOL. But not before asking the classic journalistic question of “What can we expect next?”.

Peep the strategic timing of this write up with Partyat4’s remix of “To Da Moon” Ft. Toosii, dropping this Friday, May 12th, 2023, with Its original release honored on Billboard Top 30 hit singles. [Like I said, we are going to make sure that Partyat4 is on our community's radar, so go check that out].

Partyat4: “Y’all can expect my kids to grow. . .”, [Now everybody knows /CW loves a proud parent #CWLovesDaKids]. “Y’all can expect a project coming soon. I’m ready to rap y'all mutha F*ckin heads off. . .”

CW: “You got bars. I ain't even going to lie.”

Partyat4: “I appreciate that. Y’all can also expect some singles and I’m trying to get the song “Touch Down” dropped. I should have played that tonight. But I’ma get back to it. There's a lot of stuff coming down the pipeline for me. My mind is like a stock exchange board. It just ticks all day. . .I’m also going to put out a capsule of clothes that you can buy. . . we got all that coming. I’m just trying to captivate and entice the audience. No offense to anybody but sometimes music gets on dry spells and it has high notes but we are trying to be all falsettos. A whole lot of high notes.”  

Ohhhhh dude said that! LOL 

And we rock with it. Whether it's Rap, R&B, Country, Rock, or whatever he can do to hit y’all eardrums he is game for it. 

Partyat4: “So respectfully, and again excuse my belligerence, we are here to stay!”

Now somebody gotta shake my hand folks because I got the commitment of a lifetime on the strength of me loving my city. . .

CW: “I have to put you on the spot now. Would you consider collaborating with some Milwaukee artist? And not just music, but art, fashion, all that?

Partyat4: “Indubitably. Yes. Absolutely. . . I mean I be talkin’ sh*t too. So we can get a stand up set and crack some jokes”. 

Word? Well let’s do the damn thang! Because if you stay ready, you aint gotta get ready.

& Milwaukee, well . . . we been ready.

Love & All Things Urban,

Lexi S. Brunson | Editor-in-Chief /CW

Creatives in Bronzeville where are you at? | Join us for a Creative Mixer w/ the Historic King Drive BiD

JOIN US FOR SOME CREATIVE COMMUNITY CULTIVATION!

Anybody who has interest in being in the area, working in the area,

or wants to connect to creative in that area are invited.