If there’s anyone who is all about that it’s Wanyah Leon Frazier, CEO of WoLF Studios, a Milwaukee based Multi-Media Production Company that knows what it's SUPPOSED to look like- whatever “it” is. On November 6th, WoLF Studios presented “ReVibe” Vol. 2 - Soul at MARN Art Bar + Culture Hub, Vol.1 being held last year in the heat of the pandemic at No Studios. Ya’ll, this presentation was splendid! Located in Milwaukee’s downtown area, MARN is already a cozy space to be in with the bar in eyes view as soon as you walk in, the walls and back bar having a vast array of wine, and the wall art, jewelry, and other art pieces from different creators on display and couch seating waiting for us to indulge in it all, comfortably. But WoLF Studios’s presence took it up a notch with a sold out full house audience. With melodic affirmations by Queen Mother of WoLF Studios and hostess Kenza Dawn (“Don’t it feel good to be aliiiiive...”), audience appearances from singer B~Free, visual artist Ashley Dallas, who was presenting art that night, poetry vet Brit Nicole, and some of us from Team CopyWrite, we all shared the experience of being witnesses to the wonderful siren-like vocals of Felix Ramsey, the lovely Lotus Fankh, beautiful interpretive dance demonstrations by DeMar Walker, Tori Lauren, Sophia Leon, Taylor Maurchie-Banks, more wall art displays by Adjua Nsoroma, and spoken word by Deolinda Abstract and Tori Zo. From the lighting to the servitude to the all around production of this event, anyone would want to be apart.
CW: I have to comment on how wonderful this event turned out to be- the setting is perfect, the audience is perfect AND diverse...everything is how it's supposed to be. Would you give [the readers] a background on what ReVibe is, where it came from, how long you've been doing it, how long you planned on doing it- what's the meaning of ReVibe?
WF: So, um, ReVibe is my interpretation of some of what the art community is missing, and it happened during Covid. Basically, during Covid a lot of the white-based organizations all had things [ready for] all for their artists but there weren't many organizations of color that were providing avenues for people to perform during Covid…I wanted to see more color...plain and simple. That's all I wanted to do, so we had ReVibe last year- it was at No Studios, we had a great time, we had a plethora of artists and it was just a vibe, basically. And so I’m like okay I need to do this every time now because as I move into it, even before, there aren't many platforms for us. We don't see them, they're not there, so I am a strong believer- I dont beg for things, I make them. I'm an artist, right? So I was like let’s make more platforms. Let's add more places where performers, of any genres really, can feel comfortable to step in, perform, have new pieces, have that same level of creative freedom that other white-based organizations or any organizations in general are able to provide for their artists and their employees; I want us to have that same level of artistic freedom here.
CW: Absolutely. And of course you want to start pouring that into where you're from- the home city that you grew up in, but do you plan on taking that elsewhere or is that something that you haven't looked forward to yet?
WF: So my hope- my real goal is to take WoLF Studios national and have a pop up organization that shows up in different cities, set up a base and does similar things to what we're doing here in other places providing that platform- that space where artists of different genres, of different talent levels can get together and produce meaningful works, so I see this as almost like a multimedia-art studio that just sets up shop in another city; we host performances, we have galleries, we have things that showcase and provide that platform for already talented artists to really make it a career.
CW: You said ‘already talented artists...’ What about the people who may just be figuring out what they want? Is there a lane for them in ReVibe... how do you operate with that group?
WF: We have it set to different levels. Depending on what it is we have entry level performances, which are more so our community performances, performance experiences for artistic development, we have that level of our organization that focuses on building the artists and making sure that the artists has what they need to succeed, and then we have our more professional setting of performances with more established artists who know what they’re doing and see the platform and showcase it.
CW: There's been a small wave of attention to detail, quality control, creative direction going around, even with witnessing it tonight with the attention to the lighting, the way that the lights were set to a specific artist, sound direction, the way the audience is positioned- why do you think that is? Why is that energy present in the Milwaukee art scene at this moment? We're leveling up alot.
WF: So I'm a little bit crazy, Imma say that as a disclaimer but I think that for the most part, the beauty is in the details. It's in those extra things. I wanna make sure that the artist can come and have everything that they need to make their artwork shine to its fullest potential and so in any of the work that I do I think that it's really about making sure that the platform is perfect and all it needs is the artist to play with it, right? And I think that's more so we're realizing even as a people, that quality matters like, it's very important to make the statement and say the thing that we want it to say. When it comes from a place of quality, it has so much more impact. And so how do we create those platforms? How do we provide those spaces, how do we push the artist to make sure every piece that they do has the impact that they intended to have? [By] making sure that we are providing the space that allows them to perform naturally.
CW: I agree with that 100%. You really care and it shows. Thank You.
/Naomi-Re’a for CW
