" 21, 21, 21 ": A 2021 Perspectives From The CopyWrite Team /CW Fam

As 2021 comes to an end we would like to share perspectives from our Team [Family] at CopyWrite. This year has been a world wind of “Ohhhhhhhh my worrrrrrddddd”, “Aint that ‘bout a b’thch” and “Wont he do it!?!”. So for this years perspective we decided to just let the “21, 21, 21” (in our 21 Savage voice) come and out by each member of the Fam sharing 21 things with YOU, our community. It could be 21 of anything. 21 words, 21 pictures, 21 hashtags, 21 ways they got you messed up, etc. This is what we like to call experimental research. By taking on the “21, 21, 21”, they way you respond and what you shares lets us understand each-other a little better. And in this time and place in humanity. . . isn’t that what we need?

Love & All Things Urban,

/CW Fam

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Lexi S. Brunson - /CW Owner & Editor-in-Chief

‘21 Gems - Things We Should Remember

I say deep things. But that’s because I experience the world as if it was always teaching me something. So here are those gems that weigh me down and make me sparkle in all the right ways.

/Lexi

1. Remorse is not regret. Learn from hardships by taking time to reflect.

2. Be a student of your craft. But remember it's not "who" did it, it's "how".

3. Quality is not a prerequisite to success. But you still have to stomach your gains.

4. "No good deed goes unpunished". So praise yourself.

5. Most people need some sort of validation. Be mindful of where you receive yours from.

6. Your intention may not always show in your execution. Don't jump in the ring if you can't take a few hits.

7. Don't forget to mention the joy. Even the heaviest of circumstances has joy.

8. Give people grace, even when they forget to give it to themselves.

9. Sometimes you have to lose it all to gain what was really meant for you. 

10. Codes switching is an art. It's when you change the message that you become a poser.

11. Everybody can not be a boss. Somebody has to be a worker. You have to know your role and do it well.

12. Context is everything. Character is the only thing. 

13. Being loyal to a fault is worse than not being loyal at all. 

14. When people tell you who they are, believe them. When they show you who they are, they do not believe what you see.

15. Don't poke holes in people who pour into you.

16. Virtual reality can not fix humanity.

17. Assimilation is not cultural integration. "STILL N*GGA"

18. Don't lie to yourself. Some things are just funny. Laugh!

19. That euphoric feeling you get when you're doing something you love; chase that.

20. Value the human experience. We need each other more than any of us will ever admit. 

21. Slow in the right direction is better than fast in the wrong one.

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Carie Mahone - Head Entertainment Journalist

21 Slide Show

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Naomi Rea’ - Intern Content Creator

21 Words that describe My 2021 experience

When I get passionate about explaining, describing, or sharing in general, I get very WORDY which is why I chose this way to describe how 2021 was for me. Also with ending the year as a blogger for CW, I thought that this was fitting…

21 Words that describe My 2021 experience:

1. Team Building

2. Servitude

3. Humbling

4. Foundational

5. Revealing

6. Musical

7. Paced

8. Friendly

9. Mature

10. Obscured

11. Energetic

12. Shifting

13. Compatible

14. Emotional

15. Finalized

16. Preparational

17. Monumental

18. Crisis

19. Faceted

20. Purposeful

21. Confrontational

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Vato Vergara - /CW Fashion Editor + Creative Director

21 Words to Reflect on the Year

To know who you are, brings the joy of life. Taking what you have and making the world understand. That’s POWER! 

/Vato

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Imani Ortiz - Specialized Content Journalist

21 things that made a little more sense this year that’ll probably resonate with you as well:

1. It’s okay to disappear some times. More often than not, we tend to jump to the way *others* will react to us taking time to ourselves when they're not the ones who need the focus. Just disappear and come back later. You’re not missing as much as you think. Everything will still be there when you come back.

2. It’s about the principal, not always the problem. The problem could be very minuscule but it’s the principal of the situation that matters in the long run. Problems can be solved, principals are non-negotiable. Your principals can solve problems on their own if you have the right ones. It’ll make the decision making process a lot easier. I knew this before but I didn’t realize how many others don’t have any principals and they’re okay with that. How odd.

3. Nothing will align with what you want until you get your sh*t together. Get your shit together. Nobody likes miserable people. If you can’t figure it out yourself, look into external help—like therapy. I liked it and I turned out fine.

4. Less talk, More do. You can talk until you’re blue in the face but unless you actually do what you say, you’re just talking.

5. Reevaluate your circle. You have your BFFs, close friends, regular friends, associates, strangers that you are vaguely familiar with, whoever it is, you know who you spend your time with. At the very least, make sure they are like-minded in a resourceful way. You should be able to profit mentally from everyone in your circle. Knowledge is power. If everyone knows all the same information, why are y’all friends? That relationship isn’t beneficial if it’s not transactional.

6. All money ain’t good money. That’s self-explanatory.

7. Odds are if you think it’s off, it’s off. Trust your gut and discernment, my friend.

8. Never stop learning. The moment you decide to stop learning, you’re deciding to be basic. Don’t be a basic b*tch.

9. Sometimes the road is less traveled because it f*cking sucks. Do you really wanna do things the hard way for the sake of saying you did things the hard way? Get over yourself.

10. Only answer the question at hand. By focusing on just the question at hand, It’ll kill the opportunity for oversharing. “Is the sky blue?” “Yes.”

11. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do for the sake of someone else’s feelings. You know better. If it makes you uncomfortable, comfortably say no.

12. Nobody cares until you do. So ask yourself, do you really give a f*ck?

13. Other people are dealing with their own sh*t. Even if it’s personal, don’t take it personal. People tend to project their insecurities and problems onto other people. If you know you’ve done nothing wrong, let it go. People have bad days and so do you.

14. Most things we care about are ego-driven. Odds are you don’t actually care about whatever “thing” it is but it threatens your ego—so you fake care until you feel avenged. Please stop fake caring for your own good.

15. If you sleep on yourself, why would people support you? It’s giving… you don’t want *it* bad enough.

16. Even then, everyone is not going to support you. And that’s okay. Find your audience. Market to them.

17. Networking is extremely important. Know somebody who knows somebody so you can know that somebody eventually. Patience is key, grass hopper.

18. Stop working for free. While a favor here and there is fine, stop working for people for free. It took time to know what you know and if people want to know about what YOU know, tax ‘em.

19. Do not cut corners with anything you care about. Don’t half ass anything you care about, whole ass!

20. Half full, never half empty. Life is always about perspective. The way you view and value your life dictates your reality. Remain positive and always look at the bright side even if it’s dimmer than usual. The glass is half full, never half empty.

21. Love yourself or you’ll settle. Read it and weep.

This is no by any means a self-help guide or no sh*t like that. Think of it exactly as what it is… “21 things that made a little more sense to me this year that’ll probably resonate with you as well.”

/Imani for CW

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Tanasia Shaw - Journalism Intern

Tanasia’s 21 in 21 words

2021 has taught me more than any other year in my life. To celebrate and remember 2021, I’ll be listing 21 words that encapsulate 2021.

1. Growth

2. Faith

3. Consistency 

4. Struggle 

5. Love 

6. Serendipity 

7. Truth 

8. Patience 

9. Veracious 

10. Humble 

11. Humility 

12. Pressure 

13. Trust

14. Guidance 

15. Community 

16. Following 

17. Intent

18. Believing 

19. Integrity 

20. Strength 

21. Urban <3

These words represent this past year, the good and the bad. Throughout the year and going into the next, I’m thankful for the CW/ team CW/. The community and support has opened doors for me(and many others) in 2021. 

Get in on the act of BLACK NATIVITY 2021

*Info Provided by Black Arts MKE

We all could use a little joy and hope in our lives right now! I encourage you to check out the beloved holiday musical Black Nativity by Black Arts MKE that runs one weekend only – December 9-12, 2021, at the Marcus Center's Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall. This year is a brand-new show, with a new Director, new music, new choreography, and a new cast! More info: www.blackartsmke.org

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#SupportTheLocal

Besides being a great stage act to indulge in this holiday season, Black Nativity 2021 also showcases talent from some of our favorite creatives including:

Director, Dimonte Henning [From CopyWrite Mag Issue 18, “Glory of the Seat” fashion spread]

Choreographer, Christopher Gilbert [From CopyWrite Mag Issue 6, creative feature]

Stylist, Vato Vergara & Kyndal J [From of /CW fashion department]

See more of the great line up bellow!

Need a sneak peak? We got that for you too!

Want tickets? Click Here & Don’t forget to tell them /CW sent you!

Bee's in Black Cat Alley | an interview with NEW muralist Mi Salgado

The art in Black Cat Alley on the East side of Milwaukee (E Ivanhoe Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53202) is iconic. From breathtaking imagery, bold colors, creative use, and even moments of controversial application, it is a place in the city like no other. If you have been to Black Cat Alley within the last month, you would have surely noticed that a new cohort of artists were selected to create new murals to become a part of its growing narrative of public art. Excited to see the work in action, CopyWrite visited Mi Salgado as she worked on her piece, Life’s Pollinators.

The original design for Mi’s mural was based off of a painting she curated in 2020 during quarantine. Before Covid happened she had been working on a body of work to submit to a gallery show. However, when the world shut down and those opportunities were no longer an option she decided to redirect her creative focus.

Mi: “I wanted to come up with a piece that defined how working hard can turn into something beautiful and working together can [do the same]. In some way we are all connected.”

She pointed out how the bees pollinate, flowers grow, and we sustain life and beauty through those actions. Her mural shows these components together in a larger than life abstraction of honey combs, flowers, and bee’s together in splashes of orange and yellow warmth. 

As a self taught artist who only began to dabble in professional work in 2018, Mi is excited to be a part of the list of names who have blessed Black Cat Alley with their work. Being a professional artist was never really something Mi had considered for herself, but when she had the opportunity to take on a commission it changed her trajectory and pushed her to explore the craft a little more.

Mi: “I started off drawing and doing a lot of pin work. Then that turned into painting. From there I also picked up wood burning. So I have been practicing a lot of different disciplines. 

Though the discussion of public art in Milwaukee has only recently become a priority in the city, Black Cat Alley has been making its way in that arena since 2015.  New to this side of the creative world we asked Mi what she has learned so far as an up-and-coming talent:

Mi: “It’s not easy!” She laughed. “One thing I think I suck at is creating the statements. It’s a whole process. You really need to know how to write.”

Writing about your work is something many artists neglect, thus they leave others to create the narrative for them. Mi has been using her family and friends as resources to make sure what she is writing is being interpreted in the way she delivers it. It’s something she is still learning and working on.

Creating more public art is something Mi plans on continuing to do. Now that she knows the process she constantly looks at mural calls to see if there is one that might fit. With Black Cat Alley being one of her first murals and the space having so much notoriety, Mi has a jump start into a very niche but competitive field. 

CW: “What do you think about the shift in Public art rapidly appearing across Milwaukee in the last few years? Why do you think such a shift is occurring?”

Mi: “I want to say Milwaukee is experiencing a whole new art scene. There are a lot of young professionals and stuff like that. I think that could be a reason. There are so many unknown artists here. I think that’s something Black Cat Alley is trying to do, [give] unknown artists an opportunity. I think it’s also like a new culture.

She also mentioned wanting to experience the public art scenes in other places which may fuel inspiration for more work.

Though this is Mi, first public large scale solo mural she has helped kids create mural work in the past. The difference she notes is having the ability to use your own concept and let it flow freely. Even in her current piece, she modified the way in which the composition wraps the bump out in the alley where her mural is and also the type of flowers the bees will pollinate. These modifications are a part of the process and a part of the story that makes working in public spaces so special.

For any artist thinking about stepping into the public art scene, Mi suggests that practice is everything.

Mi: “Don’t give up. Keep submitting. Your first application will be the crappiest one. Just keep practicing. Try to make that resume and artist statement better. Try to perfect that application.”

And clearly the practice is worth it. 

Next time you're “on the East” make sure to stop at Black Cat Alley to see Mi Salgados piece, Life’s Pollinators, and other amazing murals that are sure to inspire.

Lexi S. Brunson /CW

Become a Videography Intern at CopyWrite Magazine!

/CW

Want AD Space in Issue 18 of CopyWrite Magazine?

Bronzeville Week - Black Friday Music & Marketplace August 13th 2021

WE STAND FOR ALL THINGS URBAN.

As an unapologetic group of creatives, CopyWrite is in business to change the community. Our promise is to always remember where we started from. We do this by telling the stories that need to be told, showcasing the unrealized artistic potential throughout our community, all while doing what we love: create.

As a true reflection of our mission, our partnership with Bronzeville Week encapsulates many of the ways in which we highlight the creative community. For this year's events the /CW team has curated the August 13th music lineup, including local up-and-coming and established artists. We also are directly linking our communal pool of creative freelancers, who are well versed in creative content making who often don’t get the recognition they deserve. From photography to videography, journalism to creative directing, the essence of Bronzeville is still alive and our team will be capturing that moment. With our pilot office recently opening in the neighborhood, we carry the history of our community with us and know that we stand on the backs of giants who sparked our entrepreneurial freedom. We live here. We work here. We play here. To contribute to the narrative of Bronzeville Week is an honor and of course it will always be for the culture.

/CW

/CW APPROVED MUSIC LINEUP

GENESIS RENJI

DONNA RENEE

NO SEATBEALTS

CLAYTON

SHADI

Out Of The Box [Week 6 Schedule]

Redefining “Street" Art | #CROSSWORDSNORTH Community Interview

There is art in these streets. LITERALLY!

Beautification projects have been popping up all over Milwaukee. Sculptures, murals, installations, and more have become a part of the growing public narrative that art has a significant impact on the community.

However, even though some forms of art create aesthetic dialogues, others work as functioning methods of civic engagement. A new street mural project between the crosswalks bordering North Avenue, on Palmer St. and Hubbard St., addresses a real problem we all have noticed; reckless driving. 

The project entitled Cross/Words/North “is a unique community-based art project that brings together students and families from nearby St.Marcus Lutheran School, neighbors living in the Harambee and Riverwest neighborhoods near North Avenue, and several community organizations, to create four pieces of crosswalk-framed art that express their feelings about the neighborhood.”- their press release noted. 

Each crosswalk features an image that is symbolic of a distinct word: Empowerment, Love, Unity, and Diversity. Throughout several weeks of virtual workshops with partnering organizations Artists Working in Education (AWE) and Safe & Sound, the words and images were selected in collaboration with community stakeholders including students, parents, and residents. CopyWrite joined this amazing group of community members on installation day (July 17th, 2021) to see why this form of street art is more than what meets the eye. 

Three youth artists D.J. White, Joshua Fuentes, and Jazale Hill gave us their perspectives on why the Cross/Words/North project is worthy of their time and space in their community.

CW: “You are all here working very hard on this community project. Why did you decide to be a part of this?”

D.J.:  “I really like art. I like all of the colors and how the pictures tell a story.”

Jazale: “I decided to be a part of this to address the safety of driving. It’s also something positive to do in the summer that I actually like.”

Joshua: “I just really like helping.”

Not only did these youth artists help in the physical application of the painted murals but also were extremely involved in the design of the crosswalks. Both Joshua and Jazale released artist statements about their designs. 

"The houses represent Diversity, as we live in a community where we are all individuals but we are uniquely different. The houses I drew are all homes but each is unique. I wanted to include details such as the porches because, in neighborhoods like mine, this became a space during the Covid-19 Pandemic of togetherness. We were able to talk to our neighbors from the porch and wave to each other while being safer at home,” - Joshua Fuentes

“I feel that the infinity sign and lotus flower conveys the word empowerment well. The infinity sign symbolizes a forever bond. As a community even through tough times we will always be together and work things out in order to live better. The lotus flower symbolizes the work that still needs to be done that will eventually bloom into a greater City of Milwaukee, a better place for us. As a resident of Milwaukee, I want things to be better for my younger siblings, family, friends, and even just people in general. I want my work to make a difference and empower others to feel safe during their everyday life. Being involved by addressing safety concerns of reckless driving in Milwaukee is a start to doing that. This way I know I helped people I care about be a little more safe. I know my work is a part of something bigger than myself.” - Jazale Hill

D.J added that though he was originally coerced into being a part of the project once involved he began to understand how the project could be a service to others and enjoyable.

DJ: “This project matters because you get to be creative while helping against reckless driving. The project was inspired by ourselves and what we wanted to see. It’s important because we are drawing them and that makes it personal.”

As reflective as these youth were about the visual imagery of the project they also had thoughts on the safety of their community when it comes to “trendy '' dangerous driving habits plaguing our city. The colloquial word for reckless driving is baselining. The act of baselining and increase of delinquent car theft has made fatality by motor vehicle and incapacitated injury surge over the last few years. Milwaukee’s Traffic Safety Unit (TSU) reports that year to date there have been 215 incidents that have drastically changed someone's thread of existence, with harm or death (2021). 

Joshua: “I usually feel safe but at the same time I don’t go outside a lot because there have been two accidents by my house already.”

CW: “Why would that keep you from going outside?”

Joshua: “I’m afraid that I might get hit.”

Though the narrative may always unfold with negative statistics tabulating real-world issues as numbers, this “street” art is a reminder to ease up on the speed, the dangerous maneuvers, and focus on the world around us.

Jazale: “I think it will inspire people to slow down in a positive way and look at the beauty.”

But what sparks this plan for communally combative street art?

Greg St. Arnold, a resident and “avid biker”, too had noticed the risk of traveling on city streets. People swerving in and out of traffic, near misses, and stories of collisions are all enough to make any commuter wary. Listening to the City-County Carjacking and Reckless Driving Task Force report, Greg realized that the issue was something that needed actionable attention and could possibly be addressed through collaborative means. He then reached out to Mark Lisowski, community organizer for Safe & Sound, to see how they could create something in the neighborhood that would make the highly traveled streets more bike and pedestrian-friendly.

With a solid idea in hand, they were awarded the City of Milwaukee’s Reckless Driving Mini-Grant, which allowed them to facilitate creative community development workshops through AWE and Lead artist Stephanie Krellwitz. 

Greg: “From there on I was a participant in the process. The Zoom sessions were awesome and a good discussion of what each community stakeholder would like the art to represent.”

In the same way, the youth artists were reflective of reckless driving in our community, Greg too shared thoughts on the impact it may have on them.

Greg: “Who are the people that are reckless driving? It’s young people. So what better way to address that than have them involved”. 

He also cited that projects like this have been pitched in other parts of the city-backed by real research that suggests arts ability to curb more dangerous driving activity. However, not all projects get approved and many people want to know why. 

Greg: “Some people don’t think that the money the city is giving out to address reckless driving is enough. But as a community member, I’m excited to get a grant like this even if it's small. This is an opportunity to directly connect with local government and do something that can actually serve the community.”

As stakeholders in the creative community and supporters of the local, we had to ask Greg if he too has noticed an increase of public art in Milwaukee as a method of civic engagement and where it may be coming from.

Greg: “I have noticed more public art and I’m seeing more murals around. I think there has been an uptake in awareness, engagement, and activism. There seems to be a link between that and now people are more continuous on how it creates impact. I hope that's the case. I hope I'm not just imagining this.”

As society shifts into more public acts of accountability, so must the way we combat negative actions like reckless driving and practice acts of social responsibility. A part of this shift is using language and symbolism to communicate what we stand for as communities. Redefining “street” art as a way to slow down baselining, bring comfort to our residents, and save a few more lives, is just one way we can cross the road together.

See you in these streets.

Lexi S. Brunson /CW

Milwaukee Police Department Traffic Safety Unit. (2021, June 9). TSU Statistics. Traffic Safety Unit. https://mpdtsu.org/tsustatistics/. 

Out Of The Box [Week 5 Schedule]