Corridor & A Little More | An Interview with creative Weléla Mar Kindred on her life & forthcoming local Indie Film “Corridor”

We had the awesome opportunity to virtually sit down with actress, dancer and artist, Weléla Kindred. Weléla wears so many different creative hats and has ample years of experience creating, living, and funding her own dreams. She is also the founder of the Chicago studio, ‘THE LVMB COLLECTIVE’ as you’ll find out in our interview. It was honestly humbling to myself finding out what goes into someone’s creative form simply meaning, finding out what it took [behind the scenes] to understand what she lets us experience today. You guys will get to discover ‘which hat fits when’ in our new exclusive interview with Weléla about her life and her experience in playing ‘Maria Grey’ in the new forthcoming Milwaukee-based indie-film, “Corridor.”

Want to know more about Weléla? Check out her website: https://www.lvmbcollective.com

Want to know about ‘Corridor’? Check it out here:

https://www.corridorfilm.com

Keep it easy,

/Imani for CW

Partnership Content - Artist Eats: SistaStrings at Villa Terrace

Partnership Content - Artist Eats

SistaStrings at Villa Terrace

We met in early May 2021 at Villa Terrace. The unusually cold day was even colder as we were situated on Milwaukee’s east side across the street from our lakefront. 

On this particular day, Monique Ross (older by 2 years) and Chauntee Ross are exhausted but ecstatic. Just 2 days prior, they announced their farewell show before moving permanently to Nashville, TN. Their departure is a harsh reminder of the importance of creating and cultivating an arts community that allows artists to flourish and get paid. 

Their farewell show sold out in 72 hours. Another reminder of how incredible their contribution is to Milwaukee’s music scene and how much we’ll miss them. As of today’s writing, they’re doing well in Nashville including recently sharing the stage with Thee Brandi Carlile. 

Not too shabby for the Queens of Strings. Not too shabby at all.

It’s hard to encompass all that is SistaStrings in a 10-minute video. Our conversation over FlourGirl and Flame pizza and drinks from Vibez Creative Arts Space navigated the journey of 2 black women who’ve made a home in classical music with a bit of gospel and a bit of soul. 

Here’s our interview.

2022? We will be here, doing all the things we do!

No speech this year. You see the world. We see the world. Shit. . . Anything could happen. But one thing for certain, we will be here doing what we do! 2022 we will be staying focused on our mission with humanity in mind every step of the way.

/CW

" 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