We Are Not Political. We Are Social.
/Be Socially responsible. Use your voice to & take a stance!
#RespectTheUrban #Vote
VoodooHoney Presents Nightmare on Center St EP
/Hallo-weekend is among us.
And here at CopyWrite, we're celebrating by supporting our local artists at the second annual Nightmare on Center Street event this Saturday Oct 29.
The event will be held at multiple venues along the Eastside of Center street. Hosting some of the city’s bands and artists such as Klassik, Bo Triplex and his Beautiful Band, Kyndal J, Chakara Blu and Lorddee Fredd33. To get more anticipation for the shows to come, VoodooHoney released an electric mix of some of the artists performing. Though we don't know much about who/what VoodooHoney is. The mix is pretty dope; giving new energy to some of the songs.
Check out the mix below and let us know who you want to see perform for next year's event in the comments.
As we anticipate the shows to come (and the killer costumes) learn more about attending the event here or get your tickets for both individual shows or a $15 wristband for all the shows at local venues: Company Brewing, HIGH DIVE MKE, The Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts and Club Timbuktu Milwaukee.
You won't want to miss this... #RespectTheRiverWestVoodoo
#WCW Kierston Ghaznavi // Keghaznavi Illustration
/This week we bring you Kierston Ghaznavi of Keghaznavi Illustration! Kierston and I met at 2035 Art + Media Studio’s annual MKE United Festival and I fell in love with her dope illustrations, paper dolls, coloring books, and down to earth personality.
Kierston is a Milwaukee native and UWM Graduate with a BFA Graphic Design. Kierston’s pieces are for sure one of a kind and eye catching, I love seeing women of color making meaningful and unique art work, she’s really reppin’ for Milwaukee’s black female visual artists.
Keghaznavi illustrations focuses on creating positive images and reconstructing stereotypes about black women and black beauty as a whole. When I spoke with Kierston she stated, “I want to counteract the media portrayal of women of color (specifically black women)”.
Kierston also discussed some heavy issues such as cultural appropriation and black face and how art can be used to make these negative ideas things of the past. Kierston draws inspiration from women she sees in everyday life, whether that be a passer by or an Instagram beauty. She creates her work because she loves and and has a desire to spread positivity through her medium, she also aims to make fine art more accessible.
Kierston creates small things such as her original paper dolls or coloring book pages that can be priced affordably, “I want to take art from the walls and make it something you can use”.
This is something us at CopyWrite can definitely get down with as we too feel like the art scene can be a little too pretentious at times. Creative, authentic, and positive, what is there not to love about this week’s #WCW?
See more of Kierston's work at keghaznavi.com and follow her on Instagram.
All photo credits courtesy of Kierston Ghaznavi oh Keghaznavi Illustrations
#WCW BlackPaint Studios
/This week we bring you not one, but two #WCW’s, the bad-ass branding maven team consisting of Katie Mullen and Jordan Pintar.
Image by Amanda Lillian Photography // facebook.com/amandalillianphotography/
I originally came across Jordan under a Facebook post calling for all the boss ladies, creatives, and leaders in our community. A few google searches (Google is your friend!) I was brought to the website blackpaintstudios.com.
“Not your mother’s creative studio” the two state, black paint studios is a progressive boutique advertising and branding agency based out of our very own MKE. BlackPaint Studios prides itself with what they would call “exciting and empathetic work” their designs and style are all focused on culture and the human experience. Trust, this isn't your Colgate toothpaste ad team.
Katie and Jordan aim to break the norms and stuffy culture of the advertisement business as we know. They aim to inspire more women to not only break into the creative directing industry but own it. The “Boss Lady Project” aims to break down the creative industries "white male" power structure through street level campaigning. (Check out the blog http://bossladyproject.com/)
They're all about the artistic integrity and stories behind the work they produce. Katie and Jordan are giving creative directing the soul and realness we see lacking at many other agencies ( The rest of you....#DoBetter). Did we mention they do community work as well? Black Paint volunteers time to aid FROM HERE TO HER Artist Collective. FROM HERE TO HER is an artist collective of women aiming to empower their communities making them safer, happier, and healthier through art. Now that's definitely something we can rock with.
#WCW worthy, we certainly think so Boss Ladies.
We're completely obsessed with there work for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. Check out the mural ("The Goddess of FIerce Protection") they projected on the building below and follow there Instagram for all dope things from the boss ladies.
See this Instagram video by @blackpaintstudios * 33 likes
All images provided and owned by BlackPaint Studios and Amanda Lillian Photography.
#WCW Modern Native Co.
/This week’s #WCW makes “soul inspiring spirit webs & crafts for lovers of the universe” also known as kick-ass dream catchers that fight off bad spirits and some accessories that you need in your closet.
Say hello to “Modern Native Co.”
Owned and operated by Kelsey Erin. The company creates one-of-a-kind and (I would say) magical spirit webs woven with love right here in Milwaukee.
In Native American culture, “Natives believed the night air was filled with good and bad dreams. The legend of the Dream Catcher is that it captures the bad Spirits and filters them. Protecting us from evil and letting through only the good dreams. It is believed that each carefully woven web will catch bad spirit dreams in the web.”
How awesome is that?
Kelsey, a woman of many talents, started the company as a needed outlet from her traditional tasks on the computer. As written on her Etsy bio: “Making dream catchers became a meditation for me. I put my heart and soul into them and to me they are a decorative symbol of unity.”
We all need a reminder of unity in our life and these dream catchers might do the trick. Check out there pieces below, follow them on Instagram and then go to there Etsy store to purchase.
If you don’t see anything that fits your soul, Kelsey is more than happy to sit down with you to create your own personal piece.
#SupportTheLocal
Gen’s ShotGlass Review of MKE Film Fest
/A shot glass is symbolic. It tells you what it is quickly and direct.
Since the MKE Film Festival has come to an end, we would like to reflect on the festivals take on the music/film mashup and just the greatness that the MKE Film Fest represents. Showing love to the Milwaukee film scene from every aspect possible.
As you all know a good music video can make (and sometimes) break a song.
So we asked are homie and CW Connect Genesis Renji of The House Of Renji to let us know his ShotGlass thoughts on The Milwaukee Music Video Show, "a celebration of the myriad art talent our community has to offer."
Read Gen's honest and lit descriptions of these videos then watch the videos and listen to some of songs below (if the video were unavailable).
& if you know Gen, he suggests you read these reviews in his voice. #OohYeaYea
1st Video – From The Drowning Dreamers Band - Frayed Bridge to Dying Star.
It had a dope acoustic vibes to it. The video itself was reminiscent to a Nat Geo documentary/ commercial for Earth’s hidden oases. Music is hypnotic, a growing trance.
2nd Video – “Roaming Empire” by Maritime.
Donuts. Reverse bubbles. Jamming at work. Boss yelling at you. Story of my life. This video had a 70’s Show vibe to it, especially with the solo car scene. The signature style was slow motion through real time speed. Long story, short: the Roaming Empire is oblivious to the worl
3rd Video – Trapper Schoepp’s “Settlin’ or Sleeping Around”.
First, coldest name I’ve ever heard in ever. Secondly, the songs sounds like a secret track to "Back To The Future"; it was one of the more cinematic feeling videos that showcased the duality of life.
4th Video - Rio Turbo “20/20 (Dashcam Remix)”. This is when DRIVE meets PBS on LSD. Electric soul sonics, paired with cuts of nature, the 50s and cells. Literal cells from science and shit. Ooh cheetah.
5th Video – Fox Face – “Teenage Wiccan” Scenic. Silhouettes. Fortune cards. Random cuts and twitches like animorphic book covers. Fingers put out fire from candle. Badass.
6th Video - Lorde Fredd33 “S.O.S”, mama there go that man again!!!! One of my favorite videos and songs. Conceptually dope; black yakuza. Hari-kari.
7th Video - Devil Met Contention’s "Used To Be" sounds like the Kill Bill 2 B Sides and looks like the best of Dancing With The Stars. If Uma Thurman made it to the wedding reception and didn't get murdered at the rehearsal, that’s this visual. Beautiful blend of western and Latin sounds and visual elements, especially the use of lighting.
8th Video - WC Tank "27th and National" is eerie as hell. Like if the Purge started a record label, this would be the first release. The slow motion shot of the skull faced skateboarder with the red cape is insane. Skateboarding devil. Upside down rain. Breakdown of song leads to visual evolution of edits and 360 camera flipping and rotated panning. Kelly Anderson got his shit off.
9th Video - Webster X’s "Lately", the grand design of Damien Blue and Cody LaPlant once again. This video is the like part 2 to Web’s “Doomsday” video. Some similar visual signatures, but the overall essence is a feeling of death and rebirth. The passing to forever.
10th Video - Direct Hit’s "Was It The Acid". Dude trips balls and sees dancing turkeys. Everyone becomes a turkey. Shot on Farwell. At the end of the video he is the rooster or turkey or whatever. I didn’t care for this.
11th Video - Group of the Altos "Coplights". This was edited like Tree Of Life. I’ve never wanted to understand a visual so much until I saw this. It's a collage of vintage photos and scenes mixed with modern memories and experiences. Great use of color for stage performance shot. Geologist. Typewriter. Domestic violence clip. VHS tapes. Campers. "Is this the past?". State Fair "is this the future?" "is this now?” Now read all of this backwards and that’s the video..
12th Video - Busdriver "Much". Dope ass song with a clean and simple visual. Straight shot with a seemingly vintage filter over the edit. It reminded me of Crooklyn. Shoutout Domo and Mykal with the cameos!!!
13th Video - Fabian James & Treyy G’s "See You". Nick Jonas ass video; Close-esque vibes. Shot like Nickelback’s "Hero" with the warehouse setting; the dancing and break dancing is so fire. Shot like an Apple/H&M commercial. Crazy dope, definitely one of my favorites from the night, don’t let the opening comments fool you.
VIDEO UNAVAILABLE TO STREAM
14th Video - Serengeti "Doctor My Own Patience". Bad memories. Empty house. Disco in the dresser, though. Cray. Roller rink. This was the most interestingly edited video. Another 70’s Show-esque visual.
VIDEO UNAVAILABLE TO STREAM
CREDITS:
WC Tank – “27th and National” (USA / 2016 / Director: Kelly Michael Anderson)
Busdriver – “Much” (USA / 2015 / Director: Dan Peters)
Canopies – “Getting Older” (USA / 2015 / Director: Ryan Reeve)
Devil Met Contention – “Used to Be” (USA / 2016 / Directors: Jessica Farrell, Ehson Rad)
Direct Hit – “Was it the Acid?” (USA / 2016 / Directors: Bobby Ciraldo, Andrew Swant)
Fabian James & Treyy G – “See You” (USA / 2016 / Director: Quinn Hester)
Fox Face – “Teenage Wiccan” (USA / 2016 / Director: Mitch Rasque)
The Drowning Dreamers Band – “Frayed Bridge to Dying Star” (USA / 2016 / Director: Sean Kafer)
Group of the Altos – “Coplights” (USA / 2016 / Directors: Heather Hass, Shawn Stephany, Sean Williamson)
Lex Allen – “Cream & Sugar” (USA / 2015 / Director: Cody LaPlant)
Lorde Fredd33 – “SOS” (USA / 2016 / Director: Kiran Vee)
Maritime – “Roaming Empire” (USA / 2016 / Director: Erin Elders)
Rio Turbo – “20/20 (Dashcam Remix)” (USA / 2016 / Director: Dan Boville)
Serengeti – “Doctor My Own Patience” (USA / 2016 / Director: WC Tank)
Trapper Schoepp – “Settlin’ Or Sleepin’ Around” (USA / 2016 / Director: Caroline Jaecks)
Webster X – “Lately” (USA / 2015 / Directors: Cody LaPlant, Damien Blue, Sam Ahmed)
Vatofied Experience Pop Up Fashion Show: Take One
/Our Fashion Editor is back at it again. This time to take his Vatofied Experience to new levels.
Displaying the fall must-haves with a touch of his personal style on his models. Vato's first Pop Up Fashion Show for his Vatofied Experience took to the streets of Mason and Water to serve up some on-the-street fashion.
Though the weather was gloomy; the support was not. Making Vato's vision become reality.
Check out the Full Experience in the video captured by our CopyWrite shooter Mahdi Gransberry...
& CopyWrite has heard a rumor that this is not the last one to come. Let us know what you think.
Presented by: Paid with Roots // Sponsored by: the style hub
