COPYWRITE MAGAZINE OFFICIAL DROP! Issue 17: EVOLUTION [ Place your PRE-ORDER now!] →
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Read Issue 17 Here
Where some shifts are gradual, the ones being advocated for now seem pertinent to existence. Who we are is no longer a categorical assignment but a statement of continuity into a new era. In this issue of CopyWrite Magazine, we pay homage to our past state of being [including vaulted interviews from before the pandemic & social uprising] but heavily focus on the culture, community, creativity that are currently taking form.
w/ April Walker, Eric “Shake” James, Mario Hamilton, Dahyembi Neal, The Trauma Trials, and Discrimination Behind the Scenes .
/CW
ORDER YOUR PHYSICAL COPY HERE!!!
Meet the our New Fashion Intern, Kyndal J.
/Say what’s up to Kyndal!
Kyndal J. is a multi-faceted creative. She ventures in the art of singing, songwriting , fashion, and jewelry design. She combines her many talents with confidence and style, curating a complete experience. We love her as a local creative and can’t wait for her to bring her energy to our fashion department!
/CW team.
Snapshot Press Release: More Than "Art" (Interview w/ Manuel Corona Sr. )
/We are constantly trying to find the artistic angle. Trying to find the pulse of the community in the work and craftsmanship of the people who adorn us with ornamentation, dazzle us with striking aesthetics, and keep us in thought with their chosen subject matter. Though art lives in the intricate folds of our daily life, it is often most appreciated in its moments of isolation. These moments usually become the treads of history that are seldom captured. Well until now. . .
At the end of March 2021, Serendipity Labs hosted an “Indoor Art Walk” curated by artist Sherman Pitts. The two-day event showcased the work of several local artists. A maze of offices was filled with art created by the young, the seasoned, and the ones that have yet to be defined. Pitts' ability to bring so many artists in one space [with COVID safety practices in place] showed quite a counter-narrative to the reality we often see in the arts community. Not only are there many, but they are quite diverse.
A serendipitous moment did occur at the Art Walk, when we crossed paths with Cynthia Henry, the art collector and advocate who owns Ayzha Fine Arts Gallery & Boutique, in downtown Milwaukee. With her vast knowledge of local artists and her practices, she introduced us to several artists, weaving in the generational context that lay before our eyes.
MANUEL CORONA SR.,VEDALE HILL, ARIANA VAETH, & JAX JOYCE.
“We have several generations of amazing artists right here.”, she pointed out as she led us into the area where Khepra Jewelers was showing. A room filled with talent was an understatement. Cynthia coined the legacy markers in that space as the “New School” and “Old School”, including MIAD alumni, large mural makers, master jeweler, fine artist, and arts advocates. By happenstance, Reynaldo Hernandez, Jax Joyce, Ariana Vaeth, and Vedale Hill, were all admiring Manuel Corona Sr. work at the same time. Cynthia suggested the moment should be captured but even more so that the story of the man behind the jewelry would also be an interesting perspective to grab.
As we looked over the intricate pieces of ornamentation we found symbolism, culture, and mastery we don’t often get to see. CopyWrite scheduled a one-on-one interview with Manuel Corona to learn why his wearable art is so alluring.
Manuel is an artist. The method in which he produces high-quality hand-crafted jewelry, made from precious metal, wire, stones, repurposed beading, and much more.
CW: “How did you get into making jewelry?”
MC: “I got into making jewelry to keep out of the streets. . . I think of the sheet of metal like a piece of paper and the wire as a pencil line.”
Manuel never planned on being a jeweler. He had always been an artist who would draw but had quite a different lifestyle before he met the art from. A run-in with the law triggered him to go work for his step-father who owned a local jewelry business. Manuel was given the task to buff and polish the jewelry but with a keen eye, he noticed that he could replicate the work of the craftsman in the shop, and make the jewelry too.
MC: “I was in my thirties when I started making it. I was in the streets from like high school until I was almost thirty. I finally went to jail and I [realized] this here is not for me. . . I had loaned my stepfather $1,000 once. I remembered I had loaned him that money. So when I got in trouble I told the police that I worked for him. So he came down there and post the bail for me or something. He told me ‘Well when you get out of here you are going to work for me’. I said cool.”
And so he did. His first role in the business was to sell jewelry, oils, shirts, and African American books downtown at the Grand Avenue Mall. The money was good so the need to return to his old habits seemed pointless. Once the mall began to shut down, Manuel moved on to the “factory”. The gallery where the jewelry was being created on 52nd and Center.
MC: “I started to watch those guys over there make it. I would just look like, oh okay that's how you do that, and okay got it that's how you make that. It’s like if you show me one or two times, I get it.”
Creating the pieces became natural to him. So much so that he has now been working in the business for over two decades. In 2020, Manuel decided to rebrand the company, changing its name from Third Generation Jewelers to Khepra Jewelers, as it is known today.
Khepra being a scarab-faced god in ancient Egyptian religion who represents the rising or morning sun and also representative of creation and the renewal of life. It is symbolic of a shift in the company as a singular entity now the mastery of Manuel and his own legacy.
CW: “Clearly this is not what you thought you would be doing with your life. Are you happily surprised?”
MC: “I am definitely surprised. There are also more things in the fire that I want to do. It’s just that when I started to do this I really started making money. I got so caught up in the jewelry and making the money from it I haven't stopped.”
One of the new ventures he would like to take on is putting together his own art shows, where he can create large-scale events that include entertainment and a full creative experience.
CW: “Now that you have been in the business so long, and you have the experience of learning by watching people, do you train or teach.”
MC: “Absolutely! There are 5 or 6 [people] out there that are doing their own thing now that I taught. Basically, this is like an incubator business.”
He explained that the effects of COVID-19 have been hard on the industry. The limit shows subtract from what is usually a lucrative market. Still selling online and through commission, he has been able to sustain a few days of the week of man-hours in his small production studio. However, it does not compare to the experience you receive shopping with Khepra Jewelers face to face.
MC: “The business is full service. So if somebody needed a ring smaller, we could make the ring smaller then and there. You don't have to wait two or three weeks to get your ring sized. We do it on the spot right there. It takes about 30min to an hour to do. If I have to make the ring larger it only takes a few minutes”.
Manuel says it's the luxury of actually being the craftsmen behind what you sell. Where there are many vendors of jewelry there are not many who make it. It separates him and those he teaches from the rest of the market while bringing light to the practices of making. He also pointed out that often people have doubted his ability to make it because of him being Black. The ignorance is put to rest when he publicly creates jewelry with everyone around.
The process of art-making is often intimate, thus the transparency in the craft is non-existent. However, Manuel doesn’t see a need to hide the process and suggested I have a look at his creative space. He gave me a virtual tour of his jewelry factory, showing me the bulk of the material used, machinery needed, designs that are always trending, and some of the repurpose antique material whose lineage derives straight out of the motherland.
Though the factory is extensive, with everything a master jeweler could ever need, Manuel suggests that all he really needs is a 12”x 12” space, and a little crockpot to get the job done.
The aesthetic of Manuel’s art can not be done justice through verbal description. As much as objects may be defined it is their tangible presence that holds value. When asked if he is ever asked to create designs that are far outside of the box, he asserts that it happens often.
MC: “Nine times out of ten I am up for the challenge. I like challenges. I like to see if I really can do it or how close I can get to the design they are looking for.”
Keeping the practices of jewelry making alive, Manuel believes in sharing his skills. He pays the people he trains instead of having them pay to learn. He teaches the craft in the hopes that others may one day carry on the traditions without him.
In need of some wearable art? Check out Manuel Corona Sr. work at http://www.kheprajewelers.com/ and tell them CopyWrite sent you.
Lexi S. Brunson for /CW
East Side Art Lot's 2021 Call to Artists | Press Interview w/ Larissa Gladding of The East Side BID
/Apply to create a public art piece!
Deadline Thursday, May 6th at 11:59 PM.
The East Side Business Improvement District is looking for artists to participate in its second year of The East Side Art Lot. This seasonal outdoor space is offering new pieces of public art and seating to those that use and enjoy the space.
Their current call to artists is to request applicants 18 and older to submit a proposal to create their designs on one of the provided bench seating. Each commissioned artist will receive $500 and materials.
With a high prioritization of BIPOC/ LGBTQ+/Women artists in the selection process we wanted to insure that all members of our creative community heard about this great opportunity. Larissa Gladding, Special Projects Manager from The East Side Business Improvement District virtually sat down with /CW Editor-in-Chief, Lexi S. Brunson to give us the 411 on the project details, advice on applying, and other insight that may make this public art programing worth your while.
View the East Side Art Lot's 2021 Call to Artists HERE.
Deadline Thursday, May 6th at 11:59 PM.
HealthyMKE.com Website Upgraded to Better Serve Vaccine Seekers in Advance of April 5 Eligibility Expansion
/*Info Provided by INPOWER
HealthyMKE.com Website Upgraded to Better Serve
Vaccine Seekers in Advance of April 5 Eligibility Expansion
Milwaukee’s trusted online resource for vaccine information now features an enhanced COVID vaccine locator to connect the community with appointments across Milwaukee County
Milwaukee, WI – HealthyMKE, a one-stop source of trusted information on COVID vaccines and other health resources, has been upgraded in advance of next week’s significant expansion of statewide vaccine eligibility with the addition of a robust vaccine locator feature to help connect the Milwaukee community with vaccinators, community events and walk-in clinics in neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee county.
“HealthyMKE provides real-time updates from Milwaukee vaccinators on locations and community events in Milwaukee county,” said Greg Stadter, the UEOC’s Vaccine Navigation workgroup chair. “It is a critical component of our efforts to improve access to vaccines and advance health equity.”
The site launched initially in December through a partnership with the Milwaukee Unified Emergency Operations Center (UEOC) and is developed and maintained by INPOWER, a local Black- and woman-owned communications agency located in the 53206 ZIP code. The site offers a variety of trusted information on the vaccines, including Frequently Asked Questions, infographics and links to important resources from local, state and federal agencies, and is fully accessible in both Spanish and Hmong as well as English.
“Our intent is for HealthyMKE to serve as the first step for members of our community as they formulate their vaccine plan,” said Aziz Abdullah, co-founder of INPOWER and part of the site’s development team. “Particularly now, with our entire adult population days from vaccine eligibility, it’s essential that we offer easy-to-use resources for those who are eager to get vaccinated, and those looking for more information.”
When using the vaccine locator tool, site visitors will be able to explore the wide variety of potential vaccination options geographically closest to them, including clinics run by the City, County, local health departments, health care providers, pharmacies and others. Each vaccinator listing includes details on eligibility, whether or not appointments are required, and links for online scheduling if applicable. While primarily geared towards those who live or work in Milwaukee County, many of the site’s resources are applicable to anyone in Wisconsin, including links to other vaccine finder services like Wisconsin DHS’s statewide vaccine provider map and the CDC-backed national Vaccine Finder tool.
For individuals who can’t or prefer not to access HealthyMKE’s vaccine location information online, assistance in finding vaccine locations in Milwaukee County is also available via phone at 844-684-1064.
HealthyMKE is supported with funding and resources from Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, Medical College of Wisconsin, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, United Healthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin and the Alliance of Health Insurers.
Established in March 2020, the UEOC facilitates efforts among local government, fire, EMS, law enforcement, public health, health care, academia, the business community and others to coordinate and elevate a unified multi-sector public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing affected vulnerable populations.
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For more information, contact:
Mark Rosenberg – 2-Story Creative
mark@2-story.com 612-269-7902
Aziz Abdullah – INPOWER
aziz@tryinpower.com 414-975-8774
Speak On It! REDESIGN OUR CITY!
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Lexi S. Brunson, will be presenting her knowledge on authentic creative community development and more!
Register to attend Here!
#PortraitsOfFemme - Follow up
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We're halfway through March which means halfway through FemFest's #PortraitsOfFemme programming. FemFest is a platform for femmes, trans, GNC, women, non-binary and BIPOC, honoring the reclamation of power for those who have been historically excluded from, or not had, creative spaces!
Through collaborative planning & execution with a diverse host of women/femme-identifying & nonbinary leaders in local arts scenes, FemFest will optimize its platform for Women’s History Month with “Portraits of Femme.”
We wanted to follow up with a few new events, and remind you all of the rest of this months initiatives:
Open Call #Portraits of Femme, All Month | CopyWrite Magazine is hosting videos that people submit through the FemFest website. It's our hope that #PortraitsOfFemme gives a platform to everyone included in FemFest's mission. Participants will be able to take part informally by sharing their art with the inclusion of tagged content on Instagram. By tagging @rwfemfest & @copywritemag, along with the hashtag #PortraitsOfFemme artists’ will have their creations re-shared across multiple platforms.
March 25th, 6 PM CST | Ms. Lotus Fankh is hosting a panel discussion around the topic Impact & Importance of Women in Music. This event will stream live on Facebook from the Ms. Lotus Fankh and the FemFest pages. Join in to listen to members of Women in Music Chicago, Girls Rock MKE, Revolution Ready, founding members of FemFest, and other women centered organizations discuss the impact and importance of women in music.
March 26th, 5 PM CST | Additionally, the FemFest audience will be encouraged to view the March 26th session of Grace Weber’s Music Lab on Facebook Live, featuring Tiffany Miranda; the founder of Girls Make Beats.
March 28th, 7 PM CST | Cactus Club Moving Image Series welcomes guest programmer Britany Gunderson who has organized the third Femfest Video Showcase. This year the showcase will be available virtually for one week through Vimeo & cactusclubmilwaukee.com. The program features film and video work from Milwaukee artists that explore gender and identity through performance, history, and personal storytelling.
To generate proceeds in support of the various artists involved & future programming endeavors, donations will be accepted online www.rwfemfest.com/donate, via PayPal @Riverwest Fem Fest or Venmo @Riverwest-FemFest.
Contact
For more information, please contact: rwfemfest@gmail.com
To Submit a video:
GENERAL VIDEO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Horizontal Frame
Submit as a URL link via YouTube, Vimeo, etc. (for embedding)
Written caption/description on why the song &/or artist inspires you
Participants may submit video links via google form.
SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Content must include: #PortraitsOfFemme
Content must include two mentions: @copywritemag @rwfemfest
