AN ILLIAD - SnapShot Press Release

photos by Michael Brosilow

Humanity has a way of showing us its values. 

Our fate lies somewhere between the unknown and the unhinged [what a spectrum]. However, it is usually through reflection, anecdotal and historical, from a distant past to a very near present that we see the repetition of lore and find ourselves questioning the meaning of it all.

Sunday’s [September 22nd, 2024]  Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s performance of AN ILIAD, was an emotional display of genius, wrapped in the tradition of Grecian tragedy, smothered in the plight of modernism oblivion to the human condition, and how “WE” got here. Lisa Peterson & Denis O’hare’s interpretation of Homer’s The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles, bares us from the smoke and mirrors of social exchange, grounding us in the power of mono-interpretation storytelling. However, it is N'Jameh Camara (The Poet) and Kellen “Klassik” Abston (The Muse/ Composer) that brought the shores of Troy and the backdrop of the Aegean Sea into reach within the circular “void” of the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

IT’S GIVING DRAMAAAAAAA!

As N'Jameh drowned herself in a bottle of “spirits” she walks us through the tale of Hector and Achilles, the Trojan War, and the fate of their battle. Her monologue was striking. When & where are we? In the “now” of disruptive political turmoil, or in the “then” of disruptive political turmoil? In the “now” of men policing the body of women or in the “then” of men policing the body of women? In the “now” of socially induced hysteria or. . . It did not matter, N'Jameh as the poet reminded us that these fates could be our own and that we must not shrug lightly at the flaws of man, because we are MAN. 

With just a suitcase, a bench, and a few layers of clothing N'Jameh flings her head back and stairs into the eyes of the audience [the people] then rushes to gesture the interactions of warriors, lovers, enemies, friends, and family. She makes us grieve the death of Patroclus, the same way we grieve, the limp bodies of boys found slayed on street corners in rival “hoods”. She makes us speculate Helen [Helen of Troy or Helen of Sparta depending on who you ask] agency in her selection of suitors. Was Helen into Paris or nah? Does Helen even want Menelaus to defend her or does she just like to see men get all hot and bothered over her? [Is killing the highest or lowest form of flattery that can be offered]. 

All I know is that when N'Jameh reflects on what war this landscape of carnage reminds her of, she list every war that humanity has documented, and my eyes flooded with stinging tears as if the waves had crashed upon me and I was destined to drown.

The mantra of monikers. . .

Peloponnesian War

Crusades

Powhatan War

Mexican-American War

World War I

Arab-Israeli wars

Vietnam War

Israel–Hamas war

. . . It went on and on for what seemed like forever. How could we not see it? How could we not understand that we have failed to protect our species from butchery? How could we not plead for forgiveness when we have all let our egos slaughter our potential for collective peace? N'Jameh wailed in a dialect of pain and her voice carried through the room into some distant pit of sorrow. I have been to many performances, but I have never felt so soul-crushed in viewing the truth. 

I am guilty. We all are guilty.  

This ability to drag our senses into the thick of it was not an isolated win. Klassik’s arrival into the theater as The Muse allowed for an auditory awakening or a soundtrack to a collective soul cry. His layered vibrations made us hear waves on the battle beach, the clash of metal weapons against armor, and the vastness of hundreds of thousands of ships arriving. His musical composition was boisterous and delicate all at the same time. We needed his contribution, we needed the liquid “spirits” to release this auditory vision for The Poet to relive, what we all must rectify. 

AN ILIAD is an experience that humanity needs. It is a scream for repentance in public intimacy. As we find ourselves pinned into battles that may be sanctioned by the Gods [Yours, mine, theirs, ours, or no one's] and ask for conviction in our uncertainty [who deems our deeds good or evil?] We must remember that we are all villains in someone's story. 

[& the comedic relief was there. But only enough to make us say “Ohhhh boy we’re screwed.”

I invite you to approach your humanity and experience Milwaukee Chamber Theater’s AN ILIAD, for the sake of us all.

Lexi S. Brunson 

Editor-in-Chief /CW

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF COPYWRITE MAGAZINE ISSUE 21 | BACK TO BLACK

n issue we take a deep dive into the nuances of Black Culture and the rhetoric that it parallels. This is one of the most intimate issues we have ever produced because many of the topics we will discuss have been fostered by conversions that our leadership, /CW Fam [our staff + collaborators], and our friends/family have grappled with in our personal lives. These topics have lived in barbershop debates, under dryers at the hair salon, at the kitchen table at Granny's house, and on the front steps before the age of social media. These are realities that are formed by resistance & resilience, topped with ingenuity and unapologetic joy in being the prototype for authentic exploration for survival [vs. conquest]. These are patterns of existence without erasure.

Featuring: Spill It Card Game, Jonah Denae, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Culture: Between Space & Place

"A Delicious Way To Make A Meaningful Difference" - Snap Shot Press Release

ALl photos by copywrite magazine

Food waste & food insecurity are legacy themes in Milwaukee’s urban landscape. For decades, community members have strived to find equitable ways to nourish our neighborhoods. From mom-and-pop bakeries to our regionally sourced dairy [Can we get a cheese curd?], the communal “Friday Fish Fries” [a Wisconsinite staple], and urban farming plots that bring us fresh produce from right up the street, food is a part of our story.

Tuesday’s [September 10th, 2024] at Alice's Garden Urban Farm [2136 N 21st St, Milwaukee, WI 53205], FEED MKE announced it’s Food Waste Reduction + Compost Mini Grants project, which allows $127,500 to be reallocated to Milwaukee-based community organizations in support of Food Recovery and Composting. 

pictured: Erick Shambarger,

Erick Shambarger, Director of Environmental Sustainability for the City of Milwaukee, who leads the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) kicked off the event by rooting us in reality. “In Wisconsin, 1.2 billion pounds of food goes to waste annually while 1 in 7 households experience food insecurity”, Shambarger shared in a reflection of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2021 report. These numbers, in conjunction with Milwaukee’s socio-economic relationship with food deserts, should be alarming to all citizens, hence FEED MKE’s charge for change.  

The Food Excess, Equitable Distribution Coalition (FEED MKE), Food Waste Reduction + Compost Mini-Grants, were made possible by the USDA-Compost & Food Waste Reduction Grant. However, the concept came from the community member feedback on what our city truly needs.

pictured: Venice Williams

Venice Williams, Executive Director of Alice’s Garden, noted that “the city of Milwaukee is full of abundance. . .”, which we don’t hear enough. This abundance, present in the vast backdrop the urban garden created for this event, is also clear in the work local organizations and individuals do to keep our community fed [with or without the means]. “My family can tell you anytime I go to my garbage to throw away something I ask for forgiveness”, Williams testified as characteristic of noticed waste projects like these may prevent. 

FEED MKE is charged with several tasks including conducting outreach on how food waste impacts climate change, fostering relationship-building between gleaners and food pantries, food kitchens, restaurants, community-based organizations, etc., as noted on their official city of Milwaukee web portal [milwaukee.gov/FEEDMKEMiniGrants]. However, the introduction of the mini-grants and future Food Saver Challenge through the Mayor’s Office will allow community and private sector contributions to these initiatives. 

pictured: Andi Sciacca

Andi Sciacca, EOC’s Environmental Sustainability Program Coordinator, made it clear that the current funding is not meant to deter the department from doing its work but instead, “redistributes it to the people already doing the work” and “help people recover more food before it becomes waste”. 

Those looking to apply for the grant should be clear on their ability to think communally & collaboratively. Funding Opportunities include

• Food Recovery: Grants of $5,000-$30,000 for 4-8 organizations to support food recovery capacity-building through partnerships with local food-based businesses, food banks, and community-based organizations.

• Composting: Grants of $5,000-$20,000 for 3-5 organizations for on-site composting supplies or to institute subscription-based composting services at community locations.

Workshops or “information sessions” will be available at several sites around the city throughout October, where applications must be submitted by November 22nd, 2024, for a December Award announcement.

So as a creative media outlet that #SupportsTheLocal & firmly believes that sharing a meal with someone can humanize them, we hope to see you pull up a seat at the table to feed our community and sustain our planet.

Because it is. . .

“A delicious way to make a meaningful difference". - Andi Sciacca

Lexi S. Brunson | Editor-in-Chief /CW

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow - Snap Shot Press Release

ALl Images by jenny plevin

Art has many purposes but it honors its truest form when it reflects the intricacies of reality in its full spectrum. 

Friday’s [ August 9th, 2024] performance of  For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange (1948-2018), directed by Linetta Alexander, championed the creativity of Black Women by pulling at the intimate language of shared “resilience, pain, and triumph”. This modern take on social positioning in a patriarchal society redefines the way sista-hood connotes an unyielding survival that deserves joy and is joy.

Alexander has taken the various “Ladies in [asigned color]” and has allowed them to deliver narratives that enter the soul, swell the eyes, and clench palms until they release with relief, like a group therapy session. How they sashay across the stage, support each other stories, and give room for each actor to breathe is no easy feat. You may know the play, but as much as it serves Shange’s original commentary on oppression in a racist and sexist society, this manifestation confronts the peculiarities of the digital age [smart phones, ring cameras, social media, etc.] that make these realities much more invasive and counter-intuitive to healing. 

The setting is composed of urban Milwaukee [#WeSeeYou Brady St.] with the transientness of pedestrian crossing where we encounter each color dealing in their reflective monologue and sharing their inner thoughts [If yall want to give us that bus shelter when you are done, we would happily accept]. This storytelling in its contemporary choreo-poem form is best supported by Lady in Green's [Brielle Richmond] seductive chair dance, Lady in Blue’s [Tina Nixon] heart-breaking abortion silhouette, and Lady in Red’s [Gabrielle Veronique] symbolic baby blanket drop [The way you stressed me out is unforgivable LOL]. 

However, the balance of youthful vulnerability from Lady in Brown [Selena Mcknight] and Lady in Yellow [Deja Taylor], are reminders that whatever trauma we have endured are not the only memories that should take up space. The confidence of worlds yet concurred and unjaded love [or lust] holds magic. Lady in Purple [Brandy Reed] and Lady in Orange [Tosha Freeman] embrace in the open mic night scene was also a moment of reflective forgiveness. How do we age into our understanding of self? How do we fall victim and villain in a world that does not play fair? We need each other and without giving up all the symbolic and metaphorical gems, I will say, we must do better by each other [so if I have ever harmed you, purposefully or unknowing, I am truly sorry]. 

This artistic collaboration from Shange to Alexander, Alexander to the performing ladies, stage to audience, is a must. These are the narratives we have culturally avoided and thus, the harm continues to generationally impact our experiences. Their dedication to authentic relationship building is seen, their embodiment of their roles is spot on, and their lived experience as women of color is inestimable. This work is clearly ours to do together.

So today I challenge you to start your healing, get your tickets to For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf, and see the world in color!

Lexi S. Brunson  | Editor-in-Chief /CW

---

Performance Dates: 

August 8 – 12, 15 – 16, 22 – 25 | 7:30pm, Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall, Marcus Center

Gallery Night @ /CW Creative Studios + Shop

“Music on the Beerline” is back for its’ 6th Season

*INFO PROVIDED BY KENNITA HICKMAN OF CATERA

The Riverworks Development Corporation is kicking off the sixth annual “Music on the Beerline,” a free outdoor music event in Milwaukee. The RDC is continuing in its new format as a 3 month series versus a one-night event, an upgrade to the event structure that has proven to be successful.

“Riverworks is excited to host the 6th Music on the Beerline Series at the Beerline Plaza connecting the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods while showcasing local talent,” Darryl Johnson, Executive Director of Riverworks Development Corporation.

The series, which highlights local musicians and performers, will showcase a diverse range of music, with prior concerts offering a mixture of Hip Hop, Soul, Jazz and more. Last year featured hometown favorites Browns Crew and DJ Bizzon.

The 6th annual “Music on the Beerline” will take place on the following dates on the Beerline trail:

• July 19, 530p to 830p

• August 16, 530p to 830p

• September 20, 530p to 830p

Artists featured this year include Smoke N’ Mirrors, Urban Empress and The Urbanites, DJ Bizzon, Cache, Love Peace and Soul and Extra Crispy Brass Band.

This year will see the return of our marketplace where local vendors can connect directly withconsumers. Vendors include Polished Embroidery, Jameelah Jewelry, Beauty from the Root, Say It Louder, Girl of the 21st and One MKE. Food trucks will also be on site.

Sponsors include Wells Fargo, Palermo, Bank Five Nine, Brewery Credit Union, Riverwest Realty, Nessun Dorma, Manyo Motors, Strand Associates, One MKE, Metal Forms, Amorphic Beer and Quad MKE.

Help The Black Geek Documentary reach its goal w/ Geekset

RUN IT BACK ONE TIME. WE HAVE AN UPDATE!

Remeber our homies at Geekset Podcast? Yea, you do! Go ahead and watch the interview for a refresher. We will wait. . .

Well they are fundraising for their final stage of the The Black Geek Documentary and in #SupportTheLocal true fashion we want to help them reach their goal by looping you in.

They are looking for:

• Invitations to talk about the documentary on your platform

• Donations to the Kickstarter

• Shares & Post about the Doc on your platform

• Meetings with those interested in investing (For those who are interested)

So do your thang by helping these “Geeks” make history [& don’t forget /CW sent ya]!

/CW

New Intern. Who Dis? | Welcome our 2024 "Teen" Summer Interns to the /CW Fam!

Let’s do it again!

We are back at it this summer with young talent. We are hosting a “Teen” intern at CopyWrite Mag! With our hopes of staying intune with community and the pulse of change, we love to have young people around to teach us a few things. Where we will be sharing our wisdom in the creative fields we also will be given them an opportunity to “make” what speaks to them. Shout out to Lead 2 Change for sponsoring this programming.

[& if you see them in the field drop some gems on them. “It takes a village”.]

2023 SUMMER INTERNS

James Dean Jr.

Summer Intern | Graphic Design + Fashion Focused

James is the owner of Huncho Militia. Hunchomilitia is a brand that signifies a love for sports and hip-hop, with the overall goal of bringing together a following of people who are not afraid to use their talents to shine. James wants to bring people together who believe you can show your creativity through art, whether that be music or showcasing talents through sports. He is intrigued by how much can be conveyed just by the way some present themselves. So I've built a clothing brand that aims to foster a sense of community. He has joined CopyWrite for the summer to build strong connections and make this goal a reality.

/CW Chat w/ The All White Xperience | June 29th, 2024 [Rooftop Ballroom Baird Center]

Get out your white linen fits because the All White Xperience is about to go down! Your /CW fam sat with event curators Myron Smith, Johnny L. Jones and Tim Ricketts about the Saturday, June 29th, 2024 event that is bound to change the way Milwaukee see’s entertainment. From intergenerational programming with a step show & runway fashion to a highly anticipated live performance by Jagged Edge, this will be one of those events that has to make the MKE summer hit list.  It’s not just a party but an “Xperience” you won't want to miss.

/CW

ThriveOn King Ribbon Cutting Celebration | A local inspiration, a national model, and a dream come true

The ribbon cutting at thriveon king

“A local inspiration, a national model, and a dream come true.” - John R. Raymond, Sr., MD

At CopyWrite we respect a BOLD statement and we value an observed truth. So today when John R. Raymond, Sr., President and CEO of MCW, delivered remarks on his perspective of ThriveOn King collaboration, we could only agree that its fruition and active arrival has indeed been an inspiration, a layered blueprint, and a collective dream that has often been deferred. 

We were invited to attend the June 6th, 2024 ribbon cutting ceremony for the ThriveOn King Collaboration development [2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Milwaukee, WI 53212] as a neighbor [/CW Creative Studios + Shop is literally right across the street if you did not already know], Art Review Committee members [because the creative work must speak to US & for US], and community stakeholders [our investment into this community is apart of the collective fabric that turns these SPACES into PLACES]. With those many facets of stewardship as a guiding force for our communal labor, we have been quite critical of the goals and aspirations for the new soul of the old Schuster’s & Gimbels building.

An equitable approach to development must be anchored in reality. What are the issues? Why do they persist? What are viable solutions and the resources needed to sustain them? These are the questions that are never easy to answer. However, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF), the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), and Royal Capital’s “joint vision for Milwaukee '' have created a physical manifestation of what that vision can become. 

“We all share a vision where neighbors are healthy. . .opportunities are equitable. . . a better Milwaukee”, said Ellen M. Gilligan, current President & CEO of Greater Milwaukee Foundation. The idea of a “Better Milwaukee”, can always be neutralized by the historical divide that most tend to harp on as a sign of stagnation in our cities’ complex infrastructure but in the case of the ThriveOn King development, “better” is collaborative truth. Where community is engaged, philanthropy can serve, and that service becomes mutually beneficial in building a place where we all thrive holistically. 

Ken Robertson, Executive VP, CEO & CFO of GMF, also shared his appreciation to his collaborators [including the community] and commitment to the project beyond the near completion of the commercial building component. “We could do better, we could live better . . . projects like this enable us to get there”. The momentum is an absolute must to propel a high-profile partnership into something that retains a positive legacy and lasting impact in the microcosm that is Milwaukee. 

The stipulation of communal progress treads upon counter acts to gentrification and welcomed entry into a community that already holds historical and cultural value. Alderwoman Milele Coggs, made it known in her speech that the site we all were currently inhabiting was not just a happenstance of real estate availability. She listed an FBI facility, the welfare building [even as her familial namesake], and NO studios as other inquired possibilities. “It could have been but we fought against it”, she said. And those possibilities change the trajectory of so much more. 

artist vedale hill /w pops [art installation]

As always when we approach these historical moments of ribbon cutting and “professional hobnobbery”, we report back to our readers as active advocates of the arts, culture, and to local elevation. We watched as Vedale Hill, one of the artists selected for ThriveOn's permanent collection [and an intimate supporter and partner of our work at /CW], created his art installation slated for the historic display windows on the north side of the building. We discussed the importance of having his work be seen as “a cultural relevance of “Play” for the African American Community in Milwaukee. . . These pieces are meant to depict a physical manifestation of hope for young Black kids while elevating this nuance of culture to high art. This notes that while the practice of play may be the dream there are other professional routes that may encapsulate that passion”, as stated in his concept description. 

artist whose art was selected to be a part of thriveon king: vedale hill, Isaic Pulliam, Brad Anthony Bernard, Reynaldo Hernandez

“This is more of a homecoming than an arrival for me. Having this art here at ThriveOn reaches back to why I became an artist in the first place. It's already there. I’m just encapsulating it and reframing it so that our realities are validated not as just historical asides but as impacting proponents of the here & now. How I view myself as an artist is more akin to a diamond cutter than an inventor.  I’m just making a value and beauty association that is already a part of the natural folds of the community I am a part of”, Vedale reminded us.

And these narratives run deep.

/cw on the job | Editor-in-chief Lexi S. Brunson

I am keeping a few subtleties close to my chest to preserve them for future conversations about the ThriveOn King, collaborative community development, and the art that will show who we are on walls that are professed to be a part of generational progress. As I sit in my studio & look out the window I can see the new era of progressive proliferation and I will be keeping a close [and neighborly] eye on how we THRIVE together.

Lexi S. Brunson | Editor-in-Chief /CW