Creative MKE

It's finally the week of the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, and while it's like nothing we imagined this time last year (thanks, coronavirus), it's still an opportunity to reflect on the continuing work of perfecting our nation's still young experiment in self government, and moreover, the important role that the arts and creativity - in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, and the United States of America - has in democracy and civil society.

What better guest to have on the pod to explore these issues than Milwaukee's poet laureate and creative change agent, Dasha Kelly Hamilton to talk about her recent project The Road of Democracy, which pairs her words with the artwork of Della Wells, and the State of Union in Stanzas, a roving poetry project along the perimeter of the DNC on Tuesday.

Sorry about the technical difficulties on David's microphone on this episode, which make him sound like he is faraway in a cavernous room.

Mac basks in his glory of being on the Funny Parents podcast (00:25), we're going to make "breezy" a thing (1:50), DNC Week and the role the arts plays in a functioning society (2:56), Host story time: experiencing arts and democracy (5:23), Audio transition, "All of Everything at Once," by Ruth B8r Ginsburg and Dasha intro (15:03), The origins of The Road of Democracy (17:05); Mac gives his analysis of "Of" and gets an A (21:16), Dish on Miss Della (27:00), The Road of Democracy short film (35:35), State of the Union in Stanzas (40:05), Dasha on the importance of the arts and creativity in democracy (48:55), Dasha's arts and culture czar reign (55:42), Plugs (1:00:30).

https://dashakelly.com/ (Dasha Kelly Hamilton) | https://www.patreon.com/dashakellyhamilton (Patreon) | https://www.facebook.com/dasha.kelly (Facebook) | https://twitter.com/dashakelly (Twitter)

https://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/bid-basics/community-projects/road-democracy (The Road of Democracy)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22jftNJPRVlNBKvDKJv3Rh (Dasha reads "Of")

Audio Transitions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nmCb63l2wI ("All of Everything at Once," by Ruth B8r Ginsburg), Live at the Cooperage at Woodland Pattern's 39th Anniversary Gala

Mauricio Ramirez's https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/democrats-announce-wisconsin-speakers-and-schedule-updates-for-2020-democratic-national-convention-uniting-america/ (DNC Credential badge )

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-14-the-best-seats-of-my-life-what-i-didnt-expect/id1287191238?i=1000487264594 (Mac's appearance on the Funny Parents podcast)

https://imaginemke.org/art-stories/imagine-journal/post/the-declaration-of-independence-and-a-piano-concerto (David's blog on his time at The Aspen Institute)

Subscribe: http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imagine-this-podcast/id1498274745 (Apple Podcasts) / http://open.spotify.com/show/29BQ7G7y4mzdPiHx6dlqhH (Spotify) / http://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW1hZ2luZS10aGlzLXBvZGNhc3Qv (Google) / http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/imagine-this-podcast (Stitcher)

This week, the gang welcomes Ian Abston and Michael Hostad, co-founders of Light the Hoan to chat about the history of the efforts to light the Hoan Bridge, their work and recent success to start work on lighting the bridge, and the challenges and opportunities that our city faces in getting big, new, innovative projects off the ground.

Listener mail bag (1:00), Summer of the comeback (2:40), Host story time: Experiences with Public Art (6:42), Audio transition: "Green Eggs and Ham" by Wes Tank (13:58), Guest intros and Ian dares David to "do good banter" (14:10), The origins of the Light the Hoan project (15:59), @ESPN showed an old skyline of Milwaukee last weekend on a nationally televised Bucks game and Milwaukee's underdog mentality (19:58), Over modesty and barriers in Milwaukee; Ian misquotes Roosevelt; David corrects Ian but https://winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/the-arts-what-are-we-fighting-for/ (misattributes the quote to Churchill) because apparently, like all good art, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/winston-churchill-on-the-arts/ (the quote is made up, but the sentiment stands) and we support the point of #ImaginaryChurchill (26:30), The economic impact of lighting the Hoan bridge (29:17), When will we begin seeing lights? (31:44), How this project connects to Milwaukee and the community at-large (32:28), How people can buy a bulb (37:42), Michael and Ian's reigns as Arts and Culture Czar (40:25), Michael and Ian's reigns as Arts and Culture Czar cause technical difficulties on Mac's mic making him sound like a drunk frat bro (44:17) Plugs (50:01), Following up with Wes Tank (53:42), Post Outro Easter Egg (56:28).

Learn more and buy a bulb: https://www.lightthehoan.com/ (Light the Hoan)

Ian Abston: https://www.facebook.com/iabston (Facebook) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianabston/ (LinkedIn)

Michael Hostad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhostad/ (LinkedIn) and https://twitter.com/mhostad (Twitter)

Audio Transitions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwDGRUzv3SE ("Green Eggs and Ham" Wes Tank) / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80kGRLi6UFU (Wes Tank Story Raps) on https://www.kidoodle.tv/ (Kidoodle.TV)

Subscribe: http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imagine-this-podcast/id1498274745 (Apple Podcasts) / http://open.spotify.com/show/29BQ7G7y4mzdPiHx6dlqhH (Spotify) / http://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vaW1hZ2luZS10aGlzLXBvZGNhc3Qv (Google) / http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/imagine-this-podcast (Stitcher)

This week, the gang welcomes Simon Delacroix and Surya Tubach from a small mom and pop shop called Google, to talk about the new Milwaukee city page on Google Arts and Culture.

David and Mac review listener mail (1:30), Imagine MKE's role unique and unique contribution to the project (5:04), host story time about the power of being seen (7:25); Introduction of Simon Delacroix, Program Manager and U.S. Lead, Google Arts and Culture, and Surya Tubach, Project Coordinator, Google Arts and Culture (17:20), origins of Google Arts and Culture (19:30), Surya and Simon's arts and culture origin stories (22:52), Growth of the U.S. Cities project (24:59), what impressed them about Milwaukee (27:57), Milwaukee in Haiku form (30:59), what has been consistent across the arts and culture project cities (33:55), ham and rolls and Milwaukee culture (35:30), what makes up an arts and culture eco-system (41:27), Plugs! (47:50), the value of the Google Arts and Culture project in the time of COVID-19 (49:10).

https://artsandculture.google.com/project/milwaukee (Milwaukee's Google Arts and Culture page)

https://artsandculture.google.com/ (Google Arts and Culture)

@googlearts

Audio Transition: "https://fanlink.to/b3dB (Let Go)," by https://www.theofficiallex.com/ (Lex Allen)

Cue TV Announcer voice: This week, in a crossover event that only the Imagine MKE podcast network can bring you, it's "Milwaukee Strong" week, where each podcast takes a look a different part of the "Milwaukee Strong" song and video project.

On Imagine this Podcast, the gang welcomes Kevin Sucher, Executive Director of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, for a little Behind the Music treatment of pulling together the "Milwaukee Strong" project. They also talk about yacht rock (naturally), what it's like to join and lead an organization during a pandemic, and the evolution of Milwaukee's music scene.

Mac and David share stories about their own wonder at music production virtuosity from the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Taylor Swift, and Def Leppard (2:10); “Milwaukee Strong” transition (11:25); Starting as the ED of Radio Milwaukee during the pandemic (12:49); The origins, genre, and recording of “Milwaukee Strong” (14:42); Writing an anthem and why it’s important to have a song that everyone can sing along to (19:26); Mac basically asks Kevin, “How do you make a hit?” (25:06); Changing nature of the recording process and how it’s affecting pop music (30:02); Milwaukee’s music scene (34:10); How 88Nine is dealing with coronavirus (38:58); What keeps Kevin up at night about the Milwaukee music scene (42:20); Kevin's reign as arts and culture czar (45:18); Plugs (47:23).

Audio transitions: https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/milwaukee-strong-featuring-the-milwaukee-all-stars (Milwaukee Strong by Shonn Hinton) and https://www.imaginemke.org/be-an-arts-champion/milwaukee-strong.php (performed by The Milwaukee All-Stars).

https://brackets.commoninja.com/brackets/single/31893 (Mac's Pop Song March Madness Bracket from 2018), where number 1 seed "What a Fool Believes" by the Doobie Brothers lost to "Crazy in Love," by Beyonce in the round of 32.

https://radiomilwaukee.org/ (Radio Milwaukee)

@KevinSucher on Facebook, Instgram and Twitter

For smooth yacht rock hits, @TheDocksiders are on Facebook and Youtube

As a military strategic leadership concept for conditions that are Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous, VUCA has not only become the tagline for 2020 but it is also the name of Milwaukee's newest musical supergroup/creative collective brought together by Kelly Fitzsimmons.

In this episode, the gang welcomes Kelly and Lex Allen, one of her VUCA collaborators, to have a wide-ranging conversation about creativity in VUCA conditions, chasing and pursuing the right things in life, and how new technologies will chart the future for engagement with the performing arts (and gummy bears).

The joys of discovering new music (3:43); Mac and David thank Kelly for being the kickstarter of the MKE Artist Relief Fund (12:53); The VUCA backstory (17:10); Lex shares the hook that got him with VUCA and the new single, "Shine" (20:57); Kelly shares the concept that drives the album (25:15); Learning to chase the right things in life (28:06); Using new technology to launch an album and engage audiences (32:50); The importance of the arts and artists and using new technologies to support them (38:40); Arts and Culture Czars (45:15); Lex settles our office's debate on gummy bears (49:41); Plugs! (50:50) An outro Easter Egg (56:25)

The VUCA Collective. Also on Facebook and Instagram: @The VUCA

Kelly Fitzsimmons on https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekellyfitzsimmons/ (LinkedIn)

https://www.theofficiallex.com/ (Lex Allen). Also, @theofficiallex everywhere. The new song "Shine" will be out on 7/29!

Drops: https://www.drops.nyc/ (https://www.drops.nyc/)

David's https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7FXOnjNOsVtCpyJJwK2Ej8?si=Q-NKZISEQU6cbmIXXQUCcg (WVKR playlist from 1994 - 1996).

Audio transitions: "https://www.inthevuca.com/ (Lovely Child)," by VUCA w/ Barbara Stephan and Dave Olson

We are so excited and proud to introduce Black Imagination, a new biweekly podcast from Imagine MKE.

Hosted by Antoine Carter, who leads our Neighborhood Partnerships work group, and Kennita Hickman, who leads our Support for Artists work, Black Imagination is an exploration of Black and Brown creativity and imagination in our city.

You can stream new episodes every other Wednesday on our website https://www.imaginemke.org/art-stories/imagine-this-podcast.php (here) or listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

Join the conversation at #ImaginaryFriends and #BlackImagination

Email us at [email protected].

This week, the gang welcomes Nailah Johnson, Cultural Organizer at Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT), to the show to talk about how she became a cultural organizer and the importance of art and culture in social movements and change making.

Mac and David share how arts and culture influenced them growing up (2:00); Nailah shares what it's like to have the coolest job title in Milwaukee (16:40); Nailah's origin story as a cultural organizer (17:15); Lessons in organizing (22:30); The power of art as an organizing tool (25:45); Engaging young people and putting them in positions to advocate for themselves (29:55); How arts and culture drives LIT's vision (34:15); Black Hogwarts (39:30); Nailah's take on Milwaukee culture (48:00); Nailah's reign as Arts and Culture Czar (53:00); Plugs (1:00:28)

https://www.litmke.org/ (https://www.litmke.org/)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/opinion/election-democrats-youth.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfq4hkT1UbCybSRdkhrxqAwvXLzbcgh3j4aSSYTDFJ1e0JGM2R_FrRZexje943lXy9deN2DYUOFrZ03_MNeAtkURWpqZ-J38sPfSxq8N7sGzk7hMmIAOwx_HrjP2SzbbZ2nObitEjbPWa5D7fNkiF0fHYTqppgdl2t3XcO1_2FRrYzgo8iqK9nUpNqRj4AZT2Iue3rCHh-O9aFbRLa7GomSr0TGGGTzZPHteV2IEgFAknGTXh9_W859NhYXdgXN67_JBMlE9HslDsuEiCcS88kYrS9m7zOxQ (NY Times, July 8, 2020)

Nailah Johnson @vybrancymke

Audio transitions: "https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/song-of-freedom (Song of Freedom)," Shonn Hinton

Listen to the other podcasts in the Imagine Podcast Network:

https://link.chtbl.com/ArtsForwardMKE (Arts Forward MKE)

Email us at [email protected]

Join the conversation at #ImagineWithUs and #ImaginaryFriends

This week, the gang welcomes Kristina Gomez, Events and Programming Librarian at the Milwaukee Public Library, to talk about how MPL is engaging artists and their communities.

Both Mac and David share their fondest memories of the libraries from their youth and Kristina discusses all of the exciting ways the Milwaukee Public Library's events and programming build community by enabling and sparking creativity in all Milwaukee residents.

https://mpl.org/ (Milwaukee County Library)

Facebook: @Milwaukee.Public.Library

Twitter and Insta: @MilwaukeePubLib

YouTube: @MilwaukeePublicLibraryHome

Listen to the other podcasts in the Imagine Podcast Network:

https://link.chtbl.com/ArtsForwardMKE (Arts Forward MKE)

This week, two weeks out from the original date of the Democratic National Convention and with the announcement of the https://www.demconvention.com/press-releases/anchored-in-milwaukee-2020-democratic-national-convention-will-be-a-convention-across-america/ (virtual DNC Across America, Rooted in Milwaukee), Mac and David revisit their pilot episode from Feb 11 to look back to the Halcyon Days of planning for an inspiring citywide arts activation during the convention.

The gang also welcomes Beth Weirick, CEO of the Downtown BID, and Gabriel Yeager, Downtown Environment Specialist for the Downtown BID, to talk about how they've been able to pivot their planning for an in-person DNC to creating a more vibrant shared neighborhood for all Milwaukeeans.

https://www.milwaukeedowntown.com/bid-basics/community-projects/tunesnoon (Tunes at Noon kicks off this Thursday, July 2 on streaming in Facebook).

Web: www.milwaukeedowntown.com

Insta: @MKEDowntown

Facebook: @MilwaukeeDowntown

Twitter: @MilwDowntown

Youtube: @MilwaukeeDowntown

Audio Transitions: "https://open.spotify.com/album/0Dg17dtbjV3FiSOHT9bAQg?highlight=spotify:track:2Ewp5goEYkMVaFxxCsj11D (Let Go)," by Lex Allen

This week, the gang welcomes Milwaukee's own $60 million dollar men Que El-Amin, Mikal Wesley and Ray Nitti to the pod to receive their inaugural Imagine MKE Rockstar Award (not to be confused by the Imagine MVP - we try to live up to our culture of abundance and celebration!) for their exciting new project on 32nd and Center, which will not only be the largest affordable housing development in Milwaukee, but also provide space for business incubators and be the anchor for the Creative Corridor.

Que El-Amin: @QueElAmin | Scott Crawford and http://followtheyes.com/ (Y.E.S).

Mikal Wesley: @MikalWesley | Urbane Communities, LLC

Ray Nitti: @RayNitti | Sharp Creatives

Audio Transitions: https://open.spotify.com/album/6VIv0zUpgjtPDjpCnLTVjc?highlight=spotify:track:6FUTtRmq5uvaWnnA2XR4Jz ("Bow," by Ray Nitti) (naturally)