When we talk about local artists in Madison using our talents to speak to the times we are living in, "I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE SURVIVING." Heavy quotes and images can be located throughout the city's populated downtown area. The murals sparked an awakening-energy within the city. Which is still contagious to this very moment.
One of the benefits to visual artists is that the city seems to be allowing their paint to stick, literally. Have you noticed the utility boxes decorated in a vinyl version of local artists original submissions all around Madison? They're mainly located near public libraries and community centers.
In collaboration with Madison Public Library's Bubbler Program, the Community Art Utility Box Program mission for this project was to "give Madison artists the opportunity to transform ordinary objects of urban infrastructure into something fun and unique, enhancing the city's public spaces."
I gotta give the city credit for attempting to cater to the Culture and Character of urban areas but these utility boxes don't even cover the surface of urban culture. "The culture and characteristics of a community can not be defined within restrictive qualifications and limited access." The utility boxes are a nice touch and a source of local pride. The ability to legally leave your mark where locals and tourists engage daily, speaks a language without words. On ImagineMadisonWi.com I was allowed to select areas within the city's Culture and Character approach that in my opinion should be prioritized immediately in the City of Madison. Here's what I chose.
Either different communities throughout the world have created some sort of musicial monopoly or the City of Madison just don't get it. Integrating the musicial interests within urban areas should be as prioritized as the city has with making visual artistry a popular demand. With or without them we plan on making moves, and soon.
The difference in visual art and sound art is you can fully appreciate visual art without instruments. Art in sound can tell the stories of the environment in which visual art is created. These words are more than likely to come off as unapologetic and a mirror to the way local recording artists are undervalued, under utilized, and not included in the concepts we will ultimately have to accept. Art is made to be appreciated on all levels. One without the other is incomplete at best.
"A picture is worth 1000 words, yet words can paint 1000s of pictures." Imagine these words painting your reality every time you walk in an elevator inside low income housing or a local business? Music can be the soundtrack to lifestyles because it has the option to be honest. So much so that in Madison, Wisconsin the narrative has been to silence this honesty with lack of opportunities and access.
LessWork completed the application process to participate in this year's Library Takeover mainly to expose Madison, Wisconsin for their lack of inclusion of Black Hip Hop Artists contributions and they proved us to be correct.
This gets even more intersting as we noticed a trend. K.I.L.O and I have worked with all 3 of the mentors on this project on different occasions. K.I.L.O has an huge Madison presence as an LGBTQ+ artist and repeated recipient of Hip Hop Artist/Performer and Song of The Year for the last 3 years. Sarah Akawa is one of the 3 local artists selected last year and has a heavy presence in the LGBTQ+ community in Madison and Milwaukee. Sarah has partnered and awarded K.I.L.O with awards such as Madison's #1 queer rapper.
Back in August, K.I.L.O was awarded the opportunity to be 1 of 6 local artists to have their murals painted via a direct message we received from Rob Dz who's also a mentor on the Library Takeover project.
Here are some of the photos from the mural revealing. Overall, this experience was truly inspiring to be there and involved. Thank you Dane Arts Mural Arts and Rob Dz.
Recently, I received a new connection alert via LinkedIn from Rachel Werner. I published author and advocate for literacy advancement opportunities. I've worked alongside Rachel two years in a row with Madison Reading Project INC, for their Whiskey & Words annual celebration of literacy.
After the successful event we helped MRP exceed their goal to raise $500 the night of the event and over $7000 in total funds raised. Never mind the money made but are you telling me LessWork hasn't earned our key to this city's funding source? Yeah ight. Rachel not only asked if I would submit answers for The Little Book Project Wi but she kept my answers pure as I meant them and we received great feedback from readers. Click the image to read the full article.
So no, we're not just sitting around pocket watching but we are peeping the game and noticing how selective this city truly is.
Small businesses and individuals have taken a stance to being a part of inclusive solutions to center themselves as allies in ushering in if nothing else, awareness streams for "underserviced" artists and people of color. To be fully transparent, underserviced is used in substitution for the words Black, urban, and artists contributing artistic solutions in hiphop and areas like Darbo and Allied Drive in Madison. Speaking of hiphop in Madison.
- I Voted for "New Religion" as Best Hip Hop Song by K.I.L.O aka SkitL'z of LessWork Lyrix.
K.I.L.O, as is a three-time hiphop performer of the year recipient, CEO of LessWork, and 1 of the best photographers in the city. You would think Madison would invite LessWork to an executive seat at the table when it's time to discuss progressive solutions for embracing local and underserviced artists and people of color.
LessWork is a cultural brand designed specifically for local hiphop artists. We're either the forgotten fruit or unaware of our influence on our local areas. That's our in. To inform our readers and supporters of the importance and the versatility of hiphop contributions. We exist mainly to control the narratives attached to being black as well as hiphop artist in Madison, Wisconsin. This isn't exclusive to US as we are aware that local hiphop artists around the world can relate on multiple levels.
LessWork goal is to create 24-hour lifestyle solutions to accommodate visiting and local artists in the city of Madison. Of course we believe our contributions compliment the Culture and Character of our areas. I personally believe LessWork is a resource and the missing link between local recording artists and local opportunities. In turn, that is why we launched our 1-Stop Solution campaign to position ourselves as a targeted source to fund with direct intentions to sustain the longevity of residing local artists and black owned businesses in Madison and beyond.
We currently offer solutions in music, photography, custom apparel, and social media services. We partnered with local businesses to offer what we do not provide in-house.
Your support allows us to make resources for local artists affordable, 24-Hours, and uncompromised. For more information on how you can help us help local artists, please support and share our fundraising campaign.
Speaking of campaigns please vote "New Religion" for Best Hip Hop Song by K.I.L.O akaSkitL'z. Checkout who earned my vote this year. * If I don't know the artist or if I am not familiar with the genre/option I don't vote for thrills because that could affect someone who deserves the notch. Good luck to all parties involved. 🏆💨
If you didn't get my vote this year, maybe that can change next year.
Speaking of change, I want to change speeds to accelerate on that direct message we received from the well respected local artist, Rob Dz. Rob is connected and 1 of the few artists who have found multiple ways to sustain a local lifestyle here in Madison. So, yes, it is doable. It just needs to become normalized and not gate kept. Rob was seeking to put K.I.L.O in touch with a guy name Mark Fraire of Dane Arts. Dane Arts were checking for local recording artists to be featured on 4 × 8 murals designed by local visual artists/, under the direction of Dane Arts Mural Arts Inc.
K.I.L.O aka SkitL'z was randomly paired with visual artist, Keysha Monique. This was a double-back blessing because Keysha was recently given the opportunity to exercise her artistic talents outside of LessWork Local Lifestyle hub located at 1444 East Washington Ave.
The pleasure and privilege of watching Keysha's journey of creating her "A Wish For Change Mural Project" from concept to completion can be appreciated on her page online. Keysha is not only talented but she's also extremely humble and down to earth. Having the pleasure to have met her I don't see how anyone could not support her.
On July 9, 2021, Keysha reached out via our office phone with a text offering the opportunity for K.I.L.O to review the images Keysha had to choose from in order to create K.I.L.O's mural. The fact that Keysha didn't have to include us as much as she did, allowed me to take notice of the divine situation taking place. This was God's work that we were honored to be a part of.
From sending us updates on the progress of K.I.L.O's mural which Keysha titled it: "Congruity of Purpose," on her Instagram, to serve a dual function of unveiling the anesthetic of the piece, while also underlying the major themes encountered while painting it.
The process was that of prophecy in regards to LessWork positioning ourselves as leaders in not only the hiphop community of Madison but also as leaders being recognized for our art, with art. When Art Meets Artists all outcomes are pre-determined as to what will be an Artful situation. This connection was maybe intended to be a 1 off but again, our acknowledgments of each other allowed us to see it deeper than surface level. I literally witnessed an untapped strategy to connect local artists in general with collaborating efforts to promote an inclusive final presentation as a product or service.
Unfortunately, it'll boil down to money because "artists gotta eat too Craig." If local artists decided to do this together ego can't kill it this time. It's a sacrificial call to position ourselves as products of our individual talents to then service the world. Are you there? Is that too deep for you?
When we say "Local Is The New Global," we're referring to the impact of the internet. Attention is the new money. If you find a way to make em' watch you, you can make em' pay you. Local businesses need attention/traffic to increase awareness and sales. To control our dollars and communities I recommend beginning in our own backyard. There are local businesses in Madison like Kingdom Restaurant, JD's, Steve's Auto, Serieux Clothing, EOTOs - Culturally Rooted, Oddly Arranged Media, and a list of other black owned businesses.
Imagine if local artists were in a year around collaboration to highlight our talents to then service our communities? Do you believe it will work? What are some of the ways local artists can collaborate?
If you enjoyed reading this content and would love for us to release more blogs and solutions for local recording artists please review our 1-Stop Solution and make a donation if you believe our goals are in alignment of what you would support. Thank you.
The world we live in, is the world we cover.
Because of supporters like you, another world is possible. There are many battles to be won, but when we do it together it's #LessWork, literally.
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"Without U There Is No US." #IssaUsThing
Written by: 1neofmani Pen
Photography by: K.I.L.O w/ LessWork Lens
Title: "When Artists Meets Artists"
Blog: #16
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