I just woke up like this. Creativity is a strong part of how I was raised. There are a lot of artists, seamstresses, and painters in my family.  Also, hip hop was my world; it was my community since I was three years old. Breakdancers and graffiti artists were all around me. We would DJ in the back yard. Creative has always been my way of life.

What don’t I do is a shorter list. I paint, I dance, I DJ. I love to watch other friends’ creative explorations and projects. I frequently travel to see other friends making murals or producing shows. 

A friend of mine is working on a six-story mural in Washington DC. It is inspired. She thinks deeply about every detail of her art. Each object she depicts conveys meaning. It’s interesting to learn from her research process. I enjoy interpreting the iconography she comes up with. If there’s a person in the piece, their clothes and position are significant. If there’s a plant in the background, it has meaning. Everything is intentional. 

That’s kinda true. I’ve created some hyper-creative kids who are extensions of me. They are musical and artful. Basically, I’ve created friends. 

Beyond my family, I’m really proud of Milwaukeeans Against Hate. It was a project that grew out of a U.S. Department of Homeland of Security hack-a-thon. We presented a winning concept that got funded. Next thing we knew, we were printing t-shirts and merch, hosting an awareness-building event with a bunch of musicians. Through music, we aimed to build unity in Milwaukee. We wanted to be real with dialogue to expose the narrative of hate. I wish I had more time to keep it going now. We benefited from a quick hit of capital that enabled it to get off the ground. Maybe we’ll do it again someday.

The Utopia of Rules: On Technology, Stupidity, and the Secret Joys of Bureaucracy by David Graeber. It’s my favorite book. 

My phone. 

A young fellow by the name of Andrew Tallon, he was my first creative mentor. He was a professor at Vasser. Andrew taught me a lot about design and working at a master level. He was a global designer. He passed away a few years ago. But Andrew’s legacy lives on in his work. His love of gothic architecture drove him to deconstruct an MRI machine and digitally scan Notre-Dame in Pars. He visually dismantled the cathedral. And now his work is hugely instrumental during the fire reconstruction. He was from Milwaukee. I didn’t learn about his passing until he was publicly recognized for his post-mortem role in rebuilding Notre-Dame. It was pretty heartbreaking. He was a beautiful sound designer, too. 

You don’t silence them, you challenge them. You question them. You ask yourself: Are they valid? If so, how do you overcome your doubts? If not, throw them away. Doubts are an enabler, not a blocker. 

My routine is dependent on my kids. If the kids are with me, I get up at 5:00 a.m. High school kids start at 7:00 and the elementary kids start at 8:00. I start my workday at 9:00 a.m. and go.

Milwaukee’s No Studios.

Hmm… the question is what my blank is. What am I? That is the question. If I wasn’t who I am now, I’d be a club DJ in Bali. You should never leave an island. 

Step away from the computer. Step away from technology. Creativity goes with you … it’s present when you’re taking a walk, experiencing a show, and reading a book. You don’t think “I’m going to build a shelf.” after playing with a hammer. Put life in the right order.