Friday, October 19, 2012

Xion Milwaukee Finding its Way


What’s up Xion Milwaukee

We had another session last night and it was an eye opener for me.  I won't offer any excuses, I wasn't on my game last night and the meeting got away from me. To those who attended my apologies if the mood got too heavy for you. I can assure you it won't happen again.

An artist that I admire greatly came to the meeting last night for the first time and it was his words that got me back on track.

Let me remind everyone who attends the meeting that this is an opportunity to share and discuss the one thing I am sure we all have in common and that is the love of great art and storytelling. I do not want to veer off into a path that takes away the joy of those two things.

There were some great suggestions brought up and I intend to implement a few of those immediately.
  •   If we are to continue to grow we must step up our efforts to promote the community, it was suggested that for the next meeting each person bring at least one new person to the meeting.
  • Bring your favorite book or artwork by your favorite artist that you would like to discuss.
  • There will be an art challenge this next meeting for those who would like to participate.

I hope to see you all next month; the next meeting will be Thursday, November 15 at 6:30.

In the meantime please support our Xion Members who have events going on or participating in an art event. I have listed them below.

LaSonia Ragsdale will be exhibiting at Beyond the Canvas beginning October 19, 2012 through October 26, 2012. Come show your support for LaSonia.  Beyond the Canvas will be held at the Pedal Milwaukee Building located at 3618 W. Pierce Street.  NOTE: This event is FREE.

Matt Chic will be hosting a booth at Milwaukee Zine Fest on Saturday, November 3. Matt just completed his graphic novel so stop by Zine Fest congratulate him on his project and support the Zine Fest. The event takes place at Polish Falcon from 11:00- 5:00 pm. Polish Falcon is located at 801 E. Clarke Street. NOTE: This event is FREE.


Monday, September 24, 2012

Xion Milwaukee vs. Greenbay Packers


So we had our second Xion Milwaukee meeting and we were outdone by a special Thursday night Packers Game.

Although the turnout was small, the artist came ready and willing to participate in discussion and a rather amusing arts challenge.

I placed four different challenges into a cup and artist Jason Lewis drew out what I thought was one of the easiest of challenges: The artist had to draw an organ and writers create puns about the organ.  Well needless to say the artist hemmed and hawed but came up with some interesting concepts.

The writers myself included had an awesome time trying to find the words to match some awesome creations. Writer/Performance Poet Dasha Kelly stopped by and gave a whole new meaning to the “Middle Passage”

Although no one was excited about their results, I think everyone appreciated the opportunity to create on the fly and have others respond in a fun and supportive way. I suggested that they take their organ drawings and turn them into super heroes. I hope they bring them to our next meeting.

Join me in Chicago as I return the favor to fellow Xion Manager Joe Currie and support his launch.The Xion Chicago launch takes place this coming Saturday, September 29 from 6:00-9:00 PM at Third Coast Comics 6234 N. Broadway, Chicago, Illinois 60660. If you are interested in expanding your network to include other cities, Xion Chicago is a great place to start. Just don’t mention the spanking they got from the Pack when you get there.

Xion Milwaukee will host its next meeting on Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 in the Open MiKE Space in the Grand Avenue Mall. Remember Street Parking is free after 6:00 PM.
I hope to see you there

Dee


Thursday, August 9, 2012

THE XION NETWORK LAUNCHES IN MILWAUKEE


Hello Xion Milwaukee its me Dee, checking in!

I am still riding high from our Milwaukee launch! What a wonderful time with Shawn Alleyne and Joe Currie here to lend support and help create community.

I was more than a little anxious about taking on such a lofty venture but that feeling quickly dissipated as people began to show up and those who weren't aware of the event stayed or more amazing left to get their artwork and came back!!!

 My friend and sister Ms. Kizzy Hampton a total bean counter was there to support in a major way. By the end of the evening I thought I saw her trying to scratch out Superwoman on a napkin. Shouts out to Supa K!!

You guys probably wouldn't believe this but I am socially awkward, yet on this evening I felt at home in a very public setting. Everyone felt welcomed and open to sharing their art and stories although I'm not so sure about sharing their chicken wings. Shouts out to Stone Fly Brewery here in Milwaukee. The food and service was most excellent.

Oh yeah let me not forget the other man of the hour DAUDI Mr. Secret Service set it out with crazy music, man! Yeah I had to bust a move or two. And no that is not on video.

It has been a few weeks since the launch but I am very happy to hear artist friends call or text and say they were inspired to once again create a new piece. How cool is that?

Although the launch was very important and Shawn and Joe did an impressive job of sharing the mission of the XION NETWORK; it was the time I was able to spend with the two of them and share personal stories, some of which we video taped.

It was reaffirmation of what I felt in Chicago at C2E2, we are family. The love and support they gave to me was and is immeasurable and I am grateful for that most of all.

For those of you who are in the Milwaukee area and want to be apart of an artistic venture bigger then yourself come join me:

Wednesday, August 16 at 6:00 PM we will be meeting at the Open MiKE Space at the Grand Avenue Mall on the 2nd Floor on the Plankinton side of the mall. Street Parking is free after 6:00 PM.

High school students are welcomed and encouraged!!!

For more information contact me DEE via the email XIONMILWAUKEE@GMAIL.COM   or join the blog so we can stay in touch. I will be happy to share more information with you.

Now about those videos…...




Monday, July 2, 2012

Welcome to Milwaukee, Xion


Hello Milwaukee and the XION Network Family,

My name is Deaduri Gales and in April of this year I recently had an opportunity to attend my first comic book convention, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo or C2E2. I had my day planned to the last minute, most of it getting autographs (in particular Val Kilmer), looking for unique comics and maybe taking a brief stroll in artist alley.  You know what they say about the best laid plans…

I was mesmerized by the sight and sounds of the convention. The costumed fans kept me forever reaching for my camera. Yet I was compelled to the back of the convention hall. There they housed Artist Alley. Rows upon rows of talented artists anxiously awaiting the opportunity to share their latest work with you or in this case, me.  It was here my plans for the day were completely thwarted. Each table held a new story, not just of super heroes and villains but of each individual artist and their journey to C2E2. Those stories held me a willing captive for the moment.

My reason for purchasing a weekend pass and hopping the Hiawatha from Milwaukee to Chicago was not only a wonderful weekend escape but the chance to find someone to help me create my own visionary comic masterpiece. What I found was something much bigger then I could have ever imagined.  There in Artist Alley I found family, a community of individuals who understood that comics were not just a "kid thing". The idea that through art we are able to communicate the stories and desires of people whose daily lives may not ordinarily intersect helped me to understand what I was missing back home. As fate would have it I met a young man who understood why I’d dropped my itinerary and practically lived two days in artist alley. That young man was Shawn Alleyne, founder of the XION Network.

In between signing small postcards or engaging in terms for a commissioned piece, Shawn graciously took time to listen to my plans for a series and share his vision of a community of artist networking, sharing best practices and collaborating on projects, all in the hopes of creating independent works.
My mission was to bring such a community back to Milwaukee and on July 21 I will officially launch XION Milwaukee. With the help of the XION Network we hope to garner that same energy and community here in Milwaukee that I was able to tap into while in Chicago. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve gleaned from Shawn is no man is an island. He has managed to surround himself with a wonderful team of individuals to help bring the mission of the XION Network not only to Philadelphia but New York and now Milwaukee with Chicago joining in August. I too am off to a great start, by aligning with M.A.R.N (Milwaukee Artist Resource Network), XION Milwaukee is on course to ensure we build a community of talented, inspired and engaged artist, writers and enthusiast who love and support the art of creating dynamic visually interactive stories.
I hope that you will join us not just for the celebration but in the creation of a community that understands that with a child’s heart we are able to inspire a world surrounded by cynics, pessimist, naysayers and just plain ole haters who may secretly believe in super heroes, dragons, wizards, Gods & Goddess, underworlds, overlords and alternate universes all for the excitement of an awesome story.

Deaduri Gales,
Xion Milwaukee Branch Manager