Somos – Living in the U.S is constantly living in a world of duality. Like many others we identify strongly both with our birthplace and the birthplace of our ancestors. “Somos de los Estados Unidos pero también somos de México.” Through our art we embrace our heritage in new ways. We may not have the same experiences that our parents did as farmworkers and manual laborers. Instead, we are going into higher education being the first in our families to pursue a degree while finding ways to creatively express our bicultural upbringing. We had to learn the balancing act of assimilating into American culture while attempting to maintain a connection to our parents' roots. The art we create celebrates our identity and the community that shaped us to be the artist we are today.

“Somos el sueño de nuestro padres”

Somos Nohemí y Jovanny

Mikal is an artist whose practice is an interdisciplinary intersection of visual art, performance, media, and community engagement. He aims to produce artwork and experiences that have significant cultural impact. By designing artistic frameworks in which community members, including non-artists of all ages, can gather and contribute to making, Floyd-Pruitt envelops participants in positive, synergistic, creative energy. Music production is also interwoven into Floyd-Pruitt’s practice. He uses writing and performance to interrogate language, dismantling destructive narratives to make room for the vocabulary of self-definition and self-determination. In 2007, after graduating from Harvard University, cum laude, with a B.A. in Visual and Environmental Studies (filmmaking focus), Floyd-Pruitt returned home to Milwaukee to ceaselessly produce throughout the city while also exhibiting/performing nationally. Notable exhibitions include Art Basel at Croma Gallery, 30 Americans/Wisconsin 30 at Milwaukee Art Museum, and the screening of El Color de la Libertad at the Milwaukee Film Festival. Creative placemaking positions include Co-Director of HEREcni and Lead Artist of Spot 4MKE. In addition, Floyd-Pruitt ran workshops for faculty and students during his performance residency at USC. Awards include the 2023 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship, Joy Engine Community Challenge Grant, Milwaukee Arts Board New Work Fund, Arte Para Todos, and ARTery Season 1. Floyd-Pruitt is a co-director of HomeWorks: Bronzeville, a development initiative based in Milwaukee that focuses on local creative entrepreneurial talent by way of property ownership and is the creator of I Am Milwaukee, a lifestyle brand promoting unity, creativity, and belonging.

Fanana Banana began with the first Muslim Milwaukee art show in 2019 with a mission to create a safe space for local Muslim and MENA artists through art shows. Exhibiting a wide variety of art including abstract, realism, sculpture, collage, fine art, photography, and more. Fanana Banana has since expanded into offering vendor events, intimate networking workshops and art sessions for nonprofits and businesses. As a collective: Fanana intends to use this residency to continue working on collaborative projects, create new event experiences. As well as engage with the local neighborhood, and conduct research in hopes to create the “Colors of Historic Mitchell” art piece.