Story Cart: Attention with Symphony Swan – Memory Activation 

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• Saturday, November 8, 12-2 PM
• THE CR8TV HOUSE, Old North Milwaukee

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About Memory Activation

Memory Activation, led by artist and THE CR8TV HOUSE founder Symphony Swan Zawadi, focuses on the celebration and reconciliation of family histories through archival photographs, artifacts, and other forms of ephemera.

The work invites participants to tap into memory—unearthing and documenting personal and collective stories—as a way of building archives that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, particularly in Milwaukee. This reflective practice is intentionally slow, requiring quiet time with oneself in order to truly re-member.

We ask that participants bring photographs—old or new—from their personal collections as a starting point for their memory activation. Participants may bring original photographs, physical copies of originals, or print-ready digital images. Participants with digital images can share them with C21 in advance so that C21 staff can print them prior to the event’s start. Any original photographs brought to the workshop can be duplicated onsite to ensure the originals remain unharmed.

Beyond the act of sitting with memory, the impact of revisiting personal artifacts with others lies in sparking connection. By sharing and weaving together their experiences and stories, participants create a sense of belonging that culminates in a collective mini-exhibition for the group. As bell hooks reminds us in Art on My Mind: “the word remember (re-member) evokes the coming together of severed parts, fragments becoming whole.” (In Our Glory: Photography and Black Life, p. 64).

This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited; 7 open spots remain as of November 6. Prior registration is required (below).

Please arrive no later than 12:00 PM and plan to stay for the duration of the workshop.

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About Symphony Swan

Symphony Swan Zawadi is an artist, cultural strategist, and founder of THE CR8TV HOUSE, an arts and community institution reimagining space, storytelling, support and memory keeping for Black and Brown creatives. With over a decade of experience spanning arts education, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropy, Symphony brings a deep commitment to equity, imagination, and community care.  

Symphony channels her interdisciplinary expertise into building creative ecosystems that honor legacy, foster healing, and invest in future generations. Her work has earned her recognition as the 2023 Milwaukeean of the Year by Shepherd Express, 2024 Gener8tor Art Fellowship Recipient and most recently the 2025 City of Milwaukee Friends of the Arts. She also serves as a trustee for the Milwaukee Art Museum. She continues to advocate for artist-led systems change that reflect the communities they serve. 

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About CR8TV HOUSE & Story Cart

THE CR8TV HOUSE is a community art centered third space, providing a platform for Black and Brown artists to explore, critique, celebrate, and address community issues and triumphs through their artistic practices.

Story Cart is a mobile story collection program that travels to community spaces and engages Milwaukeeans in conversations about their lived experiences. Our Story Fellows craft questions related to the current C21 research theme, record participant responses to those questions, and add them to our Story Cart digital archive (forthcoming). Supported by the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue, Story Cart’s current run introduces Milwaukeeans to practices of radical attention. From September 2025 through May 2026, our community Story Fellows will lead workshop pop-ups throughout the city and will record discussions with participants about the experience of paying attention.