Story Cart with Symphony Swan – Stills in Milwaukee
- Saturday, April 11, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Fruition MKE, 819 N 27th St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
- Free and open to the public
Event Details
C21’s Story Cart project and Symphony Swan, ’25-’26 Story Fellow present Stills in Milwaukee, a radical attention workshop and portrait session with photographer Samuel Allen.
Stills in Milwaukee is a documentary-style photography project aimed at capturing the diverse stories and voices of locals around the city. It’s an exploration of the people who shape the everyday life of Milwaukee, and the nuances that make this place so unique. Guests are invited to bring an artifact that represents them and their story. Guests will share their artifact in conversation with the photographer, who will craft individual portraits in response.
Stills in Milwaukee is about active listening as much as it is about portraiture. Samuel Allen will spend time with his subjects, hear their stories, and allow space for the moments to unfold naturally. The goal is not to rush through, but to take a deliberate approach that will bring out deeper narratives. Each image, each conversation, is an opportunity for reflection and connection.
This method is integral to the work’s authenticity. The beauty of Milwaukee lies not just in its landmarks, but in its people—often in the quiet, overlooked spaces. By taking the time to truly engage with his subjects and let the photos emerge over time, Allen hopes to create a more genuine, reflective portrayal of the city.
About Samuel Allen
Artist bio forthcoming…
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.
About Story Cart
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.
April 11 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm