Sherri-Williams Pannell was a young girl who attended many performances that became staples within the Black community of Milwaukee. She was mesmerized by the Black theatrical productions that came to entertain her family. “I just sat there with my mouth hanging open,” she said.

One of those plays was “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” by Lorraine Hansberry. Parnell recalls how uplifting the work of the Inner City Arts Council was during her adolescent years into young womanhood as she went on to attend the prestigious Spelman College. Pannell would later obtain a degree in directing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, following in the footsteps of Lorraine Hansberry, who also attended the state’s flagship institution.

Sherri-Williams Pannell

Mama Ferne Caulker was a young bright-eyed dancer who was eager to share and display her talents with the community. She remembers being amongst an eclectic mix of people performing at various events like summer festivals and teaching kids in city parks.

With so much danger for Black residents like Caulker, the Inner City Arts Council gave her and others the chance to envision worlds beyond their wildest imaginations. “We found a vehicle with which to mount hope,“ she said.

Ko-Thi Dance Company, founded by Caulker in 1969, became a staple within the Inner City Arts Council thanks to their riveting performances and educational outreach initiatives.

Mama Ferne Caulker

In 1984, Reynaldo Hernandez created the iconic mural entitled “Celebrate the Arts” on an office building that presently sits at the corner of 7th & North Avenue in Milwaukee. The site has a rich history, once serving as library and firestation, as well as the home of the Inner City Arts Council for many years.

Over the decades, Milwaukee has become a haven for many muralists to display their craft, but Hernandez’s work is part of the artistic landscape of my childhood. To this very day, it still is my favorite piece of public art in the city. During our interview, Hernandez details the striking images of the mural. It features the Mask of Benin, legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, and a gorgeous Black woman rocking an afro.

Hernandez remembers the days when the Inner City Arts Council was the place to be for upcoming and established Black artists in the city. Its two floors consisted of dance and acting classes, alongside visual art studios for all ages. Like Hernandez, many other artists received their initial training & professional opportunities at the emblematic organization.

Mama Ferne Caulker

Arts Midwest

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