We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Symphony Swan-Zawadi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Symphony thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Professional I started my career as an art teacher. Art has always brought me joy. While working in schools I noticed so many gaps, so much so, that I went to get a graduate degree to pursue my principals license.

The pandemic was the pause that many people needed in order to sit with themselves. The chaos of capitalism has many, much like myself, had me chasing the dollar even if that mean loosing sight of the things that *really* brought me joy. Right before the shelter in place orders were enforced in my city I could feel a shift occurring both in my spirit and in my workplace, this was in January of 2020. By May of 2020, I had resigned from my position as school principal ( something I just knew was the ultimate career goal), given birth to my last baby and no vision for what was next.

In June of 2020 I had come across and accepted a position in the arts and education non profit sector. I accepted a position as Director of Programs for an organization that curated arts residencies across the city. It was perfect merger of my love of art and administration. After my first year, I was able to secure over $90,000 in contracted services and facilitated many impactful systemic updates that continue to lead the organization to better community based relationships. After a year on on the job I was promoted to Senior Director of Programs.

During this time, I think it is also important to note that right before the pandemic I spent a year of caring for 2 young children, as a single parent, while also caring for a dying mother. Got married and then most recently buried my father. Losing both parents, and growing my family in just years really opened my eyes. Family. I am a partner within a blended family. I lost both my parents. I loved my mother and father, but had a very nuanced /complex relationship with my dad. I ushered him into death via hospice care. I forgave and loved him to the end. art has been instrumental in my practice and the work i do with community to Healing family.

Now, meaningful projects. Prior to working in non profit, I was in a 7/8 year creative drought. I was unable to make art until working in an arts non profit. I was reignited with all the creative energy and exist again as an emerging professional artist. Most recently, I have been working within the arts and family and community programming. I have been so blessed to share this work with husband around family advocacy and arts integration.

We have a unique approach at supporting families and the arts. Our mission is Shifting family and community impact through intentional and collaborative experiences.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

SYMPHONYSWAN is an interdisciplinary artist who best identifies as a painter, printmaker, photographer and filmmaker. Symphony explores themes of family, identity, femininity and community to story tell and document as a mode of expression. She centers her artistic lens on her lived experiences as a Black woman. She is fascinated by the continuity of line and mark making within her work.

Becoming a mother and losing her mother changed her lens and fuel her desires to document and story tell around motherhood experiences. Her art, in whatever form it manifests, surely sparks conversation and build bridges of those who lay eyes on it

SYMPHONYSWAN resides in Wisconsin and proudly summarizes her work as an Artivist (arts + activist). She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts with teacher certification. She earned her masters in educational leadership in 2016.

She currently works as a director for a local arts organization where she gets to marry her professional experiences with her love of art. In the past she has served her community by working with young people as an art teacher and school administrator. She is also the co-founder and creative director of BlankSpace MKE. BlankSpace MKE is an urban arts co-operative focusing on providing artistic opportunities and work space for urban creatives.

We provide family and creative services and programs. We sell original artworks, classes and merchandise that promotes family! We curate safe spaces for people to explore all types of themes, using the arts and mental health professionals.

I am most proud of * finally* figuring out to merge the all things I love – art, family and community.

I want people to know about, donate to, and support our work. I want to support artists, mental health professionals and activate communities. I want folks to feel seen with they see me and our work.
I believe there is power in vulnerability and authenticity and I hope that folks see that and engage as their truest selves. We are inclusive and believe that safe spaces aren’t safe because we say they are.

Redefined is the name of organization ( that is currently in the process of becoming a non profit). Melanated Mama is the brand that organically houses how I share my parenting journey.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Support. I work in non profit. I see what information is gate kept. If we want to best support artist, creatives and build thriving ecosystems, we have to first trust them and their contribution to the communities in which they exist in.

Give artists money to manifest their projects. Period.

Help them, by providing support, resources and knowledge, that allow them to build legacies for them and their families.

City governments should create budgets to support artists, add them to the table in the beginning – not when the idea is ” though out” and you need them solely to beautiful the project.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

You ask so many great questions. I the mission driving my creative journey is two fold. one is legacy. The other is leadership by example. I want to model the arts aren’t or shouldn’t be considered electives. They are essential. I hope to model that art is literally all around us. We have been conditioned to believe that creativity only exist with artist is thats false. There’s a text that supports this paradigm as well. Additionally, art has always been an impactful to record history. Artists are reflections of the time for which they exist in.

I want to especially shift how Black and other Brown and Indigenous people experience and engage with the arts.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.symphonyswan.com | www.melanatedmama.com
• Instagram: @SymphonySwanArt | @MelanatedMama
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Melanatedmama | www.facebook.com/SymphonySwanArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/symphonyswan/

Image Credits
Jeff Zimpel Symphony Swan- Zawadi