We recently connected with Calil Cage and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Calil thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been the spoken word production, BARE: In the Flesh. My friend, Morgan Paige, and I collaborated to produce a show that gave insight into the relational integration of two lovers’ lives- two individuals becoming one. We started this project with an idea that came from Jamille and Woe, two other artists from another artistic collective, A’.C.R.E.W. They pulled Morgan and me to the side to tell us about their admiration for our work, and how we should collaborate. Morgan and I were already collaborating with the rest of The Sparrow’s Fortune at the time, but their idea stuck with us. After meditating on it, we decided to execute the vision.
It took us about two months to fully develop and curate the poetry experience, and while it was easy to create, it was difficult to acknowledge some of the emotions I was experiencing. We labeled the production, “BARE” because it took us mentally and emotionally stripping ourselves bare to share our stories in such a vulnerable way. We wanted the work to be honest, authentic, and compelling. We needed it to be cohesive, strategic, and impactful. By conversing and being real with one another, we were able to make that happen with God-par excellence. We did our first show in Columbus, OH at the Roy G Biv Gallery on September 11th, 2022. After seeing its impact in Columbus, we took the show back home to Cleveland. This show was held on November 13th, 2022 at Jackson’s Motif Social Lounge. and had a very similar outcome – revelation, conversation, tears, and joy from our audience.
While discussing the piece of work and how proud of it we were, Morgan and I decided to make it an album and a book. The work began again.
We connected with Charles Fresco at Breakthrough Sounds Recording Studio, Guwuan Williams, a drummer, Jamal Robinson, a pianist, and Jeremiah Polite, a bass player. We recorded the live-studio album in one day, over the course of 12 hours, and it was a celestial moment. To top it off, Kenneth Cody, a brilliant cinematic producer, was present and was able to get footage of the process from start to finish. I can’t speak about that day without mentioning how on the morning we started, tragically, my grandmother passed away… I have no doubt that her spirit was in the room as we tirelessly poured our hearts into the artistry.
From there, we connected with Kenneth Cody again, and Daija Black, another awesome photographer, to have the photoshoot done for our album cover. We then connected with the elegant visual artist, Lacy Talley, to produce the magnificent cover of our book. With the skills and direction of Chris Webb and Kenneth Cody, we then produced two videos with the music from our poetry album, Babies Part One, and Babies Part Two.
On June 9th, we held our Album and Book Release Event at Lounges Cle, a social lounge near the downtown area. It was a night to remember with over 150 people in attendance, laughs, tears of joy, and stunning attire.
Over the course of just 3 months, we were able to facilitate and produce an entire album and book. None of this would have been possible without the tremendous help of friends and artists who are absolutely excellent in their career paths. This project was so important because it brought together an entire community of creatives outside of ourselves. It has brought life to so many other people just as it has given life to us.
This project, BARE: In the Flesh, meant so much to me because it started as an idea. It was only a seed that was given to us… and to see how much we’ve nurtured it to sprout and flourish has been astonishing to watch and take part in.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am mainly known as a spoken word artist, I am also an educator, author, speaker, and facilitator. Outside of that, I am the Executive Director of The Sparrow’s Fortune, a collective of artists whose mission is to inspire, educate, and encourage our community through arts, entertainment, and creative writing workshops. I got into the industry of spoken word through my friends at Kent State University. I had always been a writer, but getting connected with poets like Elijah Austin, Ephraim Nehemiah, and Damien McClendon, I saw that my words could come to life much more powerfully when spoken and shared with intention. I started my work as an educator and facilitator early on in college, at places like the Boys and Girls Club and the Columbus Urban League. I continued to refine my skills in this area at a diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm in the Cleveland area.
Through The Sparrow’s Fortune, our work is to give life to our community through methods that serve them the most. For some folks, it may be coming to a poetry showcase – hearing and feeling the words of artists like Quiet Kid, Mixxed Rose, Avery LaMar Pope, or Morgan Paige. For others, it may be attending a writing workshop, and learning methods in which they can express and/or process the emotions they feel.
We are aware of the literacy rates in Cleveland specifically, where the average adult reads at or below the 7th-grade level. Through our writing workshops, we challenge that statistic by offering these workshops to students as well as adults in ways that may connect with them easier than standard ELA classes. Not only do we focus on social-emotional learning, but we also produce writing workshops that are culturally and socially relevant. Of course, through building community, we partner with organizations such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Oriana House, and We Amplify Voices to reach audiences that we might not have typically connected with. We enjoy increasing our connections through local organizations, and more importantly, the individuals who see our work as valuable and keep coming back.
On the production side of The Sparrow’s Fortune, we love to produce our own themed showcases and concerts of spoken-word poetry. We band together to brainstorm ideas around a given topic or subject and then write poetry that follows that theme. We work closely with one another during the process of curation, and the fruit is getting to share our revelations with our audiences during and after the showcase. We joyfully connect with organizations such as Tastemakers United and the Cleveland Policing Commission to curate shows based on specific subjects where they utilize another form of artistry to convey their messages to their audiences. Inadvertently, I’ve found that even coming to these showcases have inspired other local artists to come out of their shell and begin sharing their work more. It is a pleasure and honor to share our work with such a multitude of people.
With that said, I believe the inspiration of others is what I’m most proud of. Learning how we’ve helped other people grow, or helped others see something inside of themselves is what inspires me most. More than anything, I want people to see the humanity inside of us, and in turn, see the humanity inside themselves.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think one thing we don’t speak about is the fact that creatives have to wear different hats given the setting. I am always a poet and spoken word artist, however, there are times when I have to put on my hat as the Executive Director… other times I have to put on my hat as an educator… or put on my hat as a speaker… and then there are times when I have to remember to take those hats off. I can’t say that non-creatives don’t understand it, but I can say that being an artist along with being a business owner is not an easy feat. It is a constant pulling from either side, both, seemingly wanting every piece of you, while you also have to maintain yourself. Taking time for yourself as a public-facing person is necessary for our mental and emotional health and yet often misconceived by others who don’t understand it. Navigating in a world where content is king and numbers are in control of everything can sometimes be discouraging. From one artist to another, take it easy on yourself. For those who may be reading this who do not label themselves as creative, be mindful that there is a multitude of reasons why taking time to step away from the “scene” is important for your creative friends and counterparts, don’t take it personally, and give space when necessary.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Black men. There are so many of us who don’t know ourselves. Not knowing ourselves only leads to our disillusionment toward everything we impact or come in contact with. If we want more for our communities, we need to have more within ourselves. I share my work, my life, and my perspective so openly because there is a plethora of Black men who have the same exact story and do not move beyond it. Whether their stagnancy comes because of their own hardened hearts or simply not having the tools to break through it, I use my voice and my resources as a means to carefully tap through the stone. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheSparrowsFortune.com
- Instagram: @thesparrowsfortune
- Facebook: The Sparrow’s Fortune