Matt's Writing

"Oakland is Proud" painted on the former Greenside Projects in East Oakland Oakland is often condemned by critics saying that its public schools lack parent involvement and that certain neighborhoods lack community involvement. However, visiting Ise Lyfe's " Brighter than Blight " community art exhibit on June 30, 2013 presented a different side of East Oakland than what you often find in the media. In the shell of the former Greenside Projects at Bancroft and 77th Avenue stood an art exhibit showcasing photography, paintings, and art installations by East Oakland artist Ise Lyfe. The exhibit had many attendees over the last two weekends of June, and was covered by several outlets, including Oakland Local and 38th Notes . Vashti Means, Deborah Wysinger, Mildred Powell, and Matt Werner at Brighter than Blight What stood out to me was not just Ise Lyfe's artwork. I already knew he was a Renaissance Man having seen his one-man play  Who's Krazy ...

You can download my interviews on Fresh Air: The Alternative, University of Edinburgh student radio on my website http://mattswriting.com/ or on iTunes. When you search the iTunes store for DJ Matt Werner, my podcast "mattswriting" will come up. Or, by clicking this direct iTunes link , you can download my interviews and features on Talib Kweli, Saul Williams, Dahlak Brathwaite, Kid Beyond, Dave Smallen, Fr. Bruno Clifton, George Watsky, and Ise Lyfe.