Director, MC, multimedia artist, and Cincinnati-native Napoleon Maddox will host our October-January CoLAB series and exhibition titled What You Holdin’?. Inspired by the resourcefulness of the Black Arts tradition, this program is centered around the notion of ‘designing your future and life, using your own blueprint with the materials on hand.’ Maddox and other artists will partner with Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy students to explore various creating techniques ranging from collage to music production. Participants will draw on fragments of found or discarded sounds and items to develop honest, sometimes difficult, yet healing narratives. The series will consist of a multi-day workshop intensive with exposure to various audiovisual equipment and classes offered by experts in their crafts, followed by a culminating performance sharing what was created. Napoleon Maddox will also exhibit recent visual work with elements interwoven in from the workshop series at the CAC.

About the Artist

Napoleon Maddox, is a hip-hop ambassador, writer, producer, human beat-box artist. His artistic practice is rooted in the crafting and sharing of stories of heritage and parables of shared wisdom. He is the leader of a Hip-hop/Free Jazz band called ISWHAT?!, and the lyrical half of the mesmerizing duo, Sorg & Napoleon Maddox. In 2017, as creative director he premiered a groundbreaking multimedia show telling the true story of his great-grand aunts, conjoined Millie-Christine McKoy. He’s also worked with respected artists such as Chuck D, DJ Spinna, DJ Logic, Glen Hansard, Vernon Reid, Archie Shepp, and the late great Les Paul. Maddox’s visual and performing work have been a part of his artistic expression since childhood.

Curated by

This exhibition is organized by the Community and Adult Programs Manager, Pedal Miranda, through the CAC’s Co-LAB program. Co-LAB is a public laboratory that invites artist and creatives to collaborate with the CAC on community-based projects.