We love creatives. All creatives. All ages. 

We want Charlotte to be the best place in the country for creatives to start, build and sustain their creative business or life. And, in the best-case scenario, we all help nourish that creative spirit in younger Charlotteans so they stay here and enrich us all with their passion and talents.

For that, young creatives need experience. They need opportunities. And, they need to be surrounded by people who will help them in their journey.

Charlotte Is Creative, publisher of The Biscuit, is honored to be part of Charlotte Lab School’s Upper School internship program. Eighth through 12th  graders volunteer to be interviewed and paired with local organizations and nonprofits to help them in their work and learn along the way. 

We are lucky to be working with three wonderful students – Fatima Martinez, Sanai Dingle and Tahira Harris. 

Getting Started

On our first day with these incredible young Charlotteans, we asked them about the creative life of the Queen City. They shared interests across many mediums – dance, poetry, visual art and music. We asked what their goals for the internship were, both qualitative and quantitative. And, we met with them weekly to actualize these goals.

Doing the Work

Over the last three months, our interns have been running an Instagram account – (@cicinterns), playing “Guess That Artist” with audiences and friends, exploring our city on walking meetings and interviewing local creatives. 

This special batch of The Biscuit is an opportunity for our interns to share their work, interests and passions with you. They’ve worked hard. And, we’re excited to share it with you. 

It is incredibly important that they feel represented in the work they’re doing, who they look up to and who they work with. 

Without further ado … please meet our Intern team. 

SANAI DINGLE

Hi! My name is Sanai Dingle, and I am in ninth grade. I’m super excited to work with Charlotte Is Creative to help shine a light on other creatives and other things that aren’t typically looked at as “creative.” First, let me tell you more about me:

• I love to sing and play the piano and keyboard. (I’m still learning. LOL.)
• Storytelling is my strength.
• I love to draw and paint.
• I’m the happiest when reading.
• I am a SERIOUS foodie. (Want to make me happy? Food. Food is always the answer.)

FATIMA MARTINEZ

Hello. I’m in ninth grade and am 14 years old. My favorite animals are cats, snakes and lizards. My favorite things to do as a pastimes are art and CrossFit. My favorite creative activity is drawing semi-realistic images.

TAHIRA HARRIS

My name is Tahira Harris. I am in 10th grade. My favorite activities are eating with my friends at cool cafes in NoDa. I enjoy going to the Mac Tabby Cafe because of their smoothies and the variety of cats they have. I also enjoy going to Oh My Soul; the food they have is very good! I also enjoy listening to music. My favorite creative activity is painting or coloring. 

We asked our interns: Why are internships important? What do they do for you? How do they help drive success? And, they answered …

FATIMA MARTINEZ

An internship is an opportunity given to high school students usually in their junior years or senior years. But, a few other freshmen and I have internships right now. 

Internships are amazing because they give you experience – something that is useful to have in the real world outside school and at home. You can choose or request an internship based on your interests and strengths. But, joining an internship isn’t as easy as just signing up and going. Just like in the real world, you need to be interviewed and selected. 

When you interview for a job during or after high school, companies look into your background and your accomplishments. They review all your info including what you’ve done or said on the internet. They look into grades and everything. Colleges do this, too.

An internship not only exposes you to what work would be like once you get a paid full-time or a part-time job, it also gives you experience in working with others/teamwork. This is beneficial if you’re deciding to go into a job that functions with teams. It also strengthens your sense of responsibility, as some of these internships take place outside school.

The best part of all is that if you have an internship that relates to your passions, you will find yourself loving it, getting along and fitting in fine. 

TAHIRA HARRIS

At Charlotte Lab, they encourage us to have internships by the time we graduate. Many people believe it is silly for us to have internships when we are in our freshman year and to wait until our junior, senior year or even our first year of college. 

I think it is imperative that high schoolers have the opportunity to have internships when they start because it helps develop skills and teaches the importance of working in a professional space at such a young age. When we get to college, not only will we have an internship to add to our applications, but we’ll have an advantage in school. It will allow us to obtain professional skills within a professional work environment. 

SANAI DINGLE

[EDITOR’S NOTE: As a complement to exploring why internships are vital, Sanai wanted to share her thoughts on the importance of parental involvement in the lives of students.]

As a high schooler participating in an internship and other extracurricular activities, I cannot stress enough how important it is for parents to be involved in their children’s lives. This goes for parents being involved in schools, as well. Parental involvement creates a community where parents get familiar with other parents and teachers. It helps the teachers and parents to be on the same page.

My parents participate a lot in events that I have inside and outside school. They look at my work and ask my teachers what I’m working on to help me if I don’t understand something. They make sure to have my teachers’ phone numbers so they can contact them quicker, and they volunteer for events that I’m part of.

Students will feel more secure knowing that their parents are interested in what they are doing, which will encourage students to continue to excel! So please, be involved in your child’s academic career!

Our interns are excited about the creative community in the Queen City and asked if they could interview artists who interested them. And, of course, we thought that was a terrific way for six local creatives – both established and emerging – to get to know one another.

BORIS “BLUZ” ROGERS
Spoken Word Artist
Interviewed by Sanai Dingle

IG: @bluzbluzbluz
PODCAST WITH BLUZ: Listen Here

Boris Rogers – widely known as “Bluz” — started his journey with poetry when he was in his senior year of high school. His first medium was creative writing, but it soon turned into poetry.

Bluz has participated in multiple spoken word shows and is continuing to work on his own projects featuring spoken word and music. He has written a book called Hip Hop Haiku you can purchase on Amazon!

When did you start having an interest in art?
I was probably about 15 or 16 when I had a genuine interest in poetry. It was around my senior year of high school. My passion grew during second semester of freshman year at UNC Charlotte after a very painful breakup with my girlfriend. We decided to try the long-distance thing after high school – young and foolish, I guess. But the breakup pushed me to explore healing and coping with that heartbreak through poetry.

What was the first medium you have ever used?
Writing. Creative writing and then poetry. 

Who are some artists you think deserve more recognition?
Locally, I would say Jay Ward, TuKool Tiff, Jason Jett and Mason Parker. 

On a national scale, probably BIG KRIT, Tank and The Bangas. (But they just got nominated for a Grammy, soo… LOL.) 

What are you working on next?
A new spoken word/music project and a project for the Charlotte Hornets. I’m super excited about both. 

What was the most challenging piece you’ve done?
That’s a great question. The most challenging work I’ve done might have been with NASCAR. We were turning around super creative projects for television within a 24- to 36-hour window. The work won an Emmy, so I guess the hard work paid off. 

What was the most challenging place you have had to create a work of art?
The roof of the SPECTRUM CENTER! We were doing a photo/video shoot for a version of the Hornets uniform, and they thought the roof would make for good visuals. It did, but getting up there and minding your step presented me with a chance to deal with my fear of heights. 

JORDAN BAILEY
Spoken Word Artist
Interviewed by Sanai Dingle

IG: @jordan_with_da_poems
WEB: linktr.ee/Youngstatic

Jordan Bailey is a poet, rapper and creative. Starting at 8 years old, he’s fallen in love with poetry. His natural ability to freestyle enables Jordan to write poems off the top of his head. He also has an ear for music — especially rap and hip hop. He freestyles to beats and writes his own songs. Jordan performs on stages all over the city. [EDITOR’S NOTE: Jordan has his first live performance THIS Saturday, December 17th from 7:30-10:30 PM at Goodyear Arts at Camp North End.]

At what age did you start having an interest in art?
Around 8 years old. I read Bronx Masquerade (by Nikki Grimes) and fell in love with poetry.

What was the first medium you have ever used?
I’ve always been a poet first and foremost.

What artist that does not have much recognition do you think deserves more recognition?
Especially in Charlotte, we don’t lift up spoken word legends in our city — Jay Ward, Bluz and A Poet Named Superman. But in Hip Hop, we got to talk about Lute more.

What are you working on next?
At this very moment, I’m preparing to perform my music for the first time at Goodyear Arts December 17 at 7:30 p.m.

What was the most challenging art piece you’ve created?
So in August, I dropped a project called Butterfly Season. It was a struggle to create personal songs, but also something that has replay value. So it was a tough balance and I think I’m always working toward that. But, that was my true first attempt.

What was the most challenging place/thing you have had to make an art piece?
I’ve had to write poems on the spot before. I’ve had to freestyle on the spot. We had a slam at the Van Gogh Exhibit, with the lights going and the walls changing … so that might be the toughest. But, I’m very adaptable.

MARK MILAZZO
Collage Artist
Interviewed by Fatima Martinez

IG: @markthecutter
FB: @Markthecutter
WEB: artpal.com/markthecutternc | etsy.com/shop/bathroomcomicsandart

Mark Milazzo is a Charlotte artist who creates a wide variety of collage art. His subjects include dinosaurs, aliens, anatomical images from medical textbooks (his the newest collage series) and lots more unique art. He has an Etsy account where he sells amazing pieces of original collage design.

When did you start having an interest in art?
[I started when I was] 7 years old.

What was the first medium you ever used?
Clay in first grade, but I am sure some paper art was made. I think I have a paper candy cane [I created] from first grade.

What are you working on next?
I make 30 to 60 collages every week. As of late, I am working on an alien/anatomical series, already having finished eight pieces. 

What was the most challenging art piece you’ve done?
I made some 18 x 24-inch pieces, all airplane-related. But, cutting the planes out was the hardest part. It took so much time and many X-ACTO blades!

What was the most challenging place you have had to create a work of art?
I have paper everywhere and don’t throw much away. The top of my table is full. So, if I am to make a large piece, I have to move so many scraps of paper. I want to make pieces that are over 40 inches, but I haven’t yet.

GARRISON GIST
Mural Artist
Interviewed by Tahira Harris

IG: @2gzandcountin
TT: @PaintcanPapi

Garrison Gist – a.k.a. ¨Paint Can Papi¨ – is a track coach and an artist. Before moving to Charlotte, he attended the University of South Carolina, where he was football player and an art student.  Most of his work is painted. As you’ll see on his Instagram and TikTok feeds, he likes to draw/paint cartoon characters on canvas and with spray paint on walls.

When did you start having an interest in art?
[I started when I was] 4 or 5. 

What was the first medium you have ever used?
Probably crayon or marker.

Who are some artists you think deserve more recognition?
Jalen Whitner (Charlotte native).

What are you working on next?
Completing murals for the HUNNID DOLLAR ART SHOW. [NOTE: This show was at Camp North End Dec. 8-10.]

What’s the most challenging art piece you’ve done?
Probably the Savoy mural outside their dog park – its size and location made it very challenging. The mural was around 40 feet high, but the wall was located behind electric boxes and on rocks, so it had to be completed on a ladder and not a lift.

Sanai is a voracious reader and wanted to share her thoughts on a novel she recently read. This book is ideal for readers ages 9 to 12 but can be enjoyed by all ages.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Review by Sanai Dingle

Through reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia, I’ve learned about African gods, African folklore and its heroes. This book has a ton of symbolism and mythology. It’s exciting and told from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy who is super relatable. But, the best part is that anyone can take something away from this story.

Tristan’s story made me realize that the voice of a child can sometimes boom bigger than multiple voices of adults. He is the epitome of someone who is fearful, yet finds the strength to speak up over the voices of people who seem bigger. It doesn’t matter what race you are, your age, your religion, etc. You’ll be able to find yourself somewhere in this book. 

This is a book that doesn’t just teach African-Americans about their history. It teaches all people to be courageous, humble and resilient. It teaches us to honor each other’s stories and our own. And our stories aren’t so different                              

My favorite quotes:

1. “My name is Tristan Strong, and I’ve got a story to tell.”  
2. “A familiar buzzing grew in my fingertips, the sign that a story needed to be let out.”  
3. “So if you ever think you’ve made a bad first impression—maybe you tripped and fell over your own feet, or you had ketchup in your face—just picture me, Tristan Strong, hopping into a room full of gods while trying to pull a thorn out of my butt.”  

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Okay, the interns were too humble to add this story. So we’re sneaking it in. The Charlotte Lab School is creating truly innovative work/study projects that prepare students for lifelong success.]

Kickin’ it Creative Style at the Charlotte Lab School

Over the past three years, Charlotte Lab Upper School students have worked with ASICS and The Whitaker Grp to design, brand and market footwear. This innovative, immersive learning program included virtual and in-person learning on design, production, marketing, photography, videography, sales and activation.

Ultimately, Lab School students helped create two new designs for ASICS’ Gel-Lyte 5 shoes. And, they drop tonight (Dec. 16) at a special launch party, FLEX TIME, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Social Status at 1519 Central Ave. 

And, to teach their students about retail management, Lab School is opening a new ASICS store inside the Upper School. More information about that soon.