The title of this post comes from  Edward Sadlowski, steelworker. He was a labor activist and a past Director of United Steelworkers of America, District 31 in Chicago.

“Who among you is a musician, poet, rapper, or dancer?” This is one of my first questions on Day One of any organizing or bargaining training I teach for the Building Trades Academy. When worker musicians and artists self-identify we have a talent show at the end of the four-day class. Glenn Perusek, my training partner, and I believe that these talent shows are fundamental to building class camaraderie and solidarity. Organizing involves tapping the emotional soul of workers and music and art are a key component. 

Trae James, a member of the Plasterers and Cement Masons union who attended our most recent training in Ft. Lauderdale, wrote the poem and notes below.

                           Peter Olney

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Seasons Most Apparent

Many years have gone by us sweet friend of mine
Seasons most apparent
Our spring but a tick to the piece that tells time in our lives
As if our seeds just bloomed
Reasons almost apparent
Our days in the sun
Free willed and strong in our prime
We thought we were valiant
Our summer was vibrant
Now the velvet petals fly away in the wind
They tear free and fall to the dirt with a thunder that screams our worth
With winter incoherence
Seasons most apparent

Trae C. James, Plasterer, union leader, poet Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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As I dug through my box of dribble and poems, I came across this newspaper photo. This was taken by a Milwaukee Journal (now the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) reporter, moments after I penned “Seasons Most Apparent” on the wall inside of the upper floor’s balcony doors. I was unaware of the photographer, but was given the article by a family member, some days later. That is me (circled in red) on the balcony, still sporting the long hair that I wore after the military and into my early 30’s.

The building was originally a Schlitz brewing company family home in Milwaukee. A religious sect bought it, lived there, and translated the Bible in the building for 25 years. Warren Buffet’s youngest son Peter bought it from them. The third floor was his recording studio. Upon his divorce in 1993, the building sold again. The new owner renovated and restored the property. I was fortunate to be apprenticing for the plastering company awarded the plaster restoration.

The balcony below me, is the shared bathroom for the presidential guest rooms. The lady of the house was a college and lifelong friend of Hilary Clinton. The rooms on either side of the lower balcony, went on to be used by Hilary and Chelsea when they would visit.  

I went on to put poems in many other structures throughout the region. There are poems behind a niche wall in a Vaudeville era Theatre in Sheboygan, WI. Another of my poems is in the domed swimming pool ceiling at the Grand hotel in Milwaukee and one is behind the repaired ornamental cornice above the Plaza hotel’s dining room. Many other commercial and residential projects as well are plastered with my poems.

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The Stansbury Forum obit for Sadlowski. 

For more on working class art and culture: Local 1199 Bread and Roses Cultural Project Files