This is the fourth installment in a weekly series by Dianna Marder about her volunteer work with prisoners serving life sentences in a local prison.  Read the whole series here.

You know when you’ve got a flop on your hands.

This week  I talked to the men about Julian of Norwich, a medieval mystic and religious writer (Revelations of Divine Love) who spent most of her adult life voluntarily locked in a cell — an anchorage on the grounds of a church in England known as St. Julian of Norwich (from which she took her name) Look her up if you’d like, but essentially she devoted her life to God. She was given Last Rites on the day she was locked in the cell and remained there until her death.

What was I thinking? I was hoping the men might get into discussing/writing about the similarities and differences between Julian and serving a life sentence in prison with no chance of release. Certainly, the lifers are more Reluctant Recluses and I really thought they could get into that.

Wrong. They do not want to write about their day to day lives in prison — at least not overtly. I saw that in their eyes.

So, I re-calibrated and pulled another writing prompt out of my pocket. I asked them to write on the subject: How I learned to Drive or Cars I Have Known.

Several of the men wrote that they learned to steal cars but never became licensed drivers. Others’ stories were about the people (mostly mothers and would-be lovers) they took advantage of in order to get their hands on their car keys.

And the best part:  the exercise allowed me to point out to the men the ways in which their particular underlying issues are emerging week by week in their writing. They got that point right away. They understood and appreciated what was happening. I could see it in their eyes.

Perhaps you’ve heard that First Person Arts and the Free Library of Philadelphia will partner to bring you a first-of-its-kind StorySlam in Philadelphia.   The Slam is FREE and will take place as part of the Free Library Festival at the Parkway Central Library on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 5:00 p.m., Saturday April 18th on the Bank of America Stage (Montgomery Auditorium).  A team of five storytellers from the ranks of the best storytellers to grace First Person Arts’ StorySlam stage will face an able team of storytellers hailing from Chicago’s Windy City StorySlam.  The theme will be “Mortified.”  Here’s a preview of the storytellers you’ll see from both teams:

Representing Philadelphia:

Ryan T. Barlow got into storytelling accidentally, but now he can’t get enough of it and is hoping it leads to a career in being professionally funny.

Amy Malissa wields the power of killer karaoke, understands the true meaning of Halloween and has the uncanny ability to identify actors by the sound of their voices alone.

Tre Rials, a seasoned storyteller, earned a spot in last year’s Grand Slam where he recounted a story of love, loss and revenge, and recently won the inaugural Raven Society StorySlam with a tale of a fateful night at Little Pete’s.

A recovering token, New Age enthusiast, and educator, Katonya Mosley recently became the scary enraged Black woman at work, and she is thrilled to have made peace with the stereotype.

Rob Kogan’s day job is in the world of transportation consulting.  The top storyteller at First Person Arts’ “Hidden Talents” Slam at World Cafe Live, this is his second StorySlam appearance.

Here’s a playlist featuring some of the highlights from the StorySlam careers of the Philadelphia team:

And representing Chicago:

Jose “The Door Guy” Rivera.  He was the door man at Windy City.  One night he got on stage, the rest is history.

Sam Snow has never rehearsed a story he’s told at the Windy City Story Slam, everything with him is off the cuff.  He’s a current Columbia College Chicago Fiction Writing Student.

Max Glaessner is the reigning All-City, Windy City Story Slam Champion.

Nicolette Kittinger is a current Columbia College Chicago Fiction Writing Student.  She won the big one the night legendary author Irvine Welsh read at the Windy City Story Slam.

Bill “The Butcher” Hillmann is founder and host of the Windy City Story Slam.

Here’s a series of videos featuring storytellers from the Windy City Story Slam:

Until the Special Event StorySlam on April 18th–featuring a team of storytellers from Philly vs. a team from Chicago–we’ll be dropping a new StorySlam video every weekday morning at 10am.  Here’s Ronald from “On My Street.”  Enjoy!

NEXT STORYSLAM:
The next StorySlam is Saturday April 18th, part of the Free Library Festival and will feature a storytelling team from Philadelphia vs. one from Chicago in an inter-city rivalry on the theme “Mortified.”

“Mortified” (in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia)
Date: Saturday April 18th
Time: 5pm-6:30pm
Host: Madi Distefano
Location: Parkway Central Library’s Bank of America Main Stage (AKA Montgomery Auditorium)
Cost: FREE

(Ted Adams, Flickr)

Ted Adams is an art & documentary photographer, director of Southwark Gallery, and curator of the online Abandoned Photo Museum.  At the April 8th Salon, he’ll present a documentary photo piece spanning several years aboard the Tugboat Nancy McAllister, often seen plying the waters of the Delaware River.  Begun as a collaboration with his friend Joseph Van Blunk, a writer, filmmaker and longshoreman himself–and whose brother Bob is the tugboat’s captain–the work explores the modern relationship between residents of the river wards and the river, one that has offered employment and sustenance since the 18th Century.

On April 8th, reconnect with Philadelphia’s river-city history and join us for these other memoir and documentary artists:

Samara O’Shea, founder of letterlover.net and author of The Love of Letters: A 21st-Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing and Note To Self: On Keeping A Journal And Other Dangerous Pursuits (link)

Colette Copeland, a multi-media visual artist whose work examines issues surrounding gender and contemporary culture. (link)

Sarah R. Bloom, published photographer, self-portraitist and intrepid blogger.

EVENT DETAILS

First Person Salon
April 8th, 2009 7:30-9:30 (Doors at 7pm)
Location: Laurie Beechman Cabaret at The University of the Arts
(Philadelphia Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia)
Admission: $8  The March Salon sold out, so buy your tickets in advance! (No fees)

Sarah Bloom’s extraordinary self-portraits have been published in Fitness Magazine and were accepted for inclusion in the 2008 Art of the State show by the Harrisburg Council for the Arts.  In 2006, Sarah set out to take a self-portrait each day, publishing them on flickr and her blog.  One year stretched into two as she developed a significant following and discovered new avenues for self-discovery and expression.   She joins us on April 8th to share a selection her self-portraits and some thoughts on the revelatory benefits of being both artist and subject. (NOTE: Sarah’s also at the top of the heap with her project “For Our Daughters” at Name Your Dream Assignment.  Her proposal is an extension of the work she’ll be sharing at the Salon.  Take a look and give her your vote!)

On April 8th, she’ll present her work with three other artists:

Photographer Ted Adams, art & documentary photographer, Director of Southwark Gallery, and Curator of online Abandoned Photo Museum. (link)

Samara O’Shea, founder of letterlover.net and author of The Love of Letters: A 21st-Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing and Note To Self: On Keeping A Journal And Other Dangerous Pursuits (link)

Colette Copeland, a multi-media visual artist whose work examines issues surrounding gender and contemporary culture. (link)

EVENT DETAILS

First Person Salon
April 8th, 2009 7:30-9:30 (Doors at 7pm)
Location: Laurie Beechman Cabaret at The University of the Arts
(Philadelphia Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia)
Admission: $8  The March Salon sold out, so buy your tickets in advance!

Once again, the audience voting matched the judges’ at Tuesday night’s “On My Street” StorySlam.

Chris Oberlin’s story unfolds in a cul-de-sac on Hiawatha Place in a subdivision called The Indian Village, so it stands to reason the story involves an ambush.   But here the culprit is a mailbox.  Chris earns an invitation to the GrandSlam at the 2009 First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art.  Here’s his winning story.  Watch to the end for a very special delivery:

The next StorySlam is April 18th, in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia for the Free Library Festival!  It’s an invitational and will feature a team of five storytellers from Philadelphia vs. five from Chicago in our first ever inter-city StorySlam!

“Mortified”
Date: Saturday April 18th
Time: 5pm-6:30pm
Host: Madi Distefano
Location: Parkway Central Library’s Bank of America Main Stage (AKA Montgomery Auditorium)
Cost: FREE

(design: Tim Gough)

This is the third installment in a weekly series by Dianna Marder about her volunteer work with prisoners serving life sentences in a local prison.  Read the whole series here.

Week three: Life Writing with Lifers

Here’s something I never expected: Spring Break.
At a prison? After recovering from the shock, I learned that many of the classes here are taught.in conjunction with a local university whose instructors are on spring break, so….
No wise cracks, please.
I filed this information away mentally with my awareness that inmates can never see the night sky.
- dianna marder

Great interview at CityPaper’s Clog with last month’s StorySlam winner Rob Kogan, whose recitation of the Grimm’s Fairy Tale Clever Gretel earned him a spot in the 2009 Grand Slam.  His favorite story of the night?  Former First Person Arts intern and self-described “bad sounding board for 13 year old girls.”  Here she is from last month’s “Hidden Talents” StorySlam:

If you’re in the mood to StorySlam tonight, mosey on over to L’Etage and bring your “On My Street” stories:

“On My Street”
Date: March 24th
Time: 8:30pm-10:30pm (Doors at 7:30)
Host: Victor Fiorillo
Location: L’Etage (6th and Bainbridge)
Cost:$8

This morning, Inquirer food writer Rick Nichols showcased some of the food we’ll be enjoying as part of Edible World: Port Richmond on Saturday, March 28th.  [Editor's note: I'm taking credit for the "food styling" prowess that led to that pile of Czerw's smoked sausages!]  Nichols will lead a walking tour through the traditional Polish neighborhood clustered around Richmond and Allegheny Ave.  Stops will include New Wave Cafe, Syrenka Lunch Counter, Krakus Market and a host of others!  In addition to a feast of Polish delicacies and old favorites, we’ll hear stories from the restaurateurs themselves.   Please join us for this fun and engaging event, and help First Person Arts continue to offer the bargain arts experiences you’ve come to love:

Saturday, March 28th, 2009
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Tour starts at Krakus Market–3150 Richmond Street
Ample street parking is available in the neighborhood.

Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets
or by calling 267-402-2055

$85 per person
$160 per couple
$75 for First Person Arts Members

Tickets must be purchased in advance, and the tour will run rain or shine.

There’s a StorySlam at L’Etage tomorrow night, dontcha know?  It’s all about true stories that have happened to you on your street, your block, in your cul de sac, or, if you grew up in Venice, your canal:

“On My Street”
Date: March 24th
Time: 8:30pm-10:30pm (Doors at 7:30)
Host: Victor Fiorillo
Location: L’Etage (6th and Bainbridge)
Cost:$8

Here’s a lovely little story from DJ Robert Drake’s street:

Always true stories, always fun.  See you there!