Yesterday was the launch of the brand spanking new First Person Museum website- www.firstpersonmuseum.org. An exciting piece of the First Person Museum project, the website allows anyone to be a part of the museum by uploading stories, including photos and video, to the site. You can choose a story theme and object type to accompany your entry, like Growing Up and My Wheels.

Each week, I’ll feature a story from the website on the First Person blog. This week, I want to put the spotlight on Nathan from Chicago. I met Nathan at the Festival de Flores in one of Norris Square’s beautiful neighborhood gardens. I was there talking about the Museum and Nathan was one of the folks who filled out a postcard in exchange for one of our cute tote bags. His story was so moving that I asked him to send us a photo of his object – which actually was a photo, of him and his mother – for the website, which he did.

We Both are Smiling.
Theme: To Remember You By
Object Type: Always By My Side

I don’t have a very good memory in general, and my long-term memory is pretty bad. Without pictures I generally don’t remember much. One of the things I don’t remember very well is my mother, who died when I was 14 from breast cancer. Most of my memories are of her being sick, or of a general desire not to be around much near the end. So the photo my mother’s friend sent me during the first month of my freshman year of college has become one of the best “memories” I have of her. In the photo my mom is healthy with a full head of hair, holding me aloft at age 2 or so. We both are smiling, and there is such joy in the photo that having it to look at whenever I need to smile has been a blessing.

See his official entry. Read more stories at firstpersonmuseum.org.

Can’t get enough of our StorySlam winners? They’re back and ready to tell it on the air! WXPN kicks off a new season of LIVE at the Writers House tonight- Monday, September 27 at 7:00 PM. See six of Philly’s favorite storytellers live tonight in this free program! Featuring StorySlam champions, Angel Hogan, Mike McCarry, R. Eric Thomas, Leah Walton, Katonya Mosley, and Tre Rials, along with musical guest, Ross Bellenoit. The program will air on XPN, air date TBD but we’ll let you know as soon as we do. Watch videos of our storytellers from some of their winning Slams below.

LIVE at the Writers House is a collaboration between the Kelly Writers House and WXPN FM (88.5). Join host Michaela Majoun throughout the year for one-hour broadcasts of poetry, music, and other spoken word art, and musical guests. Majoun will be broadcasting six times annually between September and April.

Find out more about LIVE at the Writers House here.

Want to join the ranks of our winning raconteurs? Come to tomorrow night’s Slam at L’Etage. The theme is “Friends with Benefits!”

-Becca Jennings

As we have learned from our Edible World programs, food tells stories. So join us for brunch on Saturday, November 13 at 12PM, as popular cookbook author Joan Nathan tells us about her latest culinary adventure- exploring Jewish cuisine in France. Quiches, Kugels and Couscous  will take place in the Painted Bride Art Center’s Cafe and will last for approximately 2 hours. $35 for the general public and $28 for First Person members gets you brunch and a talk by Ms. Nathan. Buy your tickets here. 

To get your taste buds watering and your stomach grumbling, we thought we’d take our own journey (our own kind of amuse-bouche, if you will) and look at some of the delicious Jewish cuisine right in our own backyard. 

We have to kick things off with Hershel’s East Side Deli, located in Philly’s famed Reading Terminal Market. Its owner, Steve Saftern, has food in his blood. Before his uncle and father came to America, his family made and sold deli meat. Jordan Epstein from Unbreaded urges readers to get their last meal there, “The pastrami sandwich is the crown jewel, a massive pile of dripping fresh hand cut, 10-day cured, slow-baked, 10 spice rubbed “Kosher navel.” Definitely worth the mad rush of people at Reading, Hershel’s is open seven days a week. But you can avoid the crowd since they’re also catering our brunch with Joan Nathan (now it’s official, you have to go). Visit their website.

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen first opened its doors in 1923 and has been on the rise ever since. In 2009 its desserts were named the Best of Philadelphia by Philadelphia magazine. “Everything at the famous is “zaftig,” which is Yiddish for hefty.” says Phyllis Stein-Novack of the South Philadelphia Review and Craig LeBan of the Philadelphia Inquirer describes Russ Cowan as “the Michelangelo of pickled beef and a van Gogh with Russian dressing.” Located at 700 South 4th Street and now at 38 S. 19th Street (between Market & Chestnut). Visit their website.

Delicatessen, formerly known as Kibitz in the City, has been described as a “Modern Jewish Deli.” Its menu features all the classics: kugel, blintzes, pastrami and corned beef; however, it also has a “New School Menu” which includes the Philly Bagel Roll, a sesame bagel topped with wasabi cream cheese, nova, pickled red onion, cucumber and tobiko roe. This deli even has vegan options such as their Mushroom and Barley Soup! Definitely a new spin on the Jewish deli, they are located at 703 Chestnut St.  Visit their website. 

 

 

Zahav's Stuffed Baby Peppers (Yelp.com)

Zahav means “Gold” in Hebrew and is a reference to Jerusalem. It has been only open for about two years and it is already one of the hot spots for Israeli cuisine. Critics all over cannot stop praising Zahav’s creamy hummus and house baked Laffa, and that’s just the beginning. (PS We’ll have their hummus at the brunch!) David Landsel from the New York Post says chef Michael Solomonov “transforms traditional, not-so-exciting dishes, using one-of-a-kind creative flourishes and unlikely flavor combinations,” and that Zahav’s cuisine “simultaneously tastes familiar and unlike anything you’ve ever eaten.” Zahav is located at 237 St. James Place on the ground of the Society Hill Towers, but you can also experience Solomonv’s unique flavors at The Painted Bride Art Center for our event with Joan Nathan! Visit their website. 

Marathon Grill, I’m sure you’ve heard of them, but have you also heard that they have some of the best Matzoh ball soup in the city? They do, so check out this city favorite at one of their numerous locations. Visit their website.

Mama’s Vegetarian is a fast food Middle Eastern Kosher restaurant that specializes in “MAMA’s sandwich” which is their very own falafel. Lisa Kelvin Tuttle of The Philadelphia Jewish Voice describes Mama’s food as “simple, delicious…flavorful, colorful and filling.” Their ingredients are fresh and their pita bread is baked daily on the premises. It is located on 18 S. 20th street and is definitely a go-to restaurant from flavorful Middle Eastern fast food. View their website. 

Kaplan’s Bakery: Jewish Rye Bread, Pumpernickel, Black Bread, Challah, Egg Wash Rolls, and knishes. Is your mouth watering yet? Kaplan’s is one of the oldest Jewish bakeries in Philadelphia and has been supplying the Northern Liberties neighborhood since 1916, when the community mostly catered to eastern European Jews. At 901 N. 3rd St. (Corner of 3rd and Poplar Streets) you can eat a part of Philadelphia history! Visit their website.

- Laura Reeve

Did you catch Oprah’s exclusive interview with Ingrid Betancourt, former Colombian presidential candidate held captive in the jungle for 6 1/2 years? In case you missed it, here’s a clip below. See her live tonight in the next First Person Arts Salon, co-presented with the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. Following a screening of The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt, WHYY’s Elisabeth Perez-Luna will interview Ingrid and moderate a Q&A. She’ll also sign copies of her new memoir, Even Silence Has an End. It’s going to be an exciting evening with a woman known for her tragic past, heroic survival and complicated relationship with Colombia.

Another documentary film in the First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art, Inside Hana’s Suitcase uses both documentary and dramatic techniques to tell the story of Hana Brady and her brother, two children who grew up in WWII Czechoslovakia. The opportunity to tell Hana’s story arises when the Auschwitz Concentration Camp sends a battered suitcase to a group of Japanese school children, known as The Small Wings. Under the guidance of their teacher, Fumiko Ishioka, the children find Hana’s brother and learn about the unimaginable circumstances of growing up during the Holocaust. The film travels through 70 years and 3 continents and magically brings together the lives of a Jewish family and the unlikely group of young storytellers. The film was directed by Larry Weinstein and is based on the internationally acclaimed book Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine. Official Website.

Click here to learn more about Hana and the Brady Family.

Following the film, special guest Fumiko Ishioka, director of the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center, will conduct a Q&A after the film.

The event will take place on Sunday, November 14 at 3:00 PM on the Main Stage of the Painted Bride Art Center and will run for approximately 2 1/2 hours. It is $15 for the general public and $12 for First Person members. Buy your tickets here.

Check out the other documentaries in the First Person Festival, Girls on the Wall and Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields.

“So, what are they making a documentary about you for?”
“Because I’m fascinating. I write wonderful music.”

Strange Powers is a documentary that spans 4 tours, 3 albums, and 10 years. Directed by Kerthy Fix and Gail O’Hara, the film follows the closely guarded world of Stephin Merritt and his band The Magnetic Fields. Along with The Magnetic Fields, Merritt has put out numerous albums including 1999’s 69 Love Songs, an epic three-disc concept album that highlights Merrit’s genuine talent at creating music. (It also includes my personal favorite, “I Need a New Heart,” but that’s besides the point.) The film follows Merritt through his songwriting and recording processes as well as explores his personal relationships with his band mate and manager Claudia Gonson. Strange Powers won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature at Outfest in Los Angeles, CA. Official Website.

Following the screening, Claudia Gonson and filmmaker Kerthy Fix will talk about the impact of The Magnetic Fields.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 13 at 5:30 PM on the Main Stage of the Painted Bride Art Center as part of the First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art. It is $15 for the general public and $12 for First Person members. Buy your tickets here.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the final documentary in the First Person Festival, Inside Hana’s Suitcase. If you missed it yesterday, get to know the Girls on the Wall.
- Laura Reeve

As the 2010 First Person Arts Festival quickly approaches, we are busily preparing some pretty spectacular events featuring music, dance, poetry, theatre, and memoir. And our Festival wouldn’t be complete without some standout documentary films.

Join us for the Philadelphia premiers of three different documentaries. Each film provides insight into the lives of amazing people, each with their own histories, journeys, and stories to tell. This week, we’ll take a brief look at each of the documentaries, starting with the moving and provocative Girls on the Wall.

Girls On the Wall

Directed by Heather Ross, Girls on the Wall takes you into Warrenville, a juvenile detention center for young girls in Illinois. Enter Whitney, Rosa, and Christina. They are just three of the many Warrenville girls who took part in an art project aimed to help them reclaim their lives: writing and performing a musical. As the girls write their stories, they must face their pasts and come to terms with their crimes. The LA Times Blog described Girls on the Wall as a masterpiece. It has won awards at both the Chicago International Film Festival and the Bermuda International Film festival. Official Website. 

Girls on the Wall is the first part of a three-part event looking at the role of the arts in criminal rehabilitation, Prison 101. The event includes the world premier of Prison 101, a monologue-driven theater piece written by the men of Graterford Prison, just 45 minutes outside of Philly. Mural Arts founder Jane Golden will moderate the third and final part of the showcase, a discussion with the directors of Girls on the Wall and Prison 101. 

The event is sponsored by Villanova University and Ursinus College and will take place on Saturday, November 13 at 2:00 PM on the Main Stage of the Painted Bride Art Center. It will run for approximately 2 1/2 hours and is $15 for the general public and $12 for First Person members. Buy your tickets here. 

Tomorrow we’ll get a sneak peak at Strange Powers: Stephin Merrit and The Magnetic Fields.

- Laura Reeve

For those of you not in the know, on Thursday, September 23, we are very excited to be co-hosting a Salon with The Bryn Mawr Film Institute featuring Ingrid Betancourt. Join us as Betancourt retells the remarkable story of her kidnapping in 2002 and the subsequent six and a half years she spent in captivity. 

The event begins with a showing of The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt, the 2003 award-winning documentary directed and produced by Vicotria Bruce and Karin Hayes (official site). The film opens as Betancourt narrates her own life story and continues after she is kidnapped on February 23, 2002. It documents her family and her political party as they fight to both free her and keep her presidential campaign alive. 

The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt has been described as “compelling from the start, for the sheer bravery of Betancourt’s campaigns, the love she has for her family and the tradition of service that runs in her bloodline” (Roger Catlin, Hartford Courant) and as “a documentary which should be seen by any person who values the concepts of liberty and democracy” (Phil Hall, filmthreat.com). The film is also the winner of multiple awards including the DuPont- Columbia University Award for Broadcast Journalism and the Audience Award at the Slamdance Film Festival. 

WHYY Executive Producer of Audio Content Elisabeth Perez-Luna will moderate a discussion with Betancourt following the film. Luna is an award winning journalist and a regular contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She’s the executive producer of WHYY’s A Chef Table, You Bet Your Garden, What Are We Thinking?, This I Believe, Impact of War and others.

Betancourt will also be signing copies of her memoir (to be released Tuesday, September 21, 2010), Even Silence Has an End: My Six Years of Captivity in the Colombian Jungle. In her memoir, Betancourt brings the reader into her six years of captivity, as well as her life after the trauma, and relates her shocking story of courage and resilience.  You can learn more about the book by tuning into the “Diane Rehm Show” (WAMU/NPR) on Wednesday, September 22. Listen here. 

The event begins at 7:30 PM at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA). Tickets are $10 for General Admission and $8 for BMFI and First Person Arts members. Buy your tickets here. 

Join us as Ingrid Betancourt tells her incredible story! We’ll see you there!

- Laura Reeve

We had a two-way tie between Amanda Feifer and Chris Oberlin at the end of last night’s Slam (the theme: It’s in the Mail). While Amanda walked away the overall winner after a lightening round tie breaker challenge, Chris charmed the audience with his tale of adolescent revenge, taking home Audience Favorite.

And a special congrats to Amanda and all of the other students from Katonya Mosley’s Tell It! storytelling class. They took the stage last night and showed off their newly acquired storytelling skills. Ms. Mosley must be so proud!

Watch Amanda’s tale of postal seduction.

Enjoy Chris’ mail-inspired vendetta.

I interviewed Samara Freemark, a producer at Radio Diaries- a Manhattan-based organization filming some of the stories behind the displays of the First Person Museum. Their mission is to seek out subjects who might not otherwise have an opportunity to share themselves on such a large scale. Samara sees their work as a chance to “tell [stories] in an artful and engaging way so that they can resonate with the millions of people who listen to public radio. We help people share their own stories – and their lives – in their own words.” It’s much like the mission of First Person Arts, empowering the lives of regular folks, or as Samara put it: “To make the ordinary extraordinary.”

Radio Diaries started out with a low-tech, one-on-one approach- they gave tape recorders to ordinary people, and collected 30-40 hours of tape from each subject. In the beginning, Samara says, “[we] collaborate[d] with each diarist to edit the material into radio documentaries for NPR’s All Things Considered.” However, Radio Diaries has since branched out to include historical documentaries.

Samara says the group is headed toward combining the two main types of radio work with the goal of “tell[ing] historical stories from an intensely personal perspective. That’s our focus for the future.” This is clearly a perfect match for the First Person’s ‘museum of the people’ in which local historians and artists pair up with the display donors to tell the historical significance along with the personal to craft an interwoven tale behind each object.

I asked Samara about the people she interviews, and if she’s noticed any demographic patterns about who comes to it more or less naturally. Her answer, after balking to make any gross generalizations, was:

“I will say, though, that teenagers often seem to be particularly good, since they’re less conscious than adults about what they ’should’ sound like on tape, and are more artless. I mean that as a serious compliment! As for who finds it the most difficult… to avoid giving offense, I’m going to blatantly dodge that question! I will say that the best interviewees are the ones who speak simply and honestly – the ones who speak as if they’re in a conversation, not as if they are presenting a paper at an academic conference or something.”

Like most documentarians, Radio Dairies is committed to helping develop new social consciousness, even social change when possible, which explains why Samara mentioned wanting to interview people living in war zones and under repressive governments as possible projects for the future. Samara also talked about how very personal, individual documentaries have touched on political issues. After all, what part of society is not in some way influenced by the political realm? As Samara put it, dusting off that handy Second Wave Feminist line- “The personal is political!”

We later discussed the overlap between her work helping people tell their stories for radio and the First Person Museum. One topic was the way people tell their stories. I was curious about what factors influence the manner or degree people communicate and how this might relate to the objects people chose to submit to the museum. Samara brought up an interesting point about privacy and a subject’s comfort level with their audience. She said, “Everyone has a different idea of what is appropriate to share in front of an audience of strangers, of how much of their personal lives they’re willing to disclose to an audience. So I think you’ll see that emerge in what objects people chose to submit.” This will definitely be something to keep in mind when viewing the exhibits this fall. In what ways has the donor allowed us into their lives? In what ways are we still held back or our vision of the whole obscured?”

In our conversation Samara and I mused on the philosophical side of the audio-visual spectrum. I asked her about our culture’s relationship with radio as a medium of communication and where it fits into our supersaturated visual lives. Now that I am used to my glorious car-free lifestyle in Center City, I rarely listen to the radio. Samara suggested that I, and others like me, may be missing out! In fact, she said that because radio is a “more limited [medium] it can make people stop and really concentrate on what they’re hearing in a way that they don’t when they’re distracted by other senses being stimulated. People approach information in totally different ways depending on what the medium is.” When I think about the hours I’ve spent with the TV talking to itself while I Gchat on my laptop, making dinner, and texting to multiple people at once- wait what was I saying?

Samara and I both agree that museums are beginning to embrace the power of audio, but it is particularly exciting to see what will come from the First Person Museum’s show with the elevated role that audio will play- enhancing the displays and their messages.

I asked Samara if she could submit an object to the museum what would it be and why. She came up with an old road atlas that she has kept around for unknown reasons. She figures it represents her freedom, “or something like that.”

Personally, I would submit my stuffed deer whom I named Filene after Bambi’s girlfriend from the Disney classic of the same name. I think it would speak to the broader influence Disney had on America’s collective unconscious during childhood- particularly the influence of the absent (or murdered) mother-figures… or maybe not.

Finally, I asked Samara for a preview of the objects she and the folks at Radio Diaries are documenting for the First Person Museum. I wanted to know in particular what appealed to her about these objects and why they make good subjects for radio. Here is her response:

“There’s a wedding ring from a woman whose story I loved because this wedding ring was actually a remnant left over from a bad marriage, and I loved that she hung on to it. There’s a pair of men’s boxer shots from a woman – they belonged to her son, and she ended up with them when he was sent to jail. She used to put them on and walk around her house. I loved that image. There’s a baby outfit from a girl who’s gay but who got pregnant as a teenager – I loved that juxtaposition. And a Mexican shawl that’s the last thing a woman was given by her mother, who was dying at the time. What I liked about that story was that her mother had worn that shawl around to prim faculty parties in the 1950s – a little act of rebellion.”

These great objects, and the stories behind them will be available at grand opening of the First Person Museum on November 5th at the Painted Bride Art Center.

- Morgan Berman