First Person Arts

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to share their “SECRETS” at the May 27th StorySlam!  Check out the liveblog at Uwishunu and keep checking back for videos of the stories.  Congratulations to Katonya for advancing to the GrandSlam at the First Person Festival, November 12-16th!  (See video of her winning story here!)

Or next event is a Salon at the Gershman Y on June 11th (7-9pm).  It will include three fascinating local artists:

• Ron Kanter’s documentary New Cops excerpted with a discussion with the filmmaker and some of the film’s stars
• Lorene Cary, founder of Art Sanctuary, reading from recent memoir writing
• Donald Gensler—a Mural Artist—presenting his new mural at Broad and Race about Philadelphians living with disability.  He will discuss the process of producing it.

Tuesday the 27th is StorySlam! The theme will be “SECRETS,” and you have a nice long weekend to think it over…

DigPhilly will be there filming, so your story could be on TEEVEE! And our friends at Uwishunu will be liveblogging and YouTube-ing it as usual. Admission is $5-$10 (sliding scale)

This year’s winners so far–linked to videos of their stories:

January (Good Intentions) Kendra Gaeta

February (Brotherly Love/Sisterly Affection) Ingrid Wiese

March (The Road Not Taken) Sandy Beeches

April (The Awkward Pause) Kevin Lee

May (Secrets) Could YOU have what it takes?

Remember:

Where: L’Etage at 6th and Bainbridge above Beau Monde (Enter from Bainbridge)
When: Tuesday, May 27th. Doors at 7:30 slam begins at 8:30
What: It’s a storytelling competition–sign up to tell your best 5 minute true story on the theme “Secrets.” If you’re chosen, and your story is rated highest by our panel of volunteer judges, you’re the winner and you’ll join us in November for the GRAND SLAM!

We told you about this Six-Word Memoir Contest a few weeks back.

Our friends over at SmithMag (and our mutual friends over at PhillyMag) picked the top three last week and revealed them at their reading on the 16th. Here are the winners of the “It all happened here in Philadelphia” six-word memoir contest:

Mom put Tastykakes in my lunchbag
.- Al Cummings, San Francisco

Because the fat elf deserved it.
— Tim Piroli, Philadelphia

(Ed. Note: In the off chance this one makes no sense to you: story here.)

I can’t leave for some reason.
— Dan McQuade, Philadelphia

(Yup, it’s THAT Dan McQuade…and it should be noted that this six word memoir is twice as long as the memoir he’s told for years: “Philadelphia will do”)

Martha Kemper, who performed a section of her solo piece Me, Miss Krause, and Joan at the May 14th Salon, talks about her experience:

The graphics on the firstperson arts brochure and website have delighted me since the first time I saw them–the swatches of colors and and the cartoon bubbles. I’ve always thought, “This looks so inviting.” Being at the Salon was like the firstperson graphic: delightful. It was a pastiche of different pieces that worked together. I watched Chris Paquette’s photo journal and began to really feel the depth of what Chris had found in those roadside memorials; I had to step back from that experience in order to step into the life experiences I inhabit in my autobiographical play. I had edited the first segment of the piece so I had about fifteen minutes of material to perform. It was a fun challenge to switch gears from Chris’s photos, and bring the audience into a different time, place and mood. I heard laughter where I hoped to and felt, yes, they’re with me. I loved the question and answer session–getting to go into a little background about the work, hearing people’s interest and curiosity. It was a special audience–so many among them were artists themselves–that made it especially rich. My performance was followed by Matt Davis and his–what– eight? nine? piece band Aerial Photograph, playing original pieces inspired by conversations around Philly. That was so evocative of Philadelphia. And then, Tamesha Hawkins (and friends) with spoken word artistry, poetry that was brave, powerful and compelling. The patchwork on the website really does evoke the flavor of diverse pieces and forms that came together on the little proscenium stage at the Gershman Y. I’m so glad I was part of it.

Martha Kemper, performer at the May 14 Salon

Here’s the introductory clip from her performance at the Salon:

You can see the piece in full at the Fringe Festival in September:

Me, Miss Krause, and Joan
– written and performed by Martha Kemper

Deep personal experience is fertile ground for acting. In this piece Martha reveals what goes on in an actor’s homework, in search of answers to the question, “How would I play Joan of Arc?”

The piece weaves history, autobiography and lore structured around pivotal moments when Martha was in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania learning acting from a brilliant teacher, Alvina Krause. In the story there is the brilliance of Krause and theatre, but there is darkness, too., in the re-living of a rape that takes place on Bloomsburg backstreets, spliced into the trial of Joan of Arc. Through humor and drama, the interwoven experiences depict a powerful personal journey, and suggest a theme: there are things so eternal that no violence can kill, things so real they can never die.

Performances at the Fringe Festival in September will be at the Adrienne Theatre’s Second Stage.
Sunday, September 7 at 4:00 p.m. followed by a talkback.
September 11, 12, 13 at 7:00 p.m.

If you would like any further information about dates, times, cost, etc. please email either Martha (mlk11@psu.edu) or Diane Zieg ( dfz4444@hotmail.com ).

Chris Paquette, who presented at the May 14th Salon at the Gershman Y writes:

After 30 years of amateur photography, I had never presented my work in
front of a live audience. In March, I purchased a ticket to the Lost
Diane Arbus event sponsored by First Person Arts. While on FPA’s
website, I noticed the call for submissions for their Salons, a monthly
memoir and documentary art presentation held at the Gershman Y. I
decided to give it a shot and submitted my proposal to present my series
of Roadside Memorial photography

To my surprise (and terror) I got a call from Dan Gasiewski, asking if I
wanted to present my work at the May Salon. Of course I said yes, and
began getting ready, all the while feeling a low level panic and dread
setting in for several weeks leading up to the night of my salon.

I can honestly say that from the moment I entered the Gershman Y on the
night of May 14th , I felt an immediate sense of calm and ease.
Everyone there was warm and friendly. Andrew Schwalm has a relaxed laid
back personality that must be contagious because it spread right through
the room. Nick Gilewicz helped me load my IBM based images onto his Mac,
which turned out to be a very tough task that went right down to curtain
time. As soon as I started my presentation the audience was fully
engaged and attentive, and remained so throughout the night for all of
the artists.

Speaking of artists, all of the other presenters that night were
wonderful. A joy to be with and get to know, and they all gave very
powerful performances. I am now looking forward to following the
artistic paths of each of them.

First Person Arts Salons…. Highly recommended to both artists and art
lovers!

Thanks Chris! You can see Paquette’s work at his blog: chpaquettephotos.blogspot.com

Bookmark it now and check back often!

You can find out more about the Salons and how to apply at salons.firstpersonarts.org

The next salon is June 11th from 7-9 pm. Keep your eyes peeled for details!

Next StorySlam is May 27th at L’Etage (6th and Bainbridge). Doors at 7:30 and the slam starts at 8:30. The theme is “Secrets,” so bring your best true story and prepare to slam. Katonya will be back and gunning for you.

Mark your calendar now so you don’t miss the sensational StorySlam with the theme “Secrets” at L’Etage: Tuesday May 27th. Doors open at 7:30 and the slam starts at 8:30. Get there early if you want a seat! And check out this hilarious story from April’s “The Awkward Pause.”

Here’s what we’ve got in store:

• Photographer Christopher Paquette
• Poet Tamesha Hawkins
• Performer Martha Kemper
• Musician Matt Davis and his band Aerial Photograph

$5 minimum admission, and all ages are welcome!

Don’t know how to get there or what to wear? This video is for you:

Philadelphia Magazine has published the finalists for Smith Magazine’s Philadelphia Six-Word Memoir contest. My favorite is “Tossed ring in Art Museum fountain.”

Lot of fountains around the Art Museum, but my guess is this one:

Philly fountain
Originally uploaded by hbomb1947

If you’re not busy Friday night:

On May 16, Rachel and I will be reading at the Barnes & Noble in Rittenhouse Square at 7:30pm. Then on Sunday, May 18, we’ll be in good company at the Free Library Philly Book Festival, where Team SMITH can be found at the Poetry Pavilion at 12pm, telling stories and leading a six-word slam.

Christopher H. Paquette is a kitchen & bath designer and builder who lives in Abington, Pa. He has been an amateur photographer for over 30 years, working in digital format as well as a variety of vintage analog and Polaroid cameras. His favorite camera is a 1965 Polaroid Automatic 100. Lately, Chris has been working on a series about roadside memorials, which he will present at the First Person Salon at the Gershman Y on May 14. Check out more of Chris’s photography at his blog, C.H. Paquette Photography, and JPG Magazine’s website.

Mark your calendars for the May 14th Salon at the Gershman Y (7-9pm)

Featuring:

• Photographer Christopher Paquette
• Poet Tamesha Hawkins
• Performer Martha Kemper
• Musician Matt Davis and his band Aerial Photograph

Please join us at the Gershman Y–401 S. Broad St. from 7-9pm.
$5 minimum admission!