2008 Courses Starting in September!

Suitcase Puppet Workshop

First Person Voice Writing Class

Celebration of Life- A Video Tribute Class

Suitcase Puppet Workshop

If you have some time, an imagination, and an empty suitcase… sign up for Beth Nixon’s, puppeteer extraordinaire, Suitcase Puppet Theater workshop coming this fall!

Suitcases contain vast possibilities for metaphor and imagination, not to mention making snazzy self-contained theater spaces. Whether unpacking personal history, sharing tales of adventure, homecoming or escape, or illustrating what we carry- this old school theatrical device is rife with story-telling potential.

In this workshop, you’ll learn everything you need to put on a show-stopping performance in your suitcase-turned-puppet stage! You might even get the chance to present your work at the First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art on Nov. 13th.

Sound fun? Classes are Thursdays 7 - 9pm at the Painted Bride Arts Center this fall, Sept. 11th - Nov. 20th. The cost is $360, and sign up here ASAP, since there are only 12 spots available!

Before you start the workshop, take a few minutes to watch Beth Nixon’s video about the work she does and see her “teach people how to make real what they imagine.”

The First Person Voice Writing Class

The subject of memoir is not experience but the revelation of consciousness:

In the middle of my life, I found myself in a dark wood, for the straight way was lost.
Dante

First Person Arts is offering an excellent new writing class this fall on memoir-writing! The class will involve reading various memoirists and essayists, in-class writing exercises, and participant workshops on a personal essay or chapter from a memoir. The class will tackle the questions of how consciousness is constructed and the role of memory, as well as the legitimacy of self-life-writing: what are the fundamental tenets of constructing an authentic self on the page? How can we be authorized to tell the truth?

The class will be held on Mondays, 6 - 9 PM, from Sept. 8th through Nov. 10th at the Painted Bride Arts Center. The cost is $350. Sign up here to grab your spot and find your voice in this class before spaces run out!

Instructor: August Tarrier

August Tarrier is a writer, editor and publisher. She is the Editor in Chief of New City Press and Professional Writer in Residence at the University of Baltimore. She has recently completed a short story collection and a memoir.

Celebration of Life- A Video Tribute Class

We are surrounded by unique people that care for us, inspire us, and even perplex us.
Think about the people in your life…
First Person Arts is giving you the chance to celebrate someone special or important to you by creating a video tribute in our new class “Celebration of Life” this fall!

The class, focusing on creativity and content, will give you a chance to explore your senses, feelings, memories, fantasies and other perceptions about this person when making your video tribute. You will also participate in creating a sculpture tribute from found objects that will create instant curiosity. The final gala will conclude with a sculpture welcome area and a video screening. This is a chance to meet others, learn about others and to break out of the documentary rut.

The class will be held on Wednesdays, 6 -9 PM, from Sept. 10th through Nov. 19th at the Painted Bride Arts Center. The cost is $350. Participants should have access to and understanding of video and editing equipment. Sign up and fulfill your artistic potential this fall!

Leading the course will be Leslie Birch and Richard Gretzinger of Human+Nature.
Human +Nature is a production company geared to the non-profit, arts and education communities. Leslie has spent many years as a producer for public television and she has an interest in technology art and virtual worlds. Richard is a Director of Photography with many film and commercial credits. His downtime is spent experimenting with photography.