First Person Arts

Real Life and Live Arts

kkacala — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:53:31 +0000

In case you’re just getting back from a three-month stint in Siberia or are just generally unaware of the Philly arts scene (though how could that be the case, if you’re a fan of First Person?!), then let me tell you about this little thing called the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. It’s just your run-of-the-mill two-week long extravaganza of theater, music, dance and just about every combination of multi-media, interdisciplinary collaboration you can think of that features some of the best performers from Philly and around the world. Yeah, it’s very ho hum.
And this year features some very first person-y projects. Here are our picks for pieces featuring documentary and memoir. But I want to hear what YOU’RE going to see, memoir, documentary, real life, fake life, whatever. Tell me in the comments.
Cankerblossom- Ok, it’s totally not memoir but it does feature former First Person Arts Artist-in-Residence Beth Nixon, so we can’t wait. (Beth is awesome! And she rocks cardboard like nobody’s business.)
Cedric Andrieux- Biography by way of dance. Plus, he’s one beautiful man. (See photo above) Even better, mention First Person and get 20% off your tickets.*
Journey to the West- Avant-garde first person storytelling based on the experiences of Chinese opera artists in the West.
Let’s Face It! Self Portraits and Life Stories- Helmed by FPA’s own Linda Dubin Garfield, this free event lets you tell your story via self-portraiture. Don’t just take my word for it… it was just pulled out as a City Paper fest pick.
No One Else Could Love You More- This documentary film provides a behind-the-scenes look at Philly’s own Headlong Dance Company and the making of their piece more.
Polaroid Stories- Based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the UArts Theater Department show centers around a story slam like you’ve never seen before.
What are you going to see? Tell me in the comments!
*Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid on student or 25 and under tickets.
Photo by Jaime Roque de la Cruz

9th Annual First Person Festival

kkacala — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:54:05 +0000

Real life comes in all shapes and sizes at the 2010 First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art.

You’ll find Sonia Sanchez, a CNN star, a man in a van, the Wienermobile, Mormon amore, a museum of the people, and the best storyteller in Philly. Debate red state versus blue. Dine on cocktails and kugel. Watch indie pop drama and prison musicals. But whatever you get at the First Person Festival, you’ll know it’s the real thing. No imitations.

First Taste Dinner with Soledad O’Brien
BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez: A Tribute in Words, Music and Dance
Life’s a Stage: Live Performances
Life Off the Page: Author Readings and Presentations
Reel Life: Documentary Films
Say It, Act It, Write It: Workshops
The First Person Museum
CALENDAR LISTING OF ALL EVENTS

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez

dgasiewski — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:48:48 +0000

Sunday, November 14
6-8:30pm
Main Stage
$35 per person ($28 for First Person members)
Hosted by author Lorene Cary, founder, Art Sanctuary.

RSVP by Friday, November 1st.
Advance reservations required.

Buy tickets here!

The First Person Festival closes with a star-studded tribute to award-winning poet and activist Sonia Sanchez. Celebrate Sonia with Danny Glover, Talib Kweli, Ruby Dee, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Evan Solot and Monette Sudler, and other leading artists who will illustrate the breadth of Sonia’s influence. Using poetry, prose and music, they will honor one of the most significant artists of our time.

The tribute will be filmed live for inclusion in BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez, a feature-length documentary being produced by award-winning filmmakers Janet Goldwater, Barbara Attie, and Sabrina Smith Gordon.

In partnership with Art Sanctuary.

If you like this event, check out shiFt/transFer or The Real Americans.
BACK TO FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE.

First Taste Dinner with Soledad O’Brien

dgasiewski — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:45:17 +0000

Monday, November 8
7-9pm
Le Meridien (1421 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA)
$135 per person ($110 for First Person Members)

First Taste VIP Reception Package
6:00PM – 7:00PM pre-dinner reception
$250 per person – limited to 50 tickets
VIP Package includes private reception with Soledad O’Brien, First Taste Dinner (with preferred seating) and one signed copy of The Next Big Story.

RSVP by Monday, November 1st.
Advance reservations required.

Buy tickets here!

Savor the start of the First Person Festival with guest of honor, CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, over a meal of Latino specialties prepared by Douglas Rodriguez, executive chef of Philadelphia’s Alma de Cuba.

O’Brien’s new memoir, The Next Big Story, sets the stage for an intimate look at her experiences covering some of the most important events in recent history, including Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, and our 2008 presidential election.

Chef Rodriguez will create an exclusive menu for Ms. O’Brien and our First Taste guests. This special event will also include a silent auction of unique and exciting prizes from local businesses and supporters in the Philadelphia region.

Be our exclusive guest and further your support by purchasing our First Taste VIP Reception Package. In addition to preferred seating at the First Taste dinner, you will join our guest of honor during a private cocktail reception and receive a signed copy of her new memoir, The Next Big Story.

Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning anchor and special correspondent for CNN/U.S. Since joining the network in 2003, O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and has produced record-breaking documentaries on the most important stories facing the world today. She also covers political news as part of CNN’s “Best Political Team on Television.” O’Brien’s most recent documentaries include Rescued, a look at Haiti’s remarkable children before, during and after the devastating earthquake, and Gary and Tony Have a Baby, the story of two gay men and their struggle to have a baby that has a biological and legal connection to both of them. In 2009, Soledad reported for Latino in America, a wide-ranging look at Latinos living in this country; how they’re reshaping America and how America is reshaping them.

Chef Douglas Rodriguez, globally-acclaimed Godfather of Nuevo Latino Cuisine, has been taking the nation by storm, opening award-winning restaurants across the United States. His culinary creativity has changed the image of Latino food in America. He received the prestigious 1996 James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef of the Year Award.

Sponsored by Janney Montgomery Scott.

All proceeds benefit First Person Arts programming and services. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, contact Tiffany Tavarez at 267.402.2019 or ttavarez@firstpersonarts.org.

If you like this event, check out BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez, The Real Americans or Patchwork Nation.
BACK TO FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE.

StoryCircles On The Move

MShipman — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:47:19 +0000

The first round of this summer’s First Person Museum StoryCircles is well underway. Over the last two weeks, we have made some fantastic visits to our community partners, and started doing one of the most rewarding things we can do: listen.

So far, the stories that have been shared by participants have been electrifying. Each account comes from a different place in the city: Norris Square, Germantown Avenue and Hunting Park. Each storyteller comes from a different generation; from proud grandmothers to our youngest participant so far- just eight years old!

Members at Village Of The Arts & Humanities swap stories.

But in all, each story has so greatly reminded us of our many connections to one another on our day to day adventures in Philadelphia.

The objects that have been shared have emphasized the importance of noticing what the small things in life mean to us when we take a bigger look.

Serena holds a photo of a participant's 40 year-old portrait.

Hopefully, The First Person Museum will display these community stories as small but intricate pieces of the huge and dynamic story of what makes Philadelphia so vibrant.

Over the next few weeks, I will be visiting upcoming StoryCircles to bring photos and video from our visits. As a storyteller behind the lens, I invite you to come on the journey of these community visits with me and not just explore the art of storytelling, but the art of community building.

Artifacts at the Village For Arts & Humanities

Village Artist and StoryCircle member Jon Kaufman.

Art found in Norris Square Project's learning center.

Our next Story Circle is TONIGHT, hosted by First Person Arts.

Upcoming StoryCircles

• Thursday, August 5 hosted by the Coffee Cup
• Thursday, August 5 hosted by the Philadelphia Young Playwrights
• Wednesday, August 11 hosted by the Art Sanctuary

All events are FREE.

Bring yourselves and your story!
- Maya Shipman, Museum Marketing Intern

StorySlam Theme Contest!

kkacala — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:58:52 +0000

Like StorySlams? Think the themes could be even better? Wanna win free tickets? Check out our StorySlam theme contest, running till August 27.

UPDATED 8/27: This contest is now closed. Stay tuned for a fall announcement of our next season of StorySlam themes!

Lise’s Stuff

kkacala — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:34 +0000

During our First Person Museum Planning Meeting in May, participants -including Lise Funderberg, author and FPA writing workshop leader- went around the room and shared stories about objects that have resonated with them. Samara Freemark from Radio Diaries shared the story of a well-worn atlas, Iris from Norris Square opened up about the handmade straw dolls she grew up with in Puerto Rico.

In the above video, Lise shares her ‘trash-picking find’ of a woman’s discarded sewing materials- and how her discovery of their shared hobby connected them, despite their many differences. She talks about how the objects in our lives connect us beyond the physical level- representing shared experiences that can transcend often daunting barriers. The lesson she takes away from this woman’s treasure, and one that we hope to expand upon in the First Person Museum, is learning how to appreciate each other. What might at first be considered life’s ‘mundane debris’ can also contain the transformative potential to unify and bond us to one another.

What objects have spoken to you? Tell us about them at next Wednesday’s First Person Museum StoryCircle. Get more details and RSVP here.
-Morgan Berman

“Maybe his puffy jacket was filled with salt water taffy.”

kkacala — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:26:31 +0000

Andrew Thompson may have lost his keys (and some dignity) when he was robbed on March 9th, but at least he didn’t lose that Red Bull. And thanks to his mugger, henceforth known as “Bartholomew,” Andrew also won both Overall Winner and Audience Favorite at Tuesday’s StorySlam at L’Etage.

See Andrew compete in our Fall Grand Slam on November 10th.

First Person Museum StoryCircles

kkacala — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:14:38 +0000

The First Person Museum is built upon the premise that everyone has a story to share and the objects we care about can become gateways for sharing some of our stories. In order to reach as wide of a group of storytellers as possible, First Person Arts has partnered with some amazing community organizations for StoryCircles. These are basically show and tells, where you can bring the stories and objects (if you still have them or they are easily transportable) that matter to you and share that story. Each one is facilitated by Dianna Marder of the Philadelphia Inquirer and either Katonya Mosley or Angel Hogan. Art Sanctuary and The Best Day of My Life (So Far) have already hosted StoryCircles but we have a bunch more coming up:

Saturday, July 24 hosted by the Norris Square Neighborhood Project
Tuesday, July 27 hosted by the Village of Arts and Humanities
Saturday, July 31 hosted by Ayuda Community Center
Wednesday, August 4 hosted by First Person Arts RSVP here.
Thrusday, August 5 hosted by the Coffee Cup
Wednesday, August 11 hosted by the Art Sanctuary
And there will be one more, date TBD, hosted by Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
All events are FREE.

If you’re interested in getting involved in any of these StoryCircles, write me with your questions or RSVP to the StoryCircle on August 4th.

Have You Met Saturday’s Storytellers Yet?

kkacala — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:19:48 +0000

They are an eclectic bunch this group… lawyers, actors, bloggers. They come from as far away as South Africa and as close as Delco. And they are bringing their best storytelling to Saturday’s Summer Grand Slam. Will you be there to cheer them on?

Wayne Brinkley
Naomi Brownstein
Natala Covert
Ben Drinen
Brenda G
Tremaine Johnson
Alex Kacala
Michael McCarry
Olga Schmutz
R. Eric Thomas
Leah Walton