First Person Arts

The trailer for Hooked: Philly’s Urban Anglers

We’re really excited to announce our partnership with the Linda Creed Foundation to bring the documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer to the First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art!  The Festival runs from November 11th through the 16th at the Painted Bride Art Center in Old City.

Crazy, Sexy Cancer

Location: Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St.
Date: Saturday November 14th
Time: 11:30-2:30pm
Cost: $35 (Buy tickets now!)

20% of all event proceeds benefit the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation

“Cancer has been my guru,” says Kris Carr, who set out to document her struggle to heal from what seemed to be an incurable form of the disease. With an entertaining blend of humor and emotion, the film accompanies her through her encounters with both the medical establishment and an astonishing variety of holistic healers. Finally, Carr’s illness goes into remission, and she discovers the irony that, rather than challenging her will to live, cancer has furnished her with a life-affirming wisdom. A discussion by experts in various aspects of holistic treatment will follow.

Before the screening, enjoy a lunch prepared by natural food chef Christina Pirello, whose journey to health followed a similar trajectory. She will share her own story and sign copies of her new cookbook This Crazy Vegan Life: A Prescription for an Endangered Species.

Christina Pirello is the Emmy Award-winning host of Christina Cooks, now in its 9th season. She also publishes Christina Cooks, a bi-monthly magazine.

In partnership with the Linda Creed Foundation.

Food generously donated by Essene Market & Café.

Okay, here you go.  Worst Ever StorySlam Podcast.  Let us know how it works!

Who among us hasn’t dreamed of being the target of a Craigslist Missed Connection?  Well, here’s one from our very own StorySlam this week:

Bringing people together to share their stories, that’s what we’re all about at First Person Arts.  Perhaps we could devote an entire StorySlam in 2009 to “Missed Connections.”  Let’s hope, of course, that this isn’t fodder for a future “Worst Ever” story…We want a follow-up!

Last night’s slam saw some of the stiffest competition we’ve ever had at one of the monthly StorySlams, with tellers pulling out all the stops with their best Worst Ever stories!  Uwishunu should have the blogger’s report from last night up sometime this morning and the videos should be up in the next couple of days.  We recorded some audio last night, and we’ll see if we can’t whip together some kind of a podcast, so watch this space.  In the meantime, here are the collected, if disjointed (and loosely reverse order)  livetweets from last night.  As you can see, I only broke my promise of 12 tweets by 8:

Next StorySlam is TONIGHT!!!

Time: Doors at 7:30 and the Slam begins at 8:30. Get there early if you want a seat!
Location: L’etage Cabaret (above Beau Monde) at 6th and Bainbridge
Theme: Worst Ever
Host: Beth Nixon
Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

Check out this unique take on the classic love (or lack thereof) story from last month’s slam on “Getting Caught”:

Steve really touches upon our shared experiences as he recounts this story with two things that should never really mix– college, and parents. Then again, maybe this story can be the exception.

Next StorySlam:
Tuesday August 26th (TOMORROW!)
Time: Doors at 7:30 and the Slam begins at 8:30. Get there early if you want a seat!
Location: L’Etage Cabaret (above Beau Monde) at 6th and Bainbridge
Theme: Worst Ever
Host: Beth Nixon
Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

What do two college girls, Paris, Louis Vuitton, and an Asian couple all have in common?… Getting caught!

Next StorySlam:
Tuesday August 26th
Time: Doors at 7:30 and the Slam begins at 8:30. Get there early if you want a seat!
Theme: Worst Ever
Host: Beth Nixon
Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

Remember that guy in high school? You know, that guy… the one that sat in the back of class… come on, you don’t know who I’m talking about? Maybe Dan can refresh your memory in his fictional, non-fiction tale from the “Caught” story slam!

Next StorySlam:
Tuesday August 26th
Time: Doors at 7:30 and the Slam begins at 8:30. Get there early if you want a seat!
Theme: Worst Ever
Host: Beth Nixon
Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

Here’s the trailer for a short documentary about urban fishing in Philadelphia that will screen for the first time at the First Person Salon at the Gershman Y on September 10th:

In addition, this final Salon before the 2008 Festival will feature poetry from Robert Wright, autobiographical comedy from Steve Gerben and Pat Barker, and a short memoir reading and documentary film from Angel Hogan about her life as an adoptee.

First Person Salon at the Gershman Y

401 S. Broad St (Broad and Pine)

September 10th, 7-9pm

Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

Beer available by donation from our friends at Flying Dog!