Friday, December 18, 2009
January Blend
http://bluebananascafe.com/
Dan “the man” Schall: Born and raised in Philly, Dan recently earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Creative Writing from Arcadia University, and is currently attending the graduate program and teaching English composition there. He also publishes a quarterly chapbook, The Fridge Door, which showcases and celebrates the varied emotions and influences of writing across many curricula. His poetry is best described as "the real, the observed and imagined, fraught with as much disappointment and hope as is reflected in our human condition."
Ryan Eckes was born in Northeast Philadelphia and now he writes poems and teaches writing at Temple University and Community College of Philadelphia. You can find some of his writing on his blog, Old News (ryaneckes.blogspot.com) and in his chapbook when i come here (Plan B Press, 2007).
Jonathon Todd is a poet/musician from Blakeslee Pennsylvania, currently living in Northeast Philadelphia. Jonathon blends his love of language and imagery with a love for jazz, blues, and folk music. Jonathon is also working on a poem/short story collection. He is currently performing in various places in Philadelphia/Northeast Pennsylvania.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Listen to Blend
You can listen to these, as well as our open-mic friends with old and new faces, by utilizing the embedded tool below, or clicking this link.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
December Blend
Blend
Poetry and Music at the Blue Banana
Featuring:
Sueyeun Juliette Lee (poet)
Jesse Schurr (singer songwriter)
Stephanie Durann Seymour (verbal alchemist)
Includes an open mic.
Cost: $5
Where: 223 South Street, Philadelphia
When: 7:15pm to 9:30pm.
Sueyeun Juliette Lee currently lives in Philadelphia where she edits Corollary Press, a small chapbook series dedicated to new work by writers of color. Her books include: Perfect Villagers (Octopus Books) and Mental Commitment Robots (Portable Press at Yo Yo Labs), ,She also has a new book titled Underground National forthcoming from Factory School in 2010.
Jesse Schurr is the lead singer of the Jesse Schurr Band. She has performed with her band at the TLA, Grapestreet Pub, World Cafe and The North Star Bar. Her style is sensual storytelling with a magical sense of musicianship.
Stephanie Durann is a writer from Philadelphia, PA who has performed under various reading series, festivals and cabarets in the city including Poets and Prophets, LadyFest Philly, Univers-all Voices, Black Women’s Arts Festival, Off Season! at the Sedgwick Theater, Eternal Now, and Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series. She won Honorable Mention for her poetry in Byline Magazine in 2001 and was one of four winners of the Power99fm/Def Poetry Jam Contest in 2002. Her work was also featured in several publication including Hinge Online and The Worcester Review. She was also a participant in the National Book Foundation Summer Writing Camp in 2004. She was also and intern for the Philadelphia City Paper in the mid-90’s and a freelance writer for the University City Review and PAWPrint (Philadelphia Area Writers) Magazine, and hopes to restart her freelancing career. She produced her first chapbook, The Rites of Individual Passage in 2003 and is currently working on her second book.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Upcoming Symposium
Join some of the amazing individuals who run some of the hottest poetic and mixed performance venues in Philadelphia as they tell us how it works, why they do it, what's their vision and how you can do it too.....
On this Symposium there will be Crucial (Panoramic Poetry), Autumn Konopka (Mad Poets), St. Skribbly LaCroix (The Last Word), Natalie Felix (CCE), and Ryan Eckes (Chapter and Verse) This event will be moderated by Courtney Bambrick.
The event costs $3. Proceeds to benefit Kids of Kadiogne.
When: Sunday, December 13, 2009 (2-4:30pm)
Where: 4226 Spruce Street, Philadelphia
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Chapter and Verse
We encourage you to listen to the reading if you didn't get the chance.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Second PAPP Symposium is Available for Stream and Download
Unlock your listening ears and get ready to ruffle some feathers. The second PAPP symposium is available to download in MP3 form, or merely stream for our world wide wave web, just below!
Alternatively, go here to the directory website to download the tracks in a different way.
Special thanks to Debrah Morkun, Ms. Wise, Ashraf Osman, Frank Sherlock, and Frank Walsh for making the panel discussions lively and contemplative. And thanks to the audience for keeping attention and providing the guests with impenetrable insight and imperial inquiry.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Download the Recording of November's Blend
Download
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
2nd Symposium Details
Identity, Community, Race, Ethnicity, Sex, Sexuality and Philly Poetry
Moderated by Debrah Morkun:
with Alyesha Wise/Aka Ms. Wise, Frank Walsh, Ashraf Osman, Frank Sherlock and perhaps another special guest
Where: University City Arts League
When: Sunday, November 8, 2009 (2:00pm - 4:30pm)
Cost: $3.00
Some proceeds to benefit Rubye's Kids
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Listen to the PAPP Symposium
http://www.box.net/shared/d77b4n66cu
Please share this link with as many people as you. It's important not only to PAPP but to the poetry circles of the Greater Philadelphia Area. Let us know if you have any questions or comments.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
PAPP's Symposium Series: What is Philadelphia Poetry?
What is Philadelphia Poetry? Who is Philadelphia Poetry? Where is Philadelphia Poetry? Why is Philadelphia Poetry? Join us as we consult some of the most moving and shaking poets in the Philadelphia area today as they discuss these and more questions over the next several months as part of PAPP's Symposium Series.
Our first panel of poets will address the question: What is a Philadelphia Poetics? This event will be moderated by Adam Meora. Panelists will include:
- Debrah Morkun, founding member of the New Philadelphia Poets
- CAConrad, author of Advanced Elvis Course and The Book of Frank
- Tamara Oakman, director of the Light of Unity reading series and the Business of Words workshops
- Sherod Smallman, host and organizer of Fuze at Infusion Cafe in Germantown
- and Michelle Myers of Yellow Rage
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: University City Arts League (4226 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Cost: $3.00
Facebook Link
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Some News
Blend this week was a great success! Thank you everyone for coming out, supporting, eating, and performing, including our features, poets Aaren Perry and Sarah Heady, and musician Lilla Kultsar. And it was good to see the open mic remaining strong, thanks to Vernon Jordan, D. H. Kerby, Dave Worrell, Brian Sammond, Amber Penniston, Mike Mannel, and Jeff Brennan. We hope to see everyone on the first Thursday of each month.
Secondly, please join us this Tuesday, September 8th, for a great reading at the Blue Grotto Reading Series in West Philadelphia (at the Community Ed Center (CEC) on Drexel's campus, 3500 Lancaster Ave). This phenomenal event, a first of its kind, will feature the members of the Poetic Arts Performance Project, including (with more TBA): St. Skribbly Lacroix, Adam Meora, Courtney Bambrick, Greg Bem, Ian Wolf, Ebony Collier, John Todd, and Frank Walsh. More information can be found here.
Thirdly, we've got some other great events coming up, but are still waiting on some of the media/loose ends to be tied. Keep a lookout for those!
Fourthly, there's been an unfortunate drowning of the camera that was used to take pictures and videos of the events. We're still getting kinks worked out, but if you have any media that can be displayed, email us.
If you want to join the mailing list, send an email to the PAPP's director.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The August Blend Event was a Success!
Thank you to everyone for coming out to Blend at the Blue Banana the other day. Anna Evans and Michelle Christine Garza were wonderful, and the open mic was the most eclectic and entertaining in some time.
Here are some pictures I took. The videos are currently being uploaded (Youtube link here). If anyone else has any media, please comment on this post and we can work out putting it on the blog!
Director of PAPP, Adam "Naked" Meora
Poet Anna Evans (New Jersey)
Michelle Christine Garza (Pennsylvania)
Monday, August 3, 2009
August Light of Unity Event
AUGUST 4, 2009 AT 6p.m.
The Light of Unity
Artist’s and Writer’s Series
Featuring:
Dan “the man” Schall: Born and raised in Philly, Dan recently earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Creative Writing from Arcadia University, and is currently attending the graduate program there, as well. He also publishes a quarterly chapbook, The Fridge Door, which showcases and celebrates the varied emotions and influences of writing across many curricula.
Ian Wolf: has been writing poetry and studying music for 15 years. He has performed at open mics for 10 years; recently at Blam!, The Mermaid Inn, and the Light of Unity Festival, and the University City Arts League.
Jeff Ingram: is a poet, professor, farmer, fly-fisherman, adventurer, and devoted husband to his wife, Kim. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Wisconsin Review, Lake Effect: A Journal of the Literary Arts, Bucks County Writer, Drexel Online Journal, Paumanok Review, and Salt Lake City Weekly.
Paul Siegell: is the author of jambandbootleg (A-Head, 2009) and Poemergency Room (Otoliths Books, 2008). He is a staff editor at Painted Bride Quarterly and has contributed to The American Poetry Review. He has also been featured in Paste Magazine and the Philadelphia City Paper. paulsiegell.blogspot.com.
Ebony Malaika Collier: is a poet dwelling in the Philadelphia area. A core member of Philadelphia Poetic Arts Performance Project, she has read at various venues including the Black Women’s Arts Festival, Mad Poets Festival 2008, Poetry Ink at Robins/Moonstone.
The Alien Architect: says, “EYE used to define myself as an mc, NOW eye've come to find, passed my shell, that its empty, CUS... reducing 1's inner to an outer title is lible to stifle whats all the while compiled past this plastic recitle. EYE dont wanna transform in to a performance, on stage, afraid of being borin for them addorin fans. IM the ALIEN ARCHITECT, THE SECRET IDENTITY, THE ABSTRACT FICTION WRITER.”
Tamara Oakman: a graduate of Temple University with a BA in English, has won awards in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and drama. She has been published by Many Mountains Moving, Philadelphia Stories, Mad Poets Review, and other journals; reads poetry and fiction everywhere in Philadelphia and the tri-state area; and is completing her Master's of English at Arcadia University.
***
Parkway Central Library
Skyline Room; 4th Floor
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia; PA 19103
(Cross Streets: (between 19th and 20th Streets
on the Parkway)
Open Mic
Questions: Tamara Oakman, Director – thebusinessofwords@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Arsenic Pizza: the Media Leftovers
Rebecca of My Imaginary Band
The Arsenic Pizza event at Philadelphia's Central Free Library (on Vine Street) last week was great. The turnout was impressive and the performances were top-notch. The pizza slices were long, cheesy, and deliciously poisonous. Though there were a bunch of folks hanging out with their cameras and video-cams at the ready, I still took some snapshots and recorded some videos for here. If anyone has media they want to share, email us here and we'll put your work on this site, with proper accrediting of course. For videos of this event and all our past events, make sure you check out our Youtube page. For additional photos, check out our Facebook page (thanks to Scribbz and folk for making and maintaining it).
Alabaster, Wes, and Scribbly of My Imaginary Band
Scribbly of My Imaginary Band
From left to right: Dan Schall, Tamara Oakman, Adam Meora, and Quincy Scott Jones
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 14th! Arsenic Pizza: Leftovers
Artists’ and Writers’ Series 2009
Presents
***
Arsenic Pizza: Leftovers
With Adam "Naked" Meora, Dan "The Man" Schall, Tamara "G-Spot" Oakman and Quincy "Keep it Slim" Scott Jones
&
My Imaginary Band with St. Skribbly Lacroix, Alabaster Mcdougle, Rebecca The Matriot, and Wes Chill Gil
***
The Revolution will be reheated
July 14th
6PM – Skyline Room 4th Floor
Free Library of Philadelphia (Central Branch)
1901 Vine Street
Performance is free and open to the public.
My Imaginary Band is an ultra-cool, ultra-hip, avant-garde, high-energy, improvisational, out-of-this-world, worldwide-influenced, comic, tragic, potentially violent (to each other, NOT to the audience) poetic experience.
Arsenic Pizza will blow the audience away with work raging from the hellish to ticklish in a balance of rough & smooth, yin & yang spoken word poetry-music genius. No surrender! No Mercy! No anchovies!
For more information see these websites:
http://www.myspace.com/light_of_unity
http://myimaginaryband.blogspot.com/
Or contact Tamara Oakman by email.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Let the Uploading Begin
First of all, thanks to everyone who came out to Blend this week. Isa Walker and Angel Hogan were wonderful, and the open mic had a great dynamic. Now in other news, I've recently learned that I have the ability to upload videos through this mooched Internet connection! I will be uploading all the old videos throughout the next couple days. For now, check out this Youtube playlist on the PAPP Youtube channel, and watch all the performances from the June edition of Blend. And here's a sneak preview:
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Brave New Voices Perform for PAPP
June 27th
7:30pm
UCAL 4226 Spruce
Hosted by St. Skribbly Lacroix
Starring:
Philadelphia's Brave New Voices Youth Slam Team
Little Ruth Bussie
and Aflo
with a spotlight open mic!!!
Monday, June 15, 2009
July Blend
Poetic Arts Performance Project Presents:
BLEND @ Blue Bananas Café
(A series featuring poetry, spoken word, and music 1st Thursdays of every month)
Angel Hogan and Isa Walker- July 2nd, 2009 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM, $5 for entry
Blue Bananas Café is located next to the Laff House, 223 South Street, Philadelphia PA. Their website features a tasty menu as well as directions to the restaurant:
*See our website for further information about the Poetic Arts Performance Project: http://poetic-arts.blogspot.comAngel Hogan- A rural girl transplanted from a horse farm to downtown Philadelphia in her teens, finds "great adventure, beauty and often comedy in 'diverse' experiences." After studying Literary Theory at Bucknell University, Angel traveled cross country and spent time in the Yucatan, where her mother currently lives. Much of her writing is fueled by her multiracial background and non-traditional upbringing, as well as a passion for seeking out the unusual. Angel currently works at University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the New Philadelphia Poets. She lives with her cat, Mamacita, and is completing her first book, Blind Foal. See more of Angel's work at: www.angelhogan.com
Isa Walker was born in Philadelphia and is a senior at Murrel Dobbins CTE High school. He aspires to become the best New Age Music Composer to come out of Philadelphia. He is currently working on an album entitled "The Light Before We Land." His past awards include “The Laws of Life Contest in 2007” for a song that he composed. He is also currently writing music score for the Big Picture Alliance. Though New Age music is his greatest passion, he enjoys listening to and writing in different genres such as Pop Rock, R&B, Rock, and classical. He is also an aspiring film maker.
* Blue Bananas Café validates parking at Abbott Square Parking Lot, 3rd & South. ($4.00 to park all night!)
To sign up for the open mic, or ask questions please email allavilnyanskaya@earthlink.net
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Blog Updates
First of all, despite the crappy weather, this month's Blend event was quite an entertaining eve. Thanks for coming, supporting, working, eating, et cetera.
Now for the other news.
Over the next few days you will notice a few things, perhaps, if you're paying attention.
The first is that videos recently recorded will not be uploaded for a while. I just moved into a new house and am running entirely on Philadelphia's free wireless, which is dependable but not powerful. In a week or so I will be getting access to a private wireless ISP so I can start uploading/downloading/leftloading/rightloading. Raise those anticipation meters!
Secondly, the members section has been updated, and will continue to be updated. Email links will be made available, too.
Another goal is to link all of the "featured performers" that you can find on the sidebar, so that we get a network going.
If you have any comments/suggestions for the website, send an email to my personal address here.
Cheers!
Greg Bem
PAPP Web Director
PS: at the momoent we have no plans to start twittering around like a bunch of tw*ts.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
A Message from Alla V, Hostess of Blend
Just wanted to remind you that the next ""BLEND" event is on Thursday June 4th at Blue Banana Located on 223 South Street. (Start time for performance is 7:30PM) If you have not yet come out to this series, please come out this time. We will be featuring Tamara Oakman and Nate Graham. They are both amazing! If you have any questions please let me know. If you have come to this event before, please come again! Your support is greatly appreciated. There will be an open mic as well so if you would like to read let me know. The more diversity of voices we have, the better!
Alla V
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Frank Walsh's Summer Poetry Workshop
THE ANGEL OF EXPERIENCE, THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE: REDISCOVERING THE PUBLIC ART OF AMERICAN POETRY IN THE PRIVATE HEART OF THE INDIVIDUAL WRITER.
Also Shamanistic techniques and body “work”-- Chi-gong, yoga, spontaneous vaudeville dance routines, etc.-- will be employed if agreed upon by the workshop participants.
1. Poem as portal, entry, into the deep present, whereas the significant past is seen as “texture” supra-imposed by which individual emotions and intellect gain “traction”.
(a). Memory and perception are identified.
(b). Other art forms such as painting, music, and sculpture will be observed to reinforce this.
Exercise: Familiarity with every America literary movement of the last hundred years, such as Imagism, Post- Apocryphal, Objectivism, Black Mountain School, Beat, Amodernism, etc. will be lightly cultivated through historic and contemporary examples.
2. Poetry as direct action, experience, that initiates transformation and change in the socio- economic environment, as well.
(a). Experience and experiment are related by reflection.
Exercise: “Copying” the techniques and styles above in kind. Reading aloud the result of such to an audience as a way to enhance critical abilities.
3. And “meaning” is only that that is a possible future brought into play by making sense of the poem as the poem is made. Meaning is given to the poem by the reader and/ or listener.
Exercise: Getting the feel of the senses involved in the appreciation of the creative and tuning those sensibilities.
4.The Poem as the process and pursuit of truth and beauty and resolution, focused in thought and breath, coincidentally, and “measure”, verging on the real news per se: a non-didactic, ultra- temporal, non- fictional narration accountable to the skillful extent of self expression and communication.
(a). Urban oracle and games of chance explored.
Exercise: Exploring the graphic look of the poem in print as like musical notation and in turn the banner and headline type nature of the line, stanza, overall form through which certain facts are brought to light especially as regards the relationship and function of the individual and societal milieu, especially nature with a big “N”.
5. Whereas form and parts-of-speech are “occasional” yet necessary and organic adept and ever having a body of formal and traditional reserve at hand during the critical point of composition and “making”.
Exercise: The student will consider and in part accomplish various occasional pieces, such as for a wedding, a memorial, an elegy for the dead, love, and good luck in business and travel.
6. Poetry as an art form proper exists in the instant as an aural phenomenon, conditioned, ultimately by audience disposition-- triangulated in space and time by the listener on either side of its effective sufficient performance.
(a). Vowel modulation beyond mere rhyme.
(b.) Extended metaphor and metonymy beyond image become “vision”.
Exercise: Getting the drift of the American spoken language by embracing the street, and the context of parlance in social situations. Seeing past signage and outdoor advertising.
Bottom line and goals---
Public performance, action- reading, facility in the accomplishment thereof, will be emphasized.
Gaining skillful means though listening while alternately engaging with purpose in everyday speech and parlance.
June Blend
Blend @ Blue Bananas Café
(A series featuring poetry, spoken word, and music 1st Thursdays of every month)
This month we are featuring Tamara Oakman and Nate Graham.
Blue Bananas Café is located next to the Laff House, 223 South Street, Philadelphia PA. Their website features their tasty menu as well as directions to the restaurant:
http:/www.bluebananascafe.com/
Tamara Oakman- A graduate of Temple University, has won awards in poetry, fiction, creative non fiction, and drama. She has been published by Many Mountains Moving, Philadelphia Stories, Mad Poets Review, and other journals; reads poetry and fiction everywhere in Philadelphia and the tri-state area; judged a fiction and drama contest for Hidden River Arts, and is completed her Master's thesis in English at Arcadia University; a book of poetry called "Snatched". She has hosted at venues such as; Book Corner, Robin's Bookstore and Voices and Visions Bookstore. She created The Light of Unity Festival two years running, is currently leading The Business of Words poetry workshop at The University of Pennsylvania Bookstore for Mad Poets Society, runs a chapbook called "The Business of Words," and coordinated a Fringe Festival performance at The Rotunda called Arsenic Pizza. She manages The Light of Unity Artist’s and Writer’s Series at The Central Library where she showcases the talents of new writers and musicians. Her efforts have been documented in The Metro and The City Paper. She has read poetry just about everywhere including her living room. She is the director of The Light of Unity Arts Association and currently lives and loves in Philadelphia.
Nate Graham - After 4 years in music school, Nate Graham hit the Philadelphia music scene. He performed with his former band in such Philly venues as The Electric Factory and World Café Live before releasing his debut solo album Daylight in 2007 and Trio EP in 2008. Thoughtful melodies and lyrics are staples of Graham's songs, while clever hooks leave the ear craving more. His music has been described as possessing "the ease of Elton John" and the "raw perspective of Ben Folds". Graham currently lives in NYC.
* To sign up for the open mic, or ask questions please email allavilnyanskaya@earthlink.net
* Blue Bananas Café validates parking at Abbott Square Parking Lot, 3rd & South. ($4.00 to park all night!)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Picture Recap: May 15, 2009 Arsenic Pizza Preview
Thursday, May 14, 2009
May 23rd, 2009: PAPP Presents!
Mark your calendars! On Saturday, May 23rd, the Poetic Arts Performance Project (PAPP) will host an evening of hip hop, song, and poetry at the University City Arts League in West Philadelphia. The event will feature Iron Solomon (an internationally known battle rapper), Yolanda Palacio Wisher (the guru behind the Germantown poetry festival), Ms. Wise (a spoken word/slam poet), La Melodia (providing warm, soulful hip hop with a raw touch), and Aquil (who will provide hip hop interpretations). The event promises to provide a diverse, provocative assortment of entertainment that will bend ears, expand mental capacities, and reveal new beauties. You don't want to miss this!
Stop by the UCAL (4226 Spruce Street) at 7:00pm when the doors open, or 7:30pm when the show starts to understand what it means for words to move walls.
The show is all ages, and has a $7.00 to $10.00 sliding scale. Food and beverages will be provided. The show will go until 10 or 11pm.
For more information, contact PAPP's director Adam Meora directly at 267-312-7108.
Or email us: poeticartsperformanceproject@yahoo.com
Please visit the performers Myspace pages, listed below:
Iron SolomonYolanda Palacio Wisher
Ms. Wise
La Melodia
Auquil
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Arsenic Pizza Preview--this Friday!
Please join us for a preview of Arsenic Pizza as the first installment of the Yoga Sutra Friday Night Art Series. This is an all ages event!
The show will take place Friday, May 15, 2009 at 8:00pm at 1401 Walnut Street (right off the orange-line subway).
Adam "Naked" Meora, Tamara Oakman, Quincy Scott Jones, St. Skribbly Lacroix and musicians will be performing. There will also be food and wine. The suggested donation is $5. It'll be a blast!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Down the Road: Light of Unity Series
The following events will be coming up in the next few months and feature many members of PAPP.
The Light of Unity Artist's and Writer's Series 2009
The Light of Unity Association bridges cultural, racial and regional backgrounds to bring the Light of Unity Artist's and Writer's Series 2009 to The Central Library. These free performances, scheduled for Tuesday evenings, showcase arts ranging from poets and essayists to musicians and even theatrical performances, in order to promote social and cultural unity in the city of Philadelphia and beyond. Over 30 wonderfully talented artists are expected to perform in this year's series. Fans of performers and poetics are encouraged to attend as artists will sell their work at the performances.
Tuesday Evenings Hosted by Quincy Scott Jones (Ask him about his new book, The T-Bone Series)
Free and Open to the Public | Refreshments will be Provided
Parkway Central Library
Skyline Room | 4th Floor
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Between 19th and 20th Street on the Parkway)
215-686-5322
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 7pm
Alla Vilnyanskay
Joe Jordan
Plumdragoness
PLP the Unity
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 6pm
Arsenic Pizza: Leftovers
Naked Meora
Dan "the man" Schall
Quincy Scott Jones
Tamara G. Oakman
St. Skribbly La Croix
My Imaginary Band
Rick Szybowski
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 6pm
Ian Wolf
Prof. Jeff Ingram
Paul Siegell
Ebony Malaika Collier
Dr. Anne Kaier
The Alien Architect
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 7pm
In Celebration of Women
Eileen D' Angelo
Nzadi Keita
Mecca Jamillah Sullivan
Geraldine Drakes
Tarannum Laila
Adonaya Boyd
Tamara Oakman
Joanne Leva
Stephanie Durann
Jen Kramny
Yellow Rage
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7pm
Mel Brake
Courtney Bambrick
Cole Eubanks
Iain Haley Pollock
Alexis Simmons
Steve Young
Vernyce Daniels
Joyce Lee Slater-Williams
Tessa Micaela
Beth Phillips-Brown
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Imaginary Band, Nathalie Felix, and Quincy Scott Jones
Some of our performer friends now have their videos uploaded. The videos are from the 25th of April.
The following are a sampling. You can go to our Youtube page to see more.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
May 7th Event Information
Blend @ Blue Bananas Café
(A new series featuring poetry, spoken word, and music 1st Thursdays of every month)
May 7th, 2009, 7:30 – 9:30 PM, $5 for entry
Blue Bananas Café is located next to the Laff House, 223 South Street, Philadelphia PA. Their website features their tasty menu as well as directions to the restaurant:
http:/www.bluebananascafe.com/
Ashraf Osman- Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Ashraf Osman has been living in Philadelphia since 2002 where he works as an architect. Ashraf has been engaged in online poetry since 2002: in addition to his award-winning personal poetry blog, arch.memory, Ashraf hosts a website of Philadelphia poetry links and calendars called PhillyPoetry.com. His poetry has been featured in the Mad Poets Review, Comstock Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal and Islamica magazine, and has been selected for inclusion in several anthologies including Queering Language and The Other Voices International Project.
Brian Markley is an emerging song writer and musician from South Jersey. While being classically trained on the trumpet for over twenty years, Brian has studied and explored other instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, piano, and harmonica, as well as various tribal instruments such as the didgeridoo and wooden flute. His musical journey has taken him on both American and European tours and has afforded him opportunities to work with and learn from accomplished musicians such as Frank Foster, Dennis DeBlasio, Maynard Ferguson, Nathan Davis, Toby Lightman, and other rising South Jersey artists. These experiences have inspired him to pursue a very eclectic approach to music incorporating acoustic, funk, spoken word, bluegrass, political folk, hip-hop, reggae, rock, country, blues, and of course jazz.
* To sign up for the open mic, or if you have any questions please email allavilnyanskaya@earthlink.net
Monday, April 27, 2009
More Pictures from the Rubye's Kids Event!
Pictures from the Poetry Potluck/Rubye's Kids Festival
More to come soon!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
PAPP Event Follow-Up
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Updated Info for the May 25th Poetry Potluck at UCAL
As a reminder, this Saturday, April 25th, we are throwing our huge poetry event over at the University City Arts League. The address is 42nd and Spruce, so it's not exactly difficult to reach. Take the train. Take the subway. Take your car. Take your bike. There are plenty of free parking spots and bike-ready telephone poles nearby. The event starts around 5:00pm and gets done around 11:00pm. Want to know more about the event? Keep reading.
THE POETRY POTLUCK
This three-room, marathon event of artistic expression is in celebration of the last weekend of Poetry Month, featuring music, poetry, and shared food. It is also an important benefit. We are asking donations of five dollars at the door. All procedes are going to a good cause. What cause? Rubye's Kids, an important organization that "Rubye's Kids provides charitable services which further the social, emotional, and educational welfare of underprivileged children all year long." Learn more about them at their website.
Check the schedule below for a listing of all artists and performance times. There is a high chance that surprises will occur, and last-minute changes will be made.
Second Floor Main Room
6:00-6:45
Kid Poets (interspersed) and Featured Adult Poets
Hosted by Naila/Sydney
Deejay: Adam Meora
1. Naila
2. Fatima Adamu
3. Sydney Coffin
4. Mel Brake
5. Ian Wolf
---
8:30-9:00 / 9:15
Falling From
Hosted by Adam Meora
---
9:30-?
Featured Adult Poets
Hosted by Skribbly and Ebony
1. Naked
2. Ebony Collier
3. Poorman Blackstar
4. Debrah Morkun
5. Greg Bem
6. Jen Kramny
7. Roger Williams
8. Frank Walsh
9. Abject Reality
10. Wes Gil
11. My Imaginary Band
12. Alexis
13. Vision from Quiet Rage
14. Alien Architect
---
Second Floor Food Room (Acoustic Setup)
5:00-5:45
Dobbins Band
Hosted by Adam Meora and Roz Weiss
---
7:00-8:30
Adult Poets with Acoustic Backing
Hosted by Greg Bem and Alla V
Music by Jesse Schurr and John Todd
1. Charles Carr (five minutes)
2. Justin Vitello (seven minutes)
3. Mark Jones (five minutes)
4. Tamara Oakman (seven minutes)
5. John Timpane (seven minutes)
6. Jeff King (five minutes)
7. Alla V (seven minutes)
8. Dan Schall (seven minutes)
9. Jordan Gamble (five minutes)
10. Quincy Scott Jones (seven minutes)
11. Jam/Open Mic Session (until 8:30)
Other performers may include Plumdragoness and Maleka.
---
Third Floor Room
7:00-8:30
CAPA/DOBBINS POETS (one amp/one mic)
Hosted by Jen Kramny and the Capa Jazz Band
May include additional teen poets, followed by open mic
1. Jamar Hall (7:05-7:10)
2. CAPA (7:10-7:15)
3. Vernon Jordan (7:15-7:20)
4. CAPA (7:20-7:25)
5. CAPA (7:25-7:30)
6. Jamielle Ortiz (7:30-7:35)
7. Bria Green (7:35-7:40)
8. Kalilah Shoatz (7:40-7:45)
9. CAPA (7:45-7:50)
10. CAPA (7:50-7:55)
11. CAPA (7:55-8:00)
12. CAPA(8-8:05)
13. CAPA (8:05-8:10)
14. Ashley Williams (8:10-8:15)
15. Montco Poetry Slam Team: Lindo, Sappho, Alisia
***
Stay tuned to the site throughout the week as videos and sites are linked to each artist. Additional information will be posted here too.
East Falls Open
Arranged and hosted by our own Courtney Bambrick:
In honor of Poetry Month, we present the…
~Favorite Poems Event~
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
6:30-8:00 pm
at the Falls Library
Join poets Ebony Malaika Collier, Mike Cohen, Blythe Davenport, Valerie Anderson, and Peter Baroth! Bring a favorite poem by a favorite poet – or two, you’ll have about 5 minutes to read.
If you have an original poem you would like to share, please bring that, too!
To get involved contact
ckbambrick@gmail.com
Our open mic is a monthly event; so if you are unable to join us this month, try to catch up another time. We meet the 4th Wednesday of each month.
The Library is located on Midvale at Conrad/Warden, between Ridge and Henry Avenues. It is easily accessible from the East Falls R6 Septa station and a number of buses (including the K, R, 32, and 61).
For more information, reach Courtney by phone at 267-240-3249 or by email at ckbambrick@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Our Very Large and Exciting Upcoming Event
An intergenerational poetry festival to benefit Rubye's Kids/University City Arts League and Poetic Arts Performance Project:
Gigantic open mic and features......contact to sign up!!!
Date:
4/25/09
Time:
5-10 pm
Cost:
$5
Place:
University Cirty Arts League
4226 Spuce st, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Happening:
Gigantic multiple space performances including poets of all ages ... kids, teens, adults ...
... with music by Alien Architect and band ... Jesse Schurr ... Forgotten Fall ... the Dobbins High School Band ... High School for the Performing Arts Jazz Band ... DJ Meora ... The Mighty Paradocs.
... featured poets include kid poets ... Frank Walsh and cohorts ... poets from Poetic Arts Performance Project ... St. Skribbly Lacroix ... Alla V ... Lynn Blue ... Adam "Naked" Meora ... Greg Bem ... Debrah Morkun ... Ebony Collier ...Ian Wolf ... Sydney Coffin ... Jen Kramny ... Tamara Oakman ... High School for the Perfoming Arts Poets ... Dobbins High School Poets ... and much more!
Reminder: this is a Pot Luck! Bring food, goodies, drinkables ... we will too.
For more information contact:
Adam Meora 267-312-7108 or adamreal2000@yaoo.com
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Upcoming Blend Event!
There are two amazing performers that evening (as well as the usual, solid open mic), Ashraf Osman and Brian Markley.
Ashraf Osman: Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Ashraf Osman has been living in Philadelphia since 2002 where he works as an architect. Ashraf has been engaged in online poetry since 2002: in addition to his award-winning personal poetry blog, arch.memory, Ashraf hosts a website of Philadelphia poetry links and calendars called PhillyPoetry.com. His poetry has been featured in the Mad Poets Review, Comstock Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal and Islamica magazine, and has been selected for inclusion in several anthologies including Queering Language and The Other Voices International Project.
Brian Markley is an emerging song writer and musician from South Jersey. While being classically trained on the trumpet for over twenty years, Brian has studied and explored other instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, piano, and harmonica, as well as various tribal instruments such as the didgeridoo and wooden flute. His musical journey has taken him on both American and European tours and has afforded him opportunities to work with and learn from accomplished musicians such as Frank Foster, Dennis DeBlasio, Maynard Ferguson, Nathan Davis, Toby Lightman, and other rising South Jersey artists. These experiences have inspired him to pursue a very eclectic approach to music incorporating acoustic, funk, spoken word, bluegrass, political folk, hip-hop, reggae, rock, country, blues, and of course jazz.
Proud of his roots, Brian is the leader of the Pineland Medicine Band. Centered in a melting pot of musical genres, the Medicine Band reflects the sounds from Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and D.C., and is the essence of the South Jersey music scene.
Click here to go to our page of recordings from the previous Blend event.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Videos Being Uploaded and Issues Uploading Videos
Good evening folks!
I see that some people are watching the videos, which is a great thing. Keep it up! Show us you love us! New content is added daily. Well, almost-daily. Lately Youtube, and the greater Internet of greater Philadelphia has been going only semi-okay. But with patience, the good videos from the past event from last Thursday (Blend featuring Trapeta B. Mayson, at the Blue Banana) will all be up. In case you haven't been able to see them just yet, watch this one right here:
To see more videos from the Blend event, just click here to go to the Blend playlist page. That reminds me--now that there are so many videos being "archived" through a video hosting service like Youtube, it's important that PAPP stays organized. One way that I will be attempting this organization is through the playlist option, which basically lets anyone who goes onto the PAPP Youtube page (click here to access the main page) click on the playlists button and see folders where different types of videos can be found. I'm arranging all the folders into different events, and so far it seems to be working.
Also, I do not hesitate to record videos at the open-mics that we host, which has its ups and downs. If you do not want a video of you remaining on this wonderfully public thing we call the Internet, just pop me an email and I'll remove it, no questions asked.
In any case, we are always looking for better-quality equipment, so if you or someone you know has and wants to operate a video camera that can operate especially-well under lighting conditions the my camera finds horrible, please email us! Also, send us any comments or questions you might have.
Thanks,
Gregory Bem
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Flatterers of Dionysus
Gabriella B. C., one of the Performance Project's newest members, is acting in this show! Please support her, and everyone else involved!
Monday, March 30, 2009
This Thursday!
Blend @ Blue Bananas Café
(A new series featuring poetry, spoken word, and music 1st Thursdays of every month)
Featuring: Trapeta B. Mayson and Monnette Sudler
April 2nd, 2009, 7:30 – 9:30 PM, $5 for entry
Blue Bananas Café is located next to the Laff House, 223 South Street, Philadelphia PA. Their website features their tasty menu as well as directions to the restaurant:
http:/www.bluebananascafe.com/
TRAPETA B. MAYSON is a poet, social worker, and workshop leader living in Germantown. Trapeta works extensively with youth locally and nationally conducting poetry and creative writing workshops. She has also worked with the Art Sanctuary and Painted Bride for a number of years. Trapeta has received numerous literary and publication honors including a Pew Fellowship, a Leeway Transformation Award, and a PA Council on the Arts fellowship.
MONNETTE SUDLER, a dynamite guitarist, writer, composer, and arranger, has played with many all-time jazz greats, such as Hugh Masekela, Philly Joe Jones, Grover Washington, Jr., Byard Lancaster, Sounds of Liberation and Kenny Baron, as well as hot new artists like bassist Gerald Veasely. Europe, Japan, South Africa, Jamaica and the United States have welcomed jazz guitarist Monnette Sudler with her original music and unique arrangements. Ms. Sudler has her degree from Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music. Her background covers composition, music therapy and performance. Monnette Sudler conducts guitar workshops, private instruction, workshops on creative development and composition. More information can be found at MonnetteSudlerMusic.com.
* To sign up for the open mic, or if you have any questions please email allavilnyanskaya@earthlink.net
* Blue Bananas Café can validate parking at Abbott Square Parking Lot, 3rd & South. ($4.00 to park all night!)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
We're Teaching Classes
Courtney Bambrick: Kids drama
Mondays 4-5:30pm ages 9-12 Wednesdays 4-5:30 ages 5-8
$140 includes a snack if your child arrives by 3:30pm classes begin the week
of April 13 and run through to the week of June 19
Lindo Jones: Teen Poetry workshops begins Sunday April 19 noon - 2:30pm
Contact UCAL office about special discount prices for teens (through the
SCI-West grant).
Daniel McGlaughlin: Intro to Acting Saturdays 10am -noon Saturdays March 28
- May 16 $110 for UCAL & PAPP members $125 for non-members
Tamara Oakman: Ars Poetica Saturdays April 4 & 18 May 2 & 16 1pm -4pm $20
for UCAL & PAPP members $25 for non-members
Contact the University City Arts League for more information:
University City Arts League
4226 Spruce Street Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-382-7811 Fax: 215-382-3339
www.ucartsleague.org
Email Us
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
This Saturday: Extreme Literariness
Poet: Patrick Lucy
Poetess: Ish Klein
Band: Hezekiah Jones
Where? University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St) at 7pm
$7 Adults/$5 with College ID/Donation High School ID
Contact Adam "Naked Meora" for details:
267-312-7108
poeticartsperformanceproject@yahoo.com
Artist Information:
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Patrick Lucy resides in Fishtown (Philadelphia) where he splits his time between the equally daunting tasks of running a business and writing a decent poem. Patrick is a founding member of the New Philadelphia Poets and has read recently at Robins, Brickbat, Wooden Shoe and Germ books. His work has appeared in The Corduroy Mtn and can be found on CatchConfetti.com.
Ish Klein is a self-taught film and puppet maker who also writes poetry. She is an alumna of Columbia University and the Iowa Writer's Workshop for Poetry. Most recently her poetry has been published in Canary, The Hat and Spork magazines.
Hezekiah Jones is a collection of Philadelphia-area artists orbiting around the songwriting talents of one Raphael Cutrufello. They have released one full-length album, Hezekiah Says You’re A-Ok, and an EP, Come to Our Pool Party, both on Yer Bird Records. Also a split 7 inch, The Asheville Squints, released on Quite Scientific.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tuesday Moonstone Event--Updates!
Robins' Bookstore: 108 south 13th st...13th between sansom and chestnut
Moonstone Poetry Series Presents:
Solo Adam"Naked" Meora and together for the first time with St. Skribbly Lacroix (as the poetic pornstar project) and Rick Szybowski ....
Also Starring: Elliott Levin
Adam Meora is the host and curator for BLAM!! He has been featured for his poetry in Philadelphia at the Tin Angel, Robin's Bookstore, Green Line Cafe, Milk Boy Cafe, Blue Marble Books and more. He has recently been published in The Bathroom, The Fridge Door, The Mad Poets Journal and in The Fox Chase Review. He is the founder of Poetic Arts and Performance Project, a project based in Philly to bring a home to the poetic/collaborative/activist arts. Bob Holman said about his poetry performance, "He broke all rules of decorum." He plans to show off his hairy chest at this reading too. He loves his wife....
Elliott Levin is a Philadelphia born and based poet and musician. In addition to studying musical and literary composition at the University of Oregon, he studied with Michael Guerra of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Cecil Taylor, pianist, composer, poet; Claire Polin, flutist composer; and Odean Pope, saxophonist, composer. Elliott has performed throughout the world with such groups as the Cecil Taylor Ensemble, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, New Ghost, Interplay, Talking Free Be-Bop, Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir, Don Preston's Akashic Ensemble, Cee-Knowledge & The Cosmic Funk Orchestra, Alan Silva's Sound Vision Orchestra. He has collaborated in performance with many poets including Miguel Algarin, Bob Holman, Gloria Tropp, Reg. E. Gaines, John Sinclair, Butch Morris' CHORUS OF POETS, Wil Perkins, Frank Messina and David Amram. For the past 25 years, he has been intimately involved in the integral interplay of the language of music, and the music of language.
St. Skribbly LaCroix is a poet and performance artist with a very unique chip on his shoulder.... and in his brain. That chip is a micro-chip, St. Skribbly LaCroix is the first Poet-Robot or Robo-Poet. He's been writing and creating with his innovative and groundbreaking creative programming since 1999. He re-emerged on the Philadelphia scene in 2006 and due to some rogue programming by his creators has wreaked havoc on Philadelphia's "poetry scene" ever since... LaCroix also uses his finely tuned robotics to perform duties as a safe-sex educator and peer counselor for innercity youth, an actor, singer, writer, blogger and founder of a cult.
LaCroix's approach to poetry is both comedic and absurd, he employs a tactic called guerilla ontology, made famous by sci-fi writer Robert Anton Wilson, in which the readers or listeners can never be sure about whether the author is serious in an effort to keep author bias minimal and indivdual thought at a maximum. Consequently, many in th e poetry world, take LaCroix to be unserious about his craft. For those, he's written a poem... Robot mind, robot hands, Robot fingertips/ Robot eyes Robot arms, u can suck my robot................................................
Rick S is a musician, teacher, and new father to Chloe....he kicks some serious T.S. Elliot Ass.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Blam! Recap; Videos Update; New Events!
Due to some sluggish uploading, tedium, et cetera, it will be a bit before all the recordings of Friday's great Blam! event are posted here. Check our Youtube page periodically as this is a slow but sure process. Also, all the events are currently being recorded with a Canon Powershot A720, which is a digital camera with recording capabilities. This is not ideal! If anyone has access to video recorder technology and wants to volunteer to record events, please contact PAPP via this blog or send an email here.
As a final, very important note, make sure you keep the following upcoming events in mind, as they are happening over the next couple weeks!
On Tuesday, March 24, Adam "Naked" Meora of PAPP will be reading with Elliott Levin at Moonstone down at 13th and Chestnut. The event starts at 7:00pm. For more information, visit Moonstone's event page here.
On Saturday, March 28, PAPP verse extraordinaire Debra Morkun will be hosting an avant garde reading over at the University City Arts League. Here are the details:
Poet: Patrick Lucy
Poetess: Ish Klein
Band: Hezekiah Jones
Poet: Carlos Soto Román
University City Arts League 4226 Spruce St 7pm
$7 adults /$5 with college id /Donation High School
contact Adam "Naked Meora" for details...267 312 7108...poeticartsperformanceproject@yahoo.com
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Patrick Lucy resides in Fishtown (Philadelphia) where he splits his time between the equally daunting tasks of running a business and writing a decent poem. Patrick is a founding member of the New Philadelphia Poets and has read recently at Robins, Brickbat, Wooden Shoe and Germ books. His work has appeared in The Corduroy Mtn and can be found on CatchConfetti.com.
Ish Klein is a self-taught film and puppet maker who also writes poetry. She is an alumna of Columbia University and the Iowa Writer's Workshop for Poetry. Most recently her poetry has been published in Canary, The Hat and Spork magazines.
Hezekiah Jones is a collection of Philadelphia-area artists orbiting around the songwriting talents of one Raphael Cutrufello. They have released one full-length album, Hezekiah Says You’re A-Ok, and an EP, Come to Our Pool Party, both on Yer Bird Records. Also a split 7 inch, The Asheville Squints, released on Quite Scientific.
Carlos Soto Román was born in Valparaíso, Chile, in 1977. He participated in Mauricio Redoles workshop during 1995. He has published the poem books "La Marcha de los Quiltros" (Mongrel's march) in 1999 and "Haiku Minero" (Miner haiku) in 2007. Both issued by "La Calazaba del Diablo" Independent Editions. His works has been collected in "Bar" Anthology (Casa de Barro Editions, 2006) and in "Pozo" (Pit) (Lanzallamas Editions, 2007). In 2004 he achieved the Creation Fellowship of the Book & Reading Council of the Chilean Government.
And on Tuesday, April 2, the Blend performance series at Blue Banana (2nd and South) will continue with a great evening of open mic, and two great features--read below for more information.
Blend @ Blue Bananas Café
Trapeta B. Mason and Monnette Suddler (A new series featuring poetry, spoken word, and music 1st Thursdays of every month)
April 2nd, 2009
7:30 – 9:30 PM
Blue Bananas Café is located next to the Laff House, 223 South Street, Philadelphia PA. Their website features their tasty menu as well as directions to the restaurant:
http:/www.bluebananascafe.com/
$5 for entry
TRAPETA B. MAYSON is a poet, social worker, and workshop leader living in Germantown. Trapeta works extensively with youth locally and nationally conducting poetry and creative writing workshops. She has also worked with the Art Sanctuary and Painted Bride for a number of years. Trapeta has received numerous literary and publication honors including a Pew Fellowship, a Leeway Transformation Award, and a PA Council on the Arts fellowship.
MONNETTE SUDLER, a dynamite guitarist, writer, composer, and arranger, has played with many all-time jazz greats, such as Hugh Masekela, Philly Joe Jones, Grover Washington, Jr., Byard Lancaster, Sounds of Liberation and Kenny Baron, as well as hot new artists like bassist Gerald Veasely. Europe, Japan, South Africa, Jamaica and the United States have welcomed jazz guitarist Monnette Sudler with her original music and unique arrangements. Ms. Sudler has her degree from Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music. Her background covers composition, music therapy and performance. Monnette Sudler conducts guitar workshops, private instruction, workshops on creative development and composition. More information can be found at MonnetteSudlerMusic.com.
* To sign up for the open mic, or if you have any questions please email allavilnyanskaya@earthlink.net
* Blue Bananas Café can validate parking at Abbott Square Parking Lot, 3rd & South. ($4.00 to park all night!)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Check Out the Upcoming Artists
Jesse Schurr of the Jesse Schurr Band:
Alabaster McDougle:
Monday, March 16, 2009
This Friday: BLAM! Event
Headlining the event is the Mighty Flipside Esq., MC/DJ/Comedian/Beat-Boxer of Philly's Electric City hip hop collective. Check out their site and listen to some of their tracks here.
BLAM! will also be featuring the following talented acts: Jesse Schurr of the Jesse Schurr Band (singer/songwriter); Alabaster McDougle (poetic artist); Jane Cassady (poetic artist); Isa Walker (pianist); and Dan McGlaughlin (monologist).
The evening will also feature an open mic, so bring your strings, bring your verse, or just bring yourself. We encourage all forms of expression. This is going to be a great night of art, entertainment, and fun.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Blog Opens
Consider this a day of days! The Poetic Arts Performance Project gets its blog set up and ready to rock. What's to come? Information on upcoming events, reflections on past events, posted videos and pictures, and of course valuable updates on the PAPP itself.
Please don't hesitate to leave comments, and if you like what you see, stop by often!
Cheers!