Poetic Arts Performance Project

The Greater Philadelphia Poetry Scene in Map Form

2010-02-19T22:41:00.001-05:00

View The Greater Philadelphia Poetry Scene as Constant Change in a larger map

Listen to the First Blend of 2010

2010-01-12T22:38:00.001-05:00

Ryan Eckes

Below you will find the recording of January's Blend at the Blue Banana on South Street. It was by far the best turnout we've seen, and you, dear audience and fans, are to thank for that. We hope you continue to support PAPP events in the same, generous way!

The featured performers were, in order: Ryan Eckes, poet; John Todd, guitarist and singer; and Dan "the Man" Schall, poet. The open mic, which was eclectically mystifying, is included. If you prefer to download the files, or use a non-flash format, please just follow this link.

Also, let it be known that Blend will indeed continue in February, but it will no longer be a Poetic Arts Performance Project (PAPP) event. It was very great hosting it, but time has moved Blend in a new direction. We hope it continues to be as strong as it has been. Please make sure you check Blend out on Thursday, February 4th, when Cassendre Xavier and Jacob Russell will perform their work.

January Blend

2009-12-18T07:36:00.002-05:00

COME TO BLEND @ BLUE BANANAS CAFE ON JANUARY 7th---features followed by an OPEN MIC--bring poems/songs--appetite--$5 cover--food and drink available for purchase, validated parking!

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.

Listen to Blend

2009-12-06T10:15:00.003-05:00

This past Thursday the Blue Banana continued our tradition. The Blend poetry series featured Stephanie Durann Seymour and Sueyeun Juliette Lee, two very different poets with very different styles whose performances were both striking and powerful.

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.

December Blend

2009-11-29T23:02:00.002-05:00

Apologies for the late update. Here are the details on this Thursday's poetry event!

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.

Upcoming Symposium

2009-11-24T07:36:00.003-05:00

This month's topic is Venues: Aesthetics, People, Politics, Readings and Performance
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

Chapter and Verse

2009-11-22T23:17:00.002-05:00

Adam Meora, director of PAPP, read just yesterday at the Chapterhouse cafe and gallery located near 9th and Bainbridge. It was a good time. The other two featured readers were the lovely Tara Betts and Paul Siegell.

We encourage you to listen to the reading if you didn't get the chance.

The Second PAPP Symposium is Available for Stream and Download

2009-11-09T21:56:00.004-05:00

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.

Download the Recording of November's Blend

2009-11-07T15:23:00.003-05:00

If you want to download any of the reading/performance from this past Thursday, featuring great sets by poet Peter Baroth and guitarist Mark Toxiclife, click the link below. Files are in MP3 format.

Download

This Thursday's Monthly Blend Event

2009-11-03T11:37:00.002-05:00

2nd Symposium Details

2009-10-28T23:29:00.001-04:00

PAPP Presents: The Symposium

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

Listen to the PAPP Symposium

2009-10-13T21:04:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone coming out to PAPP's first poetry symposium featuring a wonderful panel, a wonderful audience, and a wonderful discussion. The event was recorded with an audio device and the resulting digital sound files can be downloaded here:

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.

PAPP's Symposium Series: What is Philadelphia Poetry?

2009-10-04T21:30:00.003-04:00

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

When: Sunday, October 11, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: University City Arts League (4226 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA)
Cost: $3.00

Facebook Link

Blend--October

2009-09-10T22:38:00.002-04:00

Some News

2009-09-05T09:48:00.003-04:00

A few updates as the summer drifts shut:

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.

Also Coming Up

2009-08-15T01:17:00.001-04:00

Coming Up

2009-08-15T01:15:00.002-04:00

The August Blend Event was a Success!

2009-08-08T10:10:00.008-04:00

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)

August Light of Unity Event

2009-08-03T16:40:00.001-04:00

FOOD, FUN, POETRY, MUSIC, FREE!

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

Flyer for August's Blend

2009-07-28T12:07:00.002-04:00

Arsenic Pizza: the Media Leftovers

2009-07-19T12:10:00.007-04:00

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

UCAL Event for July

2009-07-14T14:15:00.001-04:00

July 14th! Arsenic Pizza: Leftovers

2009-07-13T09:39:00.003-04:00

Light of Unity

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.

Let the Uploading Begin

2009-07-04T08:10:00.004-04:00

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:

Brave New Voices Perform for PAPP

2009-06-18T13:06:00.003-04:00

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!!!

July Blend

2009-06-15T20:17:00.002-04:00

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:

http:/www.bluebananascafe.com

*See our website for further information about the Poetic Arts Performance Project: http://poetic-arts.blogspot.com

Angel 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

Blog Updates

2009-06-06T22:00:00.003-04:00

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.

A Message from Alla V, Hostess of Blend

2009-06-03T09:33:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone:

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

Frank Walsh's Summer Poetry Workshop

2009-05-23T13:14:00.001-04:00

THE ANGEL OF EXPERIENCE, THE ANGLE OF INCIDENCE: REDISCOVERING THE PUBLIC ART OF AMERICAN POETRY IN THE PRIVATE HEART OF THE INDIVIDUAL WRITER.

Each workshop begins with at least a 15 min. non-secular Buddhist Samantha- Vipassana meditation session with the object of calming the mind and body and building mental concentration, lessening distraction, to better serve the student in their pursuit of writing and poetry in particular. Cushions to be supplied by workshop participants.

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

2009-05-23T12:19:00.002-04:00

Poetic Arts Performance Project Presents:
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!)

Picture Recap: May 15, 2009 Arsenic Pizza Preview

2009-05-18T00:27:00.012-04:00

Here are some pictures from the Yogasutra event, Arsenic Pizza: Left Overs (Preview). Videos will slowly be put on our Youtube page.

May 23rd, 2009: PAPP Presents!

2009-05-14T09:20:00.003-04:00

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 Solomon
Yolanda Palacio Wisher
Ms. Wise
La Melodia
Auquil

Videos from Blend at the Blue Banana

2009-05-14T09:18:00.000-04:00

From 05-07-09:

Arsenic Pizza Preview--this Friday!

2009-05-12T11:55:00.001-04:00

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!

For more information: yogasutraphilly.com. Spread the word. The revolution will be reheated!

Down the Road: Light of Unity Series

2009-05-11T11:34:00.010-04:00

Upcoming Events

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

The Imaginary Band, Nathalie Felix, and Quincy Scott Jones

2009-05-04T08:03:00.003-04:00

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.

May 7th Event Information

2009-05-02T09:20:00.001-04:00

Poetic Arts Performance Project Presents:
Blend @ Blue Bananas Café

(A new series featuring poetry, spoken word, and music 1st Thursdays of every month)

Ashraf Osman and Brian Markley
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

* Blue Bananas Café can validate parking at Abbott Square Parking Lot, 3rd & South. ($4.00 to park all night!)

More Pictures from the Rubye's Kids Event!

2009-04-27T13:49:00.002-04:00

A new Flickr account was created for PAPP. Here is the first example of what Flickr can really do, even at its most basic level. Expect more slideshows down the road. Also keep an eye out for videos from this weekend's event.

Pictures from the Poetry Potluck/Rubye's Kids Festival

2009-04-27T10:09:00.006-04:00

Here are some pictures of the excitement at the Rubye's Kids Event a couple days ago. Videos will be uploaded over the course of the next two weeks.

More to come soon!

PAPP Event Follow-Up

2009-04-26T23:37:00.001-04:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the UCAL yesterday and participated as a performer or audience member. The event was wild, unexpected, and extremely satisfying. Look for videos and photos posted soon.

Updated Info for the May 25th Poetry Potluck at UCAL

2009-04-19T23:09:00.005-04:00

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

2009-04-19T10:18:00.001-04:00

Arranged and hosted by our own Courtney Bambrick:

In honor of Poetry Month, we present the…

East Falls Open

~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.

Our Very Large and Exciting Upcoming Event

2009-04-14T00:36:00.003-04:00

Poetic Arts Performance Project Presents:

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

Upcoming Blend Event!

2009-04-09T09:32:00.006-04:00

May 7th will be the first Thursday in May and thus will be the evening of the Blend event series over at Blue Banana on South Street.

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.

Click here to go to our page of recordings from the previous Blend event.

Videos Being Uploaded and Issues Uploading Videos

2009-04-05T22:27:00.002-04:00

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

Flatterers of Dionysus

2009-04-02T14:09:00.003-04:00

Gabriella B. C., one of the Performance Project's newest members, is acting in this show! Please support her, and everyone else involved!

This Thursday!

2009-03-30T22:49:00.000-04:00

Poetic Arts Performance Project Presents:
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!)

We're Teaching Classes

2009-03-28T22:58:00.003-04:00

Here's some confirmation on the classes that PAPP will be teaching:

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

2009-03-28T05:23:00.001-04:00

Do you have questions, comments, concerns? Want to help out with events, classes, and the like? Email us! poeticartsperformanceproject@yahoo.com

This Saturday: Extreme Literariness

2009-03-25T19:33:00.004-04:00

Debrah Morkun Presents:

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.

Tuesday Moonstone Event--Updates!

2009-03-22T23:55:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, March 24, 7pm – Poetry
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.

Blam! Recap; Videos Update; New Events!

2009-03-21T22:08:00.003-04:00

PAPP would like to give thanks to everyone for coming out to Moonstone last night for the Blam! event. The featured performers were wonderful, and the energy of the open mic was both eclectic and wonderful.

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!)

Check Out the Upcoming Artists

2009-03-18T23:09:00.004-04:00

Here are two video clips of artists performing at the BLAM! event this Friday, March 20th. Videos from this Friday's event will be posted in the future.

Jesse Schurr of the Jesse Schurr Band:

Alabaster McDougle:

This Friday: BLAM! Event

2009-03-16T09:03:00.005-04:00

Head over to the Moonstone Literary Salon (formerly Robin's Books) this Friday, March 20th, for a wonderful variety show. BLAM!, hosted by the Poetic Arts Performance Project's Adam "Naked" Meora and Greg Bem, will feature song, poetry, storytelling, and a few special surprises.

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.

Blog Opens

2009-03-13T00:07:00.002-04:00

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!