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December 2009

Tuesday, 12/1

Poet and performance artist Ursula Rucker

Fourth annual Caroline Rothstein Oral Poetry Program

6:00 PM in the Arts Cafe

introduced by: Allison Harris

As a poet and performance artist, Ursula Rucker has enchanted critics and fans across the globe with her diverse repertoire, captivating vocals, and accessible poetic verse. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she began documenting her observations of the world when she was just a girl. After graduating from Temple University's journalism program and a stint at The Painted Bride Art Center, Ursula made her debut in 1994 at Philadelphia's famed jazz venue, Zanzibar Blue.

Producer King Britt invited her to create her first recording, the 1994 single, "Supernatural" (Ovum/Slip N Slide UK). Critics have compared Ursula to Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni. Coincidentally, when Shange was unable to provide The Roots with a spoken word contribution for their debut album Do You Want More?!!?!! (1994, Geffen), they called on her to fit the bill. "The Unlocking", which closed the album, introduced Ursula to the world of progressive hip-hop and led to subsequent invitations to close The Roots follow-up albums Iladelph Halflife (1996, Geffen) and Things Fall Apart (1999, MCA).

Ursula has toured with Jamaaladeen Tacuma, SYLK130, and 4HERO in the United States and Europe. In 2001, her !K7 debut Supa Sista introduced Ursula as a solo artist with a strong lyrical voice. Her 2003 release, Silver and Lead, further extended her exploration of self, race and femininity. With maat mama (2006, !K7) Ursula once again showed a new level of maturity in her writing. Ursula's most recent release, Ruckus Soundsysdom, executive produced by King Britt for his FiveSixMedia imprint, takes listeners on a journey into her various sonic influences. Producers include King, Dego (4Hero), Rich Medina, Fish Eye, Rucyl Mills, Tim Motzer, and others.

A proud mother of four, Ursula currently lives in Northwest Philadelphia. She recently received a grant from the Leeway Foundation to complete an epic poem for a collaboration with Pullitzer-prize winning photographer Clarence Williams. Rucker is also a 2008 recipient of the Leeway Transformation Award, which is given to artists in the Philadelphia region who have been engaged in art for social change for give years or more.

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Wednesday, 12/2


Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Thursday, 12/3

Because we all feel like it

6:00 PM in the Arts Cafe

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Friday, 12/4

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Saturday, 12/5

Sunday, 12/6

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Monday, 12/7

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Tuesday, 12/8

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Wednesday, 12/9

A Lunch program with Dan Biddle and Murray Dubin

12:00 PM in the Arts Cafe

introduced by: Dick Polman
rsvp: to wh@writing.upenn.edu

Dan Biddle, a journalist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, graduated from the University of Michigan and worked for The Cleveland Plain Dealer from 1976 until 1979, when he joined The Philadelphia Inquirer as a City Hall reporter. Seven years later he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for journalism, along with H. G. Bissinger and Fredric N. Tulsky, for their piece, "Disorder in the Court," which exposed the transgressions of justice in the Philadelphia court system. The issues of bribery and corruption the article brought forth lead to both federal and state investigations. Dan Biddle is currently the Deputy City Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, and is in the midst of working with former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Murray Dubin on a book about Philadelphia's 1871 civil rights movement.

Murray Dubin is an award winning journalist turned author. A Philadelphia native and Temple grad, his publications include South Philadelphia: mummers, memories, and the Melrose Diner (1996, Temple University Press) and Living Under South Street : Photographs of South Philadelphia by Jonathan Elderfield (2003, Kehrer Verlag). Along with freelancing, he is currently co-authoring a book with Dan Biddle on America's "first" Civil Rights movement, the effort by free blacks in the North to secure true freedom for themselves in the 1800s by advocating ending discrimination in employment, transportation, education and on the baseball playing fields.

Poetry Reading by Students in Lynn Levin's Creative Writing Class

5:00 PM in the Arts Cafe

Speakeasy: Poetry, Prose, and Anything Goes!

8:00 PM in the Arts Cafe

Speakeasy is an open mic night held at the Kelly Writers House every other Wednesday evening. It's an opportunity for writers to share their work, or the work of others, in a friendly setting. Speakeasy was founded in 1997 and continues to be an important part of the regular Writers House programming series. We welcome poets, storytellers, singers, musicians, and anything in between to share their voices with us in the Arts Cafe twice a month. As always: Poetry, prose, anything goes!

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Thursday, 12/10

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Friday, 12/11

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Saturday, 12/12

Sunday, 12/13

Monday, 12/14

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Tuesday, 12/15

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Wednesday, 12/16

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Thursday, 12/17

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Friday, 12/18

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Saturday, 12/19

Sunday, 12/20

Monday, 12/21

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Tuesday, 12/22

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Wednesday, 12/23

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Thursday, 12/24

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Friday, 12/25

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Saturday, 12/26

Sunday, 12/27

Monday, 12/28

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Tuesday, 12/29

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Wednesday, 12/30

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)

Thursday, 12/31

Meetings and classes (may require registration or permission; email for more info)