Crip Lit! At Bluestockings!
An evening of readings and performances from disabled writers and performers and their allies, with Mat Fraser and friends. Hosted by Jo Weldon.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 7:00pm
Suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds $5
Proceeds go to support the bookstore's activist activities
Bluestockings Bookstore, Café, & Activist Center.
It's a criptastic criptacular of literary genius!
In November of of 2010, referred by disability activists and performers Mat Fraser and Diva Hollywood, Jo Weldon conducted a burlesque workshop culminating in a performance showcase at the Deaf and Disabled Performing Arts Festival (DadaFest) in Liverpool. The workshop included everything from coming up with burlesque stage names to learning to make pasties and twirl tassels (ably taught by Jonny Porkpie). Constantly inspired by the ability burlesque has to bring out the sexiest and funniest performances, and to bring the fabulousness of a wide range of bodies to audience attention, she has persisted in her campaign to bring these workshops to New York. Until they happen here, you can get an earful and an eyeful at Crip Lit!
Featuring
Mat Fraser
During his career, Mat has been a drummer and rapper, a TV presenter and a voiceover artist. He's also got a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He's now best known as an actor on stage, film and television, and presents the Ouch Podcast.
http://www.matfraser.co.uk/
Christine Bruno
Christine is an entertainer and a disability advocate at The Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts , the nation’s leading advocate for full diversity as a key to the vitality and dynamism of American theatre, film, and television. We promote authentic dialogue about race, culture, and disability that embraces the complexity of underlying social and historical issues. We actively engage artists and decision makers, forge partnerships, and create opportunities. Our aim is to achieve a theatre, film and television industry that reflects American society; where each artist is considered on his/her merits as an individual; where the stories being told are drawn from diverse experiences; and where our individual humanity and forms of expressions can be celebrated.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/?interviews/christine_bruno.shtml
Penny Pepper
"My greatest love is writing fiction. In any shape, any form. I love to look at the dark and shadowy edges of people, of life, and what slides joyfully around and in between. Well, you have to, don't you? And I love to write about love and sex, when it is marvellous hot beautiful, and even when it is cruel cold nasty."
http://www.pennypepper.co.uk/
Leslie Freeman
Leslie Freeman, aka Efemmera is a NYC-based femmecrip, activist artist. Her writing on disability, gender, and sexuality, can be found in zines like Cripping Femme, which she edits, & Alana Kumbier's Prove It All Night , as well as in anthologies including Visible: A Femmethology (Homofactus 2008). Leslie has performed crip erotica with the Body Heat Femme Porn Tour, and go-go'd for Criptease and Sideshows by the Seashore.
Mangina
Patrick Bucklew, AKA Mangina, has been creating colorful performance art in New York City for the last 15 years. Patrick uses elaborate props such as filling a globe on his head with water while breathing through a snorkel. He employs prosthetics such his mangina that utilizes his scrotum as labia which he calls "the lotum" . Other prosthetic references are inspired by his prosthetic foot which Patrick lost by stepping in a hole on the beach. From song writing (he also plays accordion) to stand up tragedy to ridiculous stunts Patrick covers a diverse field of entertainment. Patrick is currently working primarily as a fine artist (painter) http://patrickbucklew.com
http://themangina.com/
Elsa E. Sjunneson
Elsa holds an MA from Sarah Lawrence College in Women's History with a focus in the history of burlesque. As a visually impaired woman, she enjoys adventure and refuses to let her white cane hold her back, but rather allows it to lead her into all sorts of new places. Recently, her article "Blind Women Get Married Too" was published on the popular blog Offbeat Bride. She works from home as an author, educator, performer and sometimes activist.
Michelle Mantione
Michelle is a performer, producer and social media activist. Her work has been featured at various spaces in NYC including: the Winter Garden Theatre/ World Financial Center, Galapagos Art Space, Bowery Poetry Club, and chashama, Inc. In addition to performing she is a steering committee member of Queer Commons, serves as Project Manager for DISLABELEDtv and has worked as an Arts Administrator at the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts. From protests and press conferences to performances and parades, Mantione’s work promotes full inclusion of people with disabilities within every aspect of society.
Alexandra Cowan
Although Alexandra can't be present, she will be having a friend read the piece she presented at Criptease in Liverpool at DaDaFest.
Sophie Partridge
Although Sophie can't be present, she'll be having a friend read a piece she's written about her experiences at DaDaFest.
Kath Duncan
Although Kath can't be present, she's sent us some absolute filth to be read by a friend.
Jo Weldon
Jo is the facilitator of this event.
http://www.schoolofburlesque.com/
More performers to be announced!
