Jeanne Marie Spicuzza

Jeanne Marie Spicuzza was born the middle child to Robert and Marianne, teachers and Roman Catholics, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Inspired by her numerous Sicilian-American relatives, particularly her great uncle, post-impressionist artist and painter Francesco Spicuzza, Jeanne studied theatre, writing and visual arts.

At the age of sixteen, Jeanne became pregnant with her daughter, Stephanie and was encouraged by teachers and administrators to withdraw from Shorewood High School. Determined not to marry, and guided by her mentor, Dr. Nanette Metskas, she obtained her equivalency, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Residing on Milwaukee's fashionable East Side, Jeanne discovered community among its artists. She began training as a master herbalist, completed her first illustrated children's book, studied tarot and engaged in social and political activism. Jeanne marched for peace and women's rights, and struggled with university psychology department staff. After years of persistence, and with the help of the campus animal rights group, Jeanne was granted her request that the department provide alternatives to animal research. She attended the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and studied classical guitar. In 1993, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Three months later, following a hike through the Maine wilderness of the Appalachian Trail, Jeanne founded Seasons & a Muse, a seven division entity that was to become the first arts and film corporate collective of its kind. Within one year, she was one of several poets to feature at Lollapalooza. Her play, "Hope is My Favorite Color," was staged by director Yvonne Johnson at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum soon after. In 1996, Jeanne performed segments of her multi-media performance, "NAKED" at the Pabst Theatre. She began training as a Master in philosophy and soon met Guy Hoffman, drummer of Violent Femmes, whom she would later marry.

Later, Jeanne studied in cities such as Florence, Venice, Crete, Bingen, Amsterdam and others. She met family in Sicily, and continued seven years of research and three years of writing in order to complete "Breath of God: The True Story of Hildegard von Bingen." "Breath of God" would later be blessed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and would receive honors from the Vatican Division of Arts and Culture and the Academy of Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Segments from "Breath of God" are on permanent exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum as part of the Judy Chicago installation The Dinner Party. Additional works may be found at David Barnett Gallery.

Over fourteen years, Jeanne has performed internationally in New York, Amsterdam, London, Chicago, Los Angeles and others, at venues and festivals like the Green Mill, Y-Not II, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Ladyfest worldwide, Santa Monica College and more. She has given live performances and interviews on WSUM, ROR FM Italia, KUCI, Irvine; BBC, England, National Public Radio, WMSE, NBC, and others, receiving various awards and nominations, including The Golden Headset Award and Shepherd Express Best Performance Artist 1998. She studied acting with Diane Salinger, Jason Alexander and Courtney Burr, and trained at Ivana Chubbuck Studios, Theatre Royal Haymarket and others. Jeanne's "Making Angels" attracted Emmy- and DGA Award-nominated director Julie Dash ("Daughters of the Dust," "The Rosa Parks Story"). "Making Angels" is scheduled to commence production in 2008.

Works

Making Angels, (2007) (pre-production)
beautiful terrible & true, 2001, 2005 (ISBN 0-9763952-0-7)
Field Day (DVD), 2004
Images of Women (Internet and one-woman performances), 2002
Jeanne Spicuzza (CD), 2001
Labors (VHS), 2000
Naked (VHS and live performances), 1998, 1999, 2001
Hope is My Favorite Color (play), 1995
Breath of God, a movie

References

http://www.poetsencyclopedia.com/jeannespicuzza.shtml
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19981218/ai_n10460184
http://www.onmilwaukee.com/music/articles/spicuzzahoffman.html
http://www.smmirror.com/volume3/issue39/images_of_women.asp
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/filmsites/filmsites_S.php

Additional Resources

Who's Who in America - 2004, 58th Edition (pub. 2003)
Who's Who in America - 2003, 57th Edition (pub. 2002)
Who's Who in America - 2002, 56th Edition (pub. 2001)
Who's Who in America - 2001, 55th Edition (pub. 2000)
Who's Who in America - 2000, 54th Edition (pub. 1999)
Who's Who in the Midwest - 1999-2000, 26th Edition (pub. 1998)
Who's Who of American Women - 2006-2007, 25th Edition (pub. 2005)
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders - 2007, 1st Edition (pub. 2006)

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Comments

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 at 8:08 PM, by Suzella
'Making Angels' is such a beautiful work of art. Have you seen it? I think Della Reese is especially good in the role of head angel.

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