Henry Ferrini-Poem in Action

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Now Showing: Lowell Blues: The Words of Jack Kerouac

Daily 4:00PM Screenings
Lowell National Historical Park
Visitor Center
246 Market St.
Lowell
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*new*
International Screening: France

What's New(s)-updated 2/10/2008

— Salem MA–The life of Gloucester's beloved poet-Vincent Ferrini, will be celebrated on March 6, the final night of the Salem Film Festival. Poem in Action: A Portrait of Vincent Ferrini will be shown at Cinema Salem at 7:30p, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and a reception and reading of the poet's work. The Salem Film Fest, which runs Feb. 28-March 6, includes outstanding features, documentaries, and short films from around the world. The festival takes place at Cinema Salem, One East India Square. Film and event schedules are available here. For more information, call 978-744-1400.

ART

  • Polis Is This
  • Lowell Blues
  • Prez
  • Poem in Action
  • Know Fish
  • Witch City
  • Radio Fishtown
  • Loco in Euzkadi
  • Leather Soul
  • Last Call
  • Middle Street
  • Who is Sylvia
  • Ray Parson
  • Sandy's Jazz Revival

BIZ

  • Non-Profit Work
  • World of Arco
  • GE Plastics
  • UMass-Boston
  • United Nations
  • Mass Audubon
  • Center For Millennial Studies

POEM IN ACTION: a portrait of Vincent Ferrini
Awards | Video | Purchase

"Bravo!...a captivating look at a poet and poetry, engaging without the usual hush of stuffy reverence."
—1993 San Francisco Film Festival.

NONA-POET

Since May of 2007 Vincent Ferrini has been living in “Denmark.” That’s what he calls the DenMar Nursing facility located at 44 South Street, Rockport, MA 01966. Denmark is good for Vince. He has for a long time needed a helping hand. Since moving, he is less depressed, gets lots of attention and he sees people caring for people which gives him hope not only for himself but for America. He told me one day “the long feud has ended.” You’ll have to read his autobiography Hermit of the Clouds to find out about the feud.
Vincent and I have started a new project. After visiting I will post a small video excerpt from the day. His thoughts, poems or musings. I will also post some archival bits when I come across them. You can find these bits at http://web.mac.com/ferrini/iWeb/VF%20VLOG/April_2.html

Vincent Ferrini calls himself, "the living poem." At 80 years of age his enthusiasm and energy for life is infectious. Poem in Action portrays the forces which forged him as a poet: his life as an immigrant's son and factory worker, the Great Depression, the Communist Party and the poetics of place.

Shot over a period of eight years, filmmaker Henry Ferrini provides a nephew's eye-view of his uncle's personal journey. From "the last surviving proletarian poet" to the "conscience of Gloucester," Vincent Ferrini's work spans five decades. Living outside the academic community, he speaks to literary and non-literary people alike. His magnetic presence and unyielding creativity make for an energizing example of the artist as a citizen. This is not a portrait of the poet as reclusive or diffident but as a spokesman, social activist, teacher and historian.

Poem in Action probes the magical space where life and literature synergistically intertwine as it explores the poet's commitment to the unity of art and life.