Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series Presents…Fisherpoets

The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on Friday, February 18th with Fisherpoets, a film by Jennifer Brett Winston. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the Working Waterfront Festival. Films about the working waterfront will be screened on the third Friday of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge.

The 42 minute film is the story of a unique breed of fishermen who spin tall tales and weave true stories of life at sea through vivid and powerful poetry. The film profiles the lives and work of five West Coast fisher poets, including Geno Leech, Moe Bowstern and Dave Densmore, all of whom have been featured at the Working Waterfront Festival in New Bedford.  Filmmaker Jennifer Brett Winston, who got her start with the National Geographic Channel and had worked on documentaries for CBS, Discovery Channel, and A & E Television Network, produced Fisherpoets on her own time and with her own money.

Following the film, local poet Charlotte Enoksen will share some of her work. Ms. Enoksen’s father emigrated from Norway’s Loften Islands and pursued the work of generations before him, owning two fishing vessels, F/V Porpoise and F/V Louise.  Once married to a fisherman, Enoksen’s poetry often reflects the lives of those left on shore. Her work is both creative and cathartic, a “song without accompaniment.” Currently a social worker, Charlotte has also worked in journalism, advertising, public relations and fundraising. She is a regular contributor to the annual Fisherpoets Session at the Working Waterfront Festival and was featured in Voices from the Waterfront: Portrait of the New Bedford Fishing Industry.

The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization. The FREEfestival, a family-friendly, educational celebration of New England’s commercial fishing industry, features live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen’s contests, fresh seafood, vessel tours, author readings, cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities and more. All events take place on working piers and waterfront parks in New Bedford, MA, America’s #1 fishing port, on the fourth full weekend in September.  Check out www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org for more information.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social,and environmental history of the United States. The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-3 PM. The newest exhibit, Communities of Whaling, explores the connections between this city and five local ethnic communities whose roots trace back to whaling: African-Americans, Cape Verdeans, Azoreans, Native Americans and West
Indians.

The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at (508)-996-4095.