Robert Creeley

During the 1970s I shot, helped to make, or commissioned about ten document films, mainly about film-makers. This film is one of them. It was made with Dan Ochiva, who acted as cameraman on about half of the footage. I shot the rest, and then edited the film. It is a record of a conference held at the State University of New York at Buffalo on March 22-25, 1973. Among the participants filmed were Gerald O'Grady (who organized the conference), Will Hindle, Stan Brakhage, Jonas Mekas, Robert Creeley, Bruce Baillie, Scott Bartlett, Hollis Frampton, Ken Jacobs, Ed Pincus, Stan Vanderbeek, Ed Emshwiller, Sally Dixon, James Cox. This footage will eventually become part of my film PEOPLE, PLACES, THE 1970S. –R. H.

Two portraits in relation to each other, the first of Robert Creeley, the second of Michael McClure. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2007.

Colin Still's BLACK MOUNTAIN BLUES invites Robert Creeley to reflect on his life and work with patience and unobtrusive guidance. The film provides an invaluable view of Creeley in the last years of his life, with commentary from Charles Bernstein and Susan Howe, two of Creeley's closest colleagues, and from poet, musician, artist, and teacher Bobbie Louise Hawkins, who was married to Creeley for nearly 20 years. Vincent Ferini figures prominently, having put Olson in touch with Robert Creeley, shaping midcentury American writing.