Spencer Reece and Dar Williams: A Video Interview

In 2013, poet and priest (and Bloomer) Spencer Reece will be living in Honduras on a Fulbright Fellowship, working with the girls of Our Little Roses orphanage on a book of their own poems.

A film crew, led by director Brad Coley, has joined Spencer to make a documentary film about his year at Our Little Roses.  James Franco—who made a short film that screened at Cannes based on Spencer’s poem “The Clerk’s Tale”—will Executive Produce the film.  And beloved singer-songwriter Dar Williams will write and perform the film’s soundtrack.

Bloom sat down with Spencer and Dar—who first met 25 years ago at Wesleyan College—to talk about their friendship; the relationship between art, spirituality, and social engagement; blooming in their 40s; and the Our Little Roses project.  Following is Part 1 of that interview.

Click here for Part 2 of the interview.

Click here to read Spencer’s personal essay about his journey—from Brooks Brothers salesman, to award-winning and published poet (at 40), to ordained priest in the Episcopal church; to Spanish learner, Fulbright fellow, and Our Little Roses poetry teacher (at 50).