Ferlinghetti made art here

SANDUSKY — Poet and publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti was best known for his association with San Francisco, but for awhile, his heart was in Sandusky, too. Paintings that Ferlinghetti did in Sandusky remain on display on the second floor of the BGSU Firelands English Department building at the school's main campus. Ferlinghetti Creative Commons photo Ferlinghetti was 101 when he died on Feb. 22. His first collection of poetry, "A Coney Island of the Mind," sold more than a million copies and was translated into nine languages. He founded the City Lights bookstore in San Francisco and also the City Lights publishing company. Huron poet and retired English professor Larry Smith wrote a biography of Ferlinghetti, "Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Poet-At-Large," that was published in 1983. "A Coney Island of the Mind" was one of the best-selling books of poetry ever in the United States, and Ferlinghetti was a poet who could speak directly to people, Smith said. Ferlinghetti's City Lights publishing company also helped inspire Smith's own small press, Bottom Dog. The famous poet came to Sandusky several times, Smith said, visiting a lady friend, June King, a local librarian and poet. The two had met in 1994 at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. A closeup look at one of Lawrence Ferlinghetti's Sandusky paintings. Photo by David Dupont/BG Independent News "It was because the girlfriend was here, but he liked Sandusky," Smith said. Ferlinghetti also was known for publishing Allen Ginsberg's famous 1950s poem, "Howl." He was arrested for publishing an obscene work but was acquitted in a 1957 trial. Ferlinghetti also ran into censorship in Sandusky, too. During a 1996 visit to Sandusky, he painted a couple of stick-figure nude people on a wall inside the Cooke Building downtown, where Tranquil Spaces Art Co-op, was located . It depicted a man and a woman. A vandal painted bathing suits on the two figures. Ferlinghetti then wrote a message on the clothing in favor of artistic expression. Smith and another man, David Shevin, helped preserve the paintings and get them to the main campus of Bowling Green State University. They now hang in the school's English Department building. A plaque explains, "They hang today in East Hall to represent the Department of English's commitment to artistic and academic freedom." Ferlinghetti liked Smith's biography, so the two hung out when Ferlinghetti came to town. "My biography was a literary biography," Smith said. "It was not a tell-all book." "He appreciated it. He wanted to be recognized for his poetry and art." Ferlinghetti was accessible to people who wanted to talk to him, Smith said. That also was the experience of Fremont resident Ryan Blechinger. Blechinger said when he was about 21, he flew to San Francisco to visit his friend Terrance Reimer, a former Register photographer. "Back in San Fran the day before my flight back home, we went to the City Lights bookstore where we stumbled upon his friend Lawrence who owned the shop," Blechinger said. "Little did I realize, I think I was 21 or 22, that after Lawrence's suggestion of wandering town a bit for some fresh air, I would end up strolling the streets of San Fran enjoying one of the great poets talk about life, love and the city. Lucky me."