Bob Rashkow performed "An Imaginary Conversation with Gertrude Stein" and about "'Tender Buttons' Takes Center Stage" during "Lunch Buttons." Rashkow wrote these poems in response to songs by Fist of Kindness, as part of the Van Reipen Collective's stage production of "(The entire text of) 'Tender Buttons' by Gertrude Stein. A spectacle in3 parts."
"Lunch Buttons" was a performance event that celebrated and explored "Tender Buttons at 100 and "Lunch Poems" at 50 (Beauty and Brawn Art Gallery & Think Space, 12/10/2014). Chicago-based poets, artists and musicians performed work in collaboration with poets and artists who live outside of Chicago. Including the Bay Area Correspondence School, Matthias Regan, Bob Rashkow, Radu Dicher, Natalie Simpson, Lunch Buttons Ensemble, Gene Tanta, Fist of Kindness, Duane Vorhees, Vittorio Carli, Lindsey Meyers Alexander, Charlie Newman and Dan Godston.
Image: part of Bay Area Correspondence School mail art by Della Watson & Kristen Kong
borderbend.org/blog/lunch-buttons
vanreipen.org/work/tenderbuttons