Bruce Boone and Robert Gluck read together at the Berkeley Museum on May 4th. The evening consisted of a shared reading of their "translation" of Fontaine called La Fontaine with each writer taking turns reading sections from the book. Following the La Fontaine reading Boone then Gluck read from newer work. Boone read from a soon to be published long poem, Valentine for Daddy Steve and Gluck from a limited edition art book collaboration with Cuban artist José Angel Toirac, Parables.
Gluck's reading including slides of the images from this limited edition, 33, artist book that explores the glorification of Fidel Castro through the creation of iconic images of Castro in the tradition of Christian iconography of Christ through the pairing of these images with Gluck's biblical style passages. Written with the constraints of not mentioning Castro or Christ and stylistic constraint of the sincerity of religious writing, Gluck gospels create a religion based on the Castro icons and his porous passages of insight and belief. An ironic successor to his Margery Kempe, this test of belief has non of the duality and complexity of that text but rather builds in his language the layers created by the images of Castro as Christ. Gluck uses the infinite loop strategy of the Gospel of the Thomas Gospel to create even more impossible loops and layers of transfiguration in his gospel of Saint Gluck. Passages of which I wish I could quote properly but I do not posses one of 33 copes. So I will attempt to give some color of it from my haphazard notes and snaps.
Gluck's reading including slides of the images from this limited edition, 33, artist book that explores the glorification of Fidel Castro through the creation of iconic images of Castro in the tradition of Christian iconography of Christ through the pairing of these images with Gluck's biblical style passages. Written with the constraints of not mentioning Castro or Christ and stylistic constraint of the sincerity of religious writing, Gluck gospels create a religion based on the Castro icons and his porous passages of insight and belief. An ironic successor to his Margery Kempe, this test of belief has non of the duality and complexity of that text but rather builds in his language the layers created by the images of Castro as Christ. Gluck uses the infinite loop strategy of the Gospel of the Thomas Gospel to create even more impossible loops and layers of transfiguration in his gospel of Saint Gluck. Passages of which I wish I could quote properly but I do not posses one of 33 copes. So I will attempt to give some color of it from my haphazard notes and snaps.
Among the many delights of this book are the titles for the images (all taken from Cuban Media) given to the images of Castro, The Hills of the Fatherland, In the Temple of the Learned Doctors, and this one of Elia Gonzales the boat boy who chose to return to Cuba whose title I don't recall but may have been The Professors as Toys...below is the Hills of the Fatherland.
According to Gluck a reconstruction of a revolutionary moment to tell a story for the Castro regime. What I heard in listening to the text was the reducing and reproducing of phrase and linguistic image that both evolved and broke them down. In the beginning was the shadow and the bug. Batwings bear her soul...Corpse I...Nettles and for the rhyme of Death and Breath. I revise in the cementary the form of Flesh Shirts.
Gluck's reading was follow by Bruce Boone ready A Valentine for Daddy Steve.
[Daddy Steve notes go here]
Following the reading Minnette and I slipped back to Way Bay to catch what we might have missed. a curious show we both found ourselves searching for friends or people of interest. During our backwards and sideways meander we crossed Larry Rinder giving a guided tour to some no doubt import people. Got a gentle recognizing wave which we returned glad to be able to slice and dice this show our way. In the end we decided we liked the gossip and the gathering. Found little good work. And wanted a something to map it physically. So as she is want Minnette lifted the gallery guide. See her fleeing with Malka like determination past the guard below.
And of course she was as she if a successful lifter.
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