PaintingWriting are a collective of Manchester-based painters exploring the climate of Painting through writing and shows. As part of the 'A Modest Show' summer programme, PaintingWriting are seeking submissions for the group show 'Tender Stems'.

Butter + eggs, tuna sandwiches, a mass-scale salad - Fluxus gave rise to artists intent on the nonsensical, unifying actions of the everyday. 

As part of the ‘A Modest Show’ 2022 programme, PaintingWriting is curating an exhibition in response to Gertrude Stein’s chapter ‘Food’ in the Modernist collection Tender Buttons (1914). We encourage submissions in the arena of painting and expanded painting (i.e., sculpture, film, performance, etc.) made in response to the Action instructions below:

ACTION (excerpts from Gertrude Stein’s text ‘Food’ in Tender Buttons [1914])

STEP 1: POTATOES

Real potatoes cut in between.

STEP 2: POTATOES

In the preparation of cheese, in the preparation of crackers, in the preparation of butter, in it.

STEP 3: BUTTER

Boom in, boom in, butter. Leave a grain and show it, show it. 

I spy.

It is a need it is a need that a flower a state flower. It is a need that a state rubber. It is a need that a state rubber is sweet and sight and a swelled stretch. It is a need. It is a need that state rubber.

Wood a supply.

Clean little keep a strange, estrange on it.

Make a little white, no not with pit, pit on in within.

STEP 4: CUCUMBER 

Not a razor less, not a razor, ridiculous pudding, red and relet put, rest in a slender go in selecting, rest in, rest in, rest in in white widening.

STEP 5: ORANGE

Why is a feel oyster an egg stir. Why is it orange centre.

A show at tick and loosen loosen it so to speak sat.

It was an extra leaker with a see spoon, it was an extra licker with a see spoon.

Inspired by Futurist and Fluxus cookbooks, successful applicants will be required to contribute a recipe of their own for the exhibition’s COOKBOOK. 

Instagram: @paintingwriting 

UK submissions only

Deadline 1st July 2022

Exhibition to take place Summer 2022 in Manchester (venue being finalised).