I think that if we firstly understand Sienese Shredder firstly a book of poetry and poets, it's easier to understand the ultimate task. Included are John Ashberry, Ron Padgett, William Corbett (who I am assuming is a relation of Edward Corbett), and Richard Tuttle locates it very much within the "New York School" of poets. Furthermore including works by Larry Fagin, who has produced a book of poems illustrated by Tuttle, and who has worked closely with Ron Padgett in Brooklynn further locates much of the contributors in and around New York.
Yet the books seems focused not on compartmentalizing or particularizing these contributors as much as it wishes to reveal their coalescence, discussion, and interest in one another.
It seems that Sienese Shredder is interested in poetry that is infested in and contributing to the world of visual arts, as well as revealing the sort of inverted or surprising discussions of art--such as the interview by Judith Stein wherein Richard Tuttle is interviewed about an art dealer. Instead of reading about the artist (Tuttle) we're reading a behind the scenes; stories about the people to whom the art is made collectible. Suddenly the person supporting art is given representation.
I also thought it was also interesting that the book was edited by two painters—Brice Brown & Trevor Winkfield. Furthermore, Sienese Shredder includes visual peices by John Ashbery. His long interest in Dada and Surrealism as well as his proliferation of art & poetic critique are no where to be found, instead we get only images he's produced.
It seems to be a re-examination and perhaps a revitalizationg of the New York School, the practices and interests of this school, and the ongoing transformation and transmutation of experimental poetry within art and aesthetic practices more generally.
Also, I was also thinking about the title and this is what I came up with:
Sienese = Sienna – during the 14th and 13th centuries was the center of a flourishing school of art
Shredder = a machine or other device used for shredding something.
So, yeah, I think that is an appropriate title.
