"Only the resurrection of Miles Davis could follow tonight" James Cushing

Arguably one of the most talented and respected artists of his generation, Kenneth Rexroth was not only a venerated poet, but an essayist, literary critic, translator and painter. Perhaps most significantly, Rexroth was considered the instigator of The San Francisco Renaissance.

“The Signature of All Things” serves as a passionate ode to the artist, documenting a magical night of tribute to the genius of Kenneth Rexroth on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Held at Beyond Baroque, the notoriously avant-garde Literary Arts Center in Venice Beach, this standing-room-only celebration attracted an eclectic and eccentric roster of participants extolling Rexroth’s impact on an art form.

By turns exuberant and bitter-sweet, this film memorializes Rexroth with wild recitations and wry reminiscences from the assorted friends, family members, former students, writers, music archivists, performers and poets who knew him best. This documentary expresses, in its unassuming artistry, a lasting impression of an American original.

Curated and Hosted by Michael C Ford at Beyond Baroque, Venice, California.
Directed, Produced & Edited by Lindsay Mofford
Graphics and Sound by Tucker
Executive Produced by Harlan Steinberger

83 minutes, DVD Format
© Hen House Studios 2010

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“For Eli Jacobson” – December 1952 (excerpt)
We were comrades together.
Life was good for us. It is
Good to be brave — nothing is
Better. Food tastes better. Wine
Is more brilliant. Girls are more
Beautiful. The sky is bluer
For the brave — for the brave and
Happy comrades and for the
Lonely brave retreating warriors.
You had a good life.