Originally Posted: January 20th, 2015
Updated: February 25th, 2015
Last week, I came across a page from Claes Oldenburg’s “Unattendable Lunches.” It’s such a mysterious text that I have yet to find the full version online.
Here’s the excerpt I fell in love with:

“First unattendable lunch” was published–along with the entire “Unattendable Lunches” work–in the 6th and last issue of S.M.S (“Shit Must Stop”). Featuring artists like Yoko Ono, John Cage, Man Ray, and Marcel Duchamp for one year in the late sixties, each issue contained “an ambitious and groundbreaking collection of work” from a variety of artists, according to the founder, William N. Copley (“CPLY”).
Oldenburg’s “Unattendable Lunches” holds together seven typed pages of lunch menus by rope. From what I understand, the essence of it is a poem and thank you letter:
Pamphlet with a magic marker cover drawing, hand-bound with a knotted rope, containing typewritten pages of proposed menus of quintessential, mundane American food for seven unattended lunches. Enclosed within is an envelope containing Oldenburg’s poetic typewritten regrets.
Though it is part of several museums, “Unattendable Lunches” is currently not on view at any of them.
It is, however, available for purchase of up to £300.

First unattendable lunch June 26 1967 MONDAY Small watercress* sandwiches Glass of cool tomato juice Fruit cup with grape in it Small cup of coffee Ordinary cookie A napkin Glass of soda water in the shade Thank you so much Youre welcome
* …did you know watercress is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables to be consumed by humans?
What a great idea so bad we can’t actually see it. I was in NYC last year and saw some Warhol it was a great inspiration to me. It was of Jackie O back in the Kennedy years. Great post been wondering where you have been, so glad to hear for you
As always Sheldon
That’s fantastic. I’ve never seen Warhol in person; thanks for sharing your story with me.
Yes, shame we can’t see it. Looks like a beautiful little object. He and Coosje are really interesting artists.
Agreed!