James Kalm responds to a gracious invitation from MoMA to attend the press preview of this timely exhibition. Like the coming of summer, or the swallows returning to Capistrano, the cycles in the art world have returned to focus on the practice of painting. Organized by Anne Umland, this show spotlights 50 works of art that are painting, or relate to, the question, “What is Painting?” and displays works from the museum’s permanent collection. Ann Temkin, curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture leads viewers through a brief walk-through and delivers an insightful explanation of the works. Artists represented include Philip Guston, Philip Pearlstein, Lee Lozano, A.R. Penck, George Baselitz, John Baldessari, Lynda Benglis, Lee Bontecou, Marcel Broodthaers, Chuck Close, John Currin, Anselm Kiefer, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, et al.
Duration : 0:10:7
James Kalm travels to Soho’s Painting Center where we visit “Building Picturing” Curated by Vittorio Colaizzi, then on to Chelsea’s West 24th Street and Freight Volume where Marlène Mocquet debuts Recent Paintings, and Sylvan Lionni shows Zugzwang. Zipping over to Metro Pictures we catch Yuri Masnyj’s “The Night is Still Young” for a Thursday night’s gallery tour.
James Kalm Brings viewers a brief tour of “Monumental Piccolini”, a provocative show highlighting current abstraction by contrasting the ambitious scale of classic “New York School” works with the more modest productions of contemporary practitioners. One of the contentions of curator Jennifer Riley was that, due to market forces, monumental works are being ignored by galleries. It’s hoped that by creating a dialog between works, scales and generations the sphere of formalist abstraction will display its vibrancy. Includes interviews with Craig Fisher and Jennifer Riley
James Kalm risks a soaking deluge to bring viewers the first gallery of this abbreviated glimpse of on of this summer’s most discussed painting shows. Presenting a cross section of generational and geographical implications, “Painting: Now and Forever, Part II” is the second installment of the original exhibition that happened in 1998. At that time the shows were split between Matthew Marks Gallery and the late Pat Hearn’s. Though limited in scope these exhibitions display a broad spectrum of current practices while also re-evaluating past movements with in a Post Modernist context. Featuring works by Lily van der Stokker, Jack Goldstein, Martin Kippenberger, Rodney Graham, Binky Palermo and others
VICTORIA – One of Vancouver Island’s most prolific painters is being recognized with his first retrospective.
James Kalm slips in five minutes before closing and goes on the LD (Low-Down) to bring viewers a brisk walk-through tour of this historic Manzoni Retrospective at Gagosian Gallery. Piero Manzoni is perhaps one of the most influential proto conceptualists. This exhibition places his groundbreaking work in a chronological context with other artists like Yves Klein, Alberto Burri and Willem de Kooning. Probably best know for his Artists (Merda dartista) and Base of the World Manzoni died at age 30. Because of the tight security and a strict no-photo polocy at the gallery no commentary was possible. Audio was provided by an interview with Roy Basnett on 105.9 FM, The Voice of Liverpool broadcast March 16, 2009. For purposes on this interview, the persona of Loren Munk was adopted.
James Kalm makes a pilgrimage to west Chelsea and takes in a viewing of recent paintings by New York icon Ron Gorchov. In a career that spans nearly fifty years, Gorchov has perused his vision of pure painting. With his unique touch and innovative intuition the artist has developed an unmistakable form that combines the pictorial with the sculptural. His saddle shaped canvases transcend the novelty of the gimmick and miraculously acquire a universal correctness that is timeless in its elegance.
James Kalm is still reeling from the crash and burn of his old computer. This video marks the beginning of new level of half-assed production in HD. 
James Kalm pedals up to the opening of Inka Essenhighs most recent selection of paintings, The Old New Age. In these works the artist has concentrated on developing a sharp focus depiction of the natural landscape that surrounds her summer studio in Maine. Mingling a fantastic Surrealism with the romantic sublime, forest maddens and spirits in the mist appear to observant viewers. Includes an interview with Inka Essenhigh
James Kalm ignores the sweltering heat wave to visit this astounding exhibition of works by legendary San Francisco artist Jess. Since rejecting a career in nuclear physics to pursue his unique vision of art, Jess (Burgess Collins, 1923-2004) has created one of the most influential reputations on the West Coast. With an independence of thought, Jess evolved an unmistakable painting style, as well as carried the tradition of collage to new heights of richness and complexity. This is the first New York gallery show in over twenty years and the first in-depth presentation of the work since the Whitney’s “Grand Collage” retrospective in 1994.