Sketching Anew

As I embark on a new series of sketchbooks, I'm filling and stacking them up, I've been grounding elements of my drawing process in the writings of post-structuralist French philosopher Jacques Derrida, particularly his book titled Of Grammatology. In researching Of Grammatology, I came across a great blog by John Weeden, the Executive Director of UrbanArt whose organization's mission is to enhance the cultural vibrancy of Memphis through the development of public art. I thought this was an auspicious discovery as I working in earnest on my first Percent for Art project, creating art for the Humboldt Street Plaza in front of the historic Moore Street Market.

John Weeden's post titled "Art Risk Fun" was where I came across his reference of Derrida and where Weeden's tells us, "So, don't be afraid to depart the stages and take performances to the sidewalks..." This is excellent advice as I research ways to turn a sketchbook drawing into an art piece along a plaza (conceptual model below, proposal stage):

Back to sketching, reading and guiding Maddie on all things real artworld.

The blogging intern explores the art world.

During my excursion to the Upper East Side to see the John Currin Show I saw a few others shows including Joe Colman’s Auto-Portrait Show and Recent paintings by John Zinsser. Among the art I saw, there some pieces that really related to the work I have been doing, which got me excited because it showed that there is an area in the real art world for my own art. For instance, Damien Hirst's Pills piece currently in the entrance to the Gogasian Gallery on Madison Avenue, and Joe Coleman’s new Auto Portrait Show, were he has drawn portraits and surrounded each person with things that describe them. Both Hirst’s and Coleman’s pieces reminded me of the photo I had up for my last blog post, of the pills and the portrait of my dad surrounded by the things in his life. It was incredibly interesting to see pieces of art being now that are of the same nature I am doing now, while still a student, it was very validating.

I also I did studio visit to Rena Teratani's studio. She is going to have a show in June, her first solo show, which is extremely exciting! I truly enjoy her work. She makes abstract drawings of tight lines, small shapes and other lines interrupting already existing filled space. It gives off a great deal of emotion, particularly feelings of stress and frustration. While it is abstract, Rena's work seems to have some city or metropolis feel, as if we are looking down on at New York City; the overwhelming amount of buildings and people in such a small space. It makes you understand the true impact of line and mark makings.

Seeing Rena get all her ideas in place for her first show was crazy, because once you get your first show in a sense you have made it as an artist. You have essentially got over the first hill, but there always so many more things you must do to continue to be a real artist. But after this week, I can finally say confidently it is possible to be an artist, it just takes lots of time, money and commitment.

To eight at home

Carlos Vega's 8th Floor studio filled with drawings and collage in lead.

Read Sang-ah Choi here

The oh so delicate Clytie Alexander, more images at Betty Cunningham Gallery.

David Greg Harth

I'm home sick, and cleaning up, drinking tea and of course, uploading images from the Elizabeth Foundation's 8th Floor this time.

Last One on Nine

As I slowly move to the 8th floor, here's the last one on nine, Jena Kim:

James Kalm Video Retrospective, now online, here:

image courtesy Two Coats Of Paint

Presented last night at Outpost, a James Kalm Video Retrospective.

The first video linked in below sums up how I feel. The second one sums up how Loren Munk might feel, the third one sums up how the viewer might feel, the fourth one is for Hrag, although it's one of Loren's favorites. There are so many good ones, and the Rough Cut series is genius. And I included a recent one that folks liked. I did some polling on facebook, looked at the top rated ones and there's a few extras that are good too, all linked below. Of course if you were not there last night you missed Outpost's home brew beer and the #socialgraph show. Worth the interesting trip out there!!

1. Bushwick Season Opener, Austin Thomas and Jim Herbert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7htFdGD6kq8

From: jameskalm | October 03, 2010 |

James Kalm continues his coverage of the new season with this Bushwick doubleheader. Austin Thomas founded Pocket Utopia in 2007, and was one of the first galleries to venture into this, as yet, untested neighborhood. "Drawing on the Utopic" is an installation of work from the last five years that features her collage, drawings and text pieces. Jim Herbert was an art professor at the University of Georgia at Athens while also making several influential independent films. Among those films were music videos for R.E.M. whose front man Michael Stipe had been his student. This exhibition of large scale recent paintings delves into the fantasies of adolescent sexuality, played out against historically influenced backgrounds. Contains interviews with Austin Thomas, Debora Brown and Jim Herbert.

The second sums up how Loren Munk must feel.

2. James Kalm Hit by Car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZm-cFecmB4


The third one sums up how the viewer might feel.

3. Wheelie Over the Brooklyn Bridge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39PRzTtozpQ

From: jameskalm | April 05, 2010 | 951 views
James Kalm, despite his seeming serious demeanor, and passion for reporting on the latest art happening in and around Greater New York, occasionally captures footage that he has to share with his audience. As an almost daily rider on the Brooklyn Bridge, having passed over this iconic structure at every hour and under every condition thousands of times, occasionally Kalm sees the unusual. The legends of "wheelie guys" on the bridge are plentiful, but this time we actually catch one in the act. This balancing routine continues for nearly two minutes and covers about one third of the bridge's length, from the Manhattan anchorage to the West Tower.

4. The fourth video is for Hrag, featuring our man Jeff.
Jeff Koons On The Roof at the METROPOLITAN MUSEUM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLtiovAtTE

From: jameskalm | April 21, 2008 | 16,388 views
James Kalm is invited back to the Metropolitan Museum to document this sculptural exhibition by one of America's most recognized artists. Jeff Koons is honored with the placement of three of his highly polished stainless steel works from the "Celebration" series, "Balloon Dog Yellow", "Sacred Heart (Red/Gold)" and "Coloring Book". Jeff Koon also responds to a provocative question from Kalm regarding the art market.

5. And we need a rough cut, those our brilliant!

A Two Minute Roughcut of John Currin Recent Paintings at GAGOSIAN GALLERY -A rough Cut: http://www.youtube.com/user/jameskalmroughcut#p/u/3/qOp8Q5rz6gE

From: jameskalmroughcut | November 04, 2010 | 362 views
James Kalm once agains goes on the "Down Low" challenging a gauntlet of security and a bevy a wannabe model galleristas to bring viewers this unauthorized video clip from this evening's opening of John Currin's recent paintings at Gagosian. Having been posted within minutes of the closing, this preview captures a brief look of one of today's most controversial young painters. Melding old masterly technique with elements of kitsch and soft core porn Currin has established an updated cynical version of the classic reclining nude. Expect a full report at the James Kalm channel.

6. The most recent as of this list:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtLKLKols_g

Kenny Scharf & Dearraindrop at THE HOLE GALLERY
From: jameskalm | November 08, 2010 | 217 views
James Kalm has been visiting shows by Kenny Scharf since the bad old East Village days. Kenny along with Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat used the vernacular of old school Graffiti, and street work to infuse a whimsical and fantastic night club inspired spirit into the Downtown art scene. Dearraindrop is a "family" group of artists from Virginia Beach, Virginia consisting of Joe Grillo, Laura Grant, Billy Grant, and Owen Osborn. They collaborated in recreating Scharf's "Cosmic Cavern" at the gallery and work in various media including video and musical performance on hand crafted instruments.

extras:

Clyfford Still Unveiled, at the DENVER ART MUSEUM -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Wyi067MEM
From: jameskalm | August 28, 2007 | 7,475 views
James Kalm travels to Denver to preview the Clyfford Still Museum with "Unveiled", Selections from the Estate. Twenty-seven years after the artist's death and three years after the agreement with the Denver Art Museum to undertake the Clyfford Still Museum project, the public is at last given an opportunity to view seminal works by this founding member of Abstract Expressionism. Displayed in the new Daniel Libeskind designed Frederic C. Hamilton Building, "Unveiled" provides a brief overview of Still's stylistic development from his early "Regionalist/Social Realism" to the mature abstractions with their signature "flame forms". With holdings of around 2400 works, of which only 10 percent have been seen by the public, the Clyfford Still Museum will no doubt become a must see destination for painting enthusiasts.

James Kalm Video Night @ #TheSocialGraph - Sat. 7pm - Outpost in Bushwick/Ridgewood

You're invited to #TheSocialGraph
at Outpost (off the Halsey stop on the L)
Artists Resources
1665 Norman Street, Ridgewood, NY, 11385

for a night of screenings and discussions about James Kalm's art world videos on Saturday, November 13, starting at 7pm!

ride carefully!

Austin

(if you're in Miami, Dec. 3rd - 3pm "You're a Legend in Your Own Mind," a salon on fame, @ #Rank Miami in Ed Winkleman's space at SEVEN)

Blogging intern visit galleries in Chelsea

39th and 10th By Keith Mayerson My Modern Life at the Derek Eller Gallery

Lori Field Downstairs in Claire Oliver Gallery

Ben Van Netten's work from the 6 Degree's of Separation Show at Claire Oliver Gallery

Michelle Blade; Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, Rubedo part of Bravin Lee Programs

Alexis Rockman's Thunderdome show at Salomon Gallery

Julianne Swartz Close Portfolio at Mixed Greens

Erwin Wurm Gulp at Lehmann Maupin Gallery

Thomas Nozkowski Recent Works Drawing

Painting version

These are all at The Pace Gallery

Chris Gallagher at McKenzie Fine Art

Stephen Mueller New Works

Eva Hild New Matter

It was a great day of art looking in Chelsea, and then to finish it off, there was a beautiful sunset.

The Blogging Intern's Experience so Far

New Art by the Blogging Intern

This semester I have been getting into a cycle that includes; looking, thinking, writing, reading and making art. It has been incredible to see how much art is right at my fingertips. From the MET, MOMA, Guggenheim, Whitney and The Frick to the image collection at the public library and all the galleries in Chelsea, there's opportunity to view art everywhere!

The variety of art is outstanding, and I don’t have go that far. In the EFA building where Austin's studio is located there are 71 artists. During EFA’s open studios I was able to walk around to all the studios which are all so incredibly different and yet amazing in the types of materials they use and how they use them.

I have also gotten the chance to look closer into the Fine Art Adoption Network (FAAN), which is a network that allows you to adopt art and start your own art collection or add to your existing collection. Austin wants me to add collecting to my art cycles. I have been browsing through FAAN to find something that I love. I have come up with a handful of possibilities, that I really like, now I am just waiting until my inner signal tells me which one I would really love and have to collect.

I have also been able to create my own art and determine my artistic drive as well as methods of art making. I have been given the chance to get the feel of what it would be like to work and live here as an artist. Above are some of my pieces that I have been working on, and I actually just signed up to have a showing of some of my art work at the end of this semester with some of the other kids who are also a part of the New York Arts Program. The Show will be in our program house!

Artist of the Week: Alexa Hoyer

Alexa Hoyer's photograph called, Dead Horse Bay II, has a beautiful flow to it, with the different colors of bottles repeating. It is show a part of life we rarely see, where do all those bottle disappear to that we had discarded. Yes most of them get recycled, but were do the rest of the glass bottles and jars find home. Apparently they find home in Queens creating a beautiful mess, green and brown glass, with the texture of the sand to the rough and smooth bottles.

2 more things...

2 more from the 9th floor:

Catherine Howe

Catherine Howe above

Lauren Gohara

and 2 things to see in Chelsea:

Rauschenberg at Gagosian on 21st street and Thomas Nozkowski at Pace on 25th.

and 2 more, extra special things:

check out the back room at the Nozkowski show!

and join the Rauschenberg study group!

Maybe this is a good day...

Maybe this is a good day...to start reading Canada's Globe and Mail? Thinking about Canada...

And thinking about an interesting art patronage program in France, which is spreading to Italy and...to Canada, called the New Patrons. I went to a dinner party last night to see if there was a possibility of starting it here. And since today is a good day to...I think I should start it here today, New Patrons, USA!

If I understood all those french art lovers correctly, if a community has a problem that needs solving, like an old building is bringing them down (as in falling down), then they contact the New Patrons, who in turn contact a curator, which they refer to as mediators, who then work with the community, which are referred to as patrons, to pick an artist, to solve the problem. Voila!

I think the New Art Patrons is about agency, fixing, making things better, and placing art within a community context. So be an agent of change in your own community, don't wait to be asked by a group of mediators, go a fixin. There's a lot to fix out there! Report back.

Keeping up with postings of pictures from the studios of the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, here are pictures from Jimbo Blachy's studio, with pictures of his boat in progress that he is working on with his often time collaborator Lytle Shaw. Also from the 9th floor, Marjorie Welish. In Majorie's studio light reflects on blue and rectangles. Observation: artists on the street side of the building are affected by the light, the space of it and they like blue, see Jane Kent's post, "Tinged in Blue." Back to working on the fixins.

Pocket Utopia Box Opening at Exit Art's Alternative Histories: Fri., Nov. 19th 6pm to 8pm

Will and Mary Pappenheimer: “I’m not saying anything, you tell me what it means”

The Method (Golden Bowerbird) 2009 HD video and Outlet (Satin Bowerbird) video

Adam Simon installs “Paintings and Prototypes”- 7 March – 12 April 2009

Bjoern Meyer-Ebrecht “Untitled (D)” 2008/09 installation

Dana Gentile's plate installation

Ellen Letcher and Loren Munk with installation by Fred Gutzeit

Pocket Utopia Box Opening at Exit Art's Alternative Histories: Fri., Nov. 19th 6pm to 8pm

If you haven't seen this show, this is a good chance.

You're invited to open the Pocket Utopia box with me.

On Friday, November 19th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, come view the show at Exit Art, ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES. Alternative Histories is a history of New York City alternative art spaces, projects, publications, and artist collectives since the 1960s.

Exit Art has a bar on site and you can bring something to put in the Pocket Utopia box if you want, which will stay there permanently and check out the Pocket Utopia books, year 1 and 2!! Audra helped me put together 2 books documenting every show and event!

See you there.