ABSTRACT QUARTET Motherwell Karolac Belag Bellinger

James Kalm tries to keep up with the latest most significant and important trends in local painting. But, between museum shows, special art historical projects, and the day to day complications of life, your correspondent is overwhelmed with “trying to keep up”. To make up for this diminished video time, your reporter decided to scoot around looking at what’s on offer, and combine four reports into on survey. Robert Motherwell “Early Paintings” at Paul Kasmin traces this original member of the Abstract Expressionists development from the early 1940s until the mid 1950s. Unexpectedly the works are texturally rich and varied with surprising compositional elements that become the artist’s trademark features. Jason Karolac “Prospects” at McKenzie is a coloristiclly themed show exposing paintings that have skeletons of hot, near neon colors, over black backgrounds that contain nuanced blocks of off grey tones. “Ghost Writer” is the title of Andrea Belag’s latest show at Steven Harvey Fine Art. Belag gives viewers a walking explanation or her experiments with panels, leaving much open wood revealing its natural warm browns and also its grain. Other works are high keyed, and employ layers of the artist’s broad brushstrokes and wipings. Crossing over the Williamsburg Bridge we stop in at David & Schweitzer to talk with painter Len Bellinger about “Thugs, Miscreants, and Recent Extractions”. Bellinger thinks of paintings as “objects” while he mines art history by altering art book reproductions of great masterpieces as a means of study. These “distillations” are then used as sources for his chunky, sculptured paintings.

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate.

[@chezceleste]

Thank you Kate

[@jhb61249]

Bob Motherwell was a very deep thinking emotion driven creative man. I often wondered what brought him and Helen together as what drove them apart. The large Belonged piece with heavy imposto is nice. Thanks Jim and Kate.

[@alaindezii4445]

The first time I saw a Motherwell painting I had no idea who the artist was. It was one of his large abstracts with lots of black and white. The painting stood alone in the corner of a small gallery. I went back at least once a week to study it for five years since it was only a short walking distance from where I worked. It had such an impact on me, I miss it like an old friend.

[@MrSama555]

I come from Slovakia and I love art. I've never been to NY but thanks to your channel I feel like I'm there, thank you for your videos.

[@1111122234]

I really enjoy all of your vids. God willing we can get back to "the good old days" of just being able to enjoy the beautiful streets of NYC. Without the feeling of pending doom hovering above us.

[@ziraprod6090]

That last painting is extraordinary. Really. The guy has something there! Original too.

[@culturefan]

That jazz duo was amazing along with all the abstract art. They complemented each other very well. Thanks for the elook.

[@tamsinthai]

I hate hate hate hate JAZZ. And I've been to Ronnie Scotts.

[@culturefan]

@@tamsinthai Why would I care?

[@tamsinthai]

@@culturefan You took the trouble to respond. So ..

[@cvisuali]

great Job the conversation between figuration and abstraction is an eternal one and most painters vibrate all their lives between the two

[@superfly2449]

Well, I’m watching all old James Kalm Cuts again. They age well.

[@clamda]

Those early Motherwell's are simply spectacular, thanks for filming this James, very interesting to see his influences as you say Soutine is definitely in there. Motherwell is always so good with his blacks and brownsThey have an earthy sensuality, a weight and physicality but alongside this a lyrical weightlessness and beauty

[@robertspies4695]

Always a plesure to see Motherwell's work. Still fresh after more than 70 years. Bellinger has some very impressive woirk as well.

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you Kate, thank you everybody.

[@julianosantosguilherme422]

Like very much Berlinger show. A "dirthy" work that contrast with Karolac and Belog "clean' paintings, that are also quality work. Thank you James Kalm and Kate

[@michaeleccleston2739]

enjoy your reports and observations of the current artistic movers and shakers under and during these trouble times all the best from australia

[@chriserskineartist]

Really like Jason Karolac work; very fresh and clean in his approach. The blacks seem very rich, maybe that is due to the masking over of the colours. Also impressed by Andrea Belag new work. I prefer her larger works, but these smaller pieces are interesting. I particularly like how she is using the wood gain and sort of playing off or echoing the pattern in her mark making. Len Bellinger is interesting, especially those heavily layered pieces. There is also a very rich use of colour in several works. The last one is amazing. Thanks James and Kate. Chris

[@permacultureli]

i truly like your work James. I value its input, as i am painting increasingly more and experimenting constantly. Thanks.

[@Cherrytea558]

Thanks for the tour James. The Motherwell paintings were inspiring.

[@dennisdalesandro6105]

been seeing these karolac pieces on instargram but seeing this video i like them even more!

Thanks for introducing me to the work of Len Bellinger. In love with the process, the end result, and he looks like a cool cat to have a beer with.

[@jameskalm]

Yes Resin, Len is a very cool cat, and a great supporter of the Brooklyn painting scene.

[@jennyhughes4474]

LOVE these = thank you VERY much you all!

[@julianosantosguilherme422]

Hey, a was missing you. I love Motherwell s paintings. I am goimg to see the other ones thant i don't know latter. Now you are mixing a lot of shows together. Here from Rio thank you James Kalm e and thank you Kate

[@artboy2]

Thanks, I enjoyed every show!

[@gabrielkasor]

just out of curiosity, who's your favorite all time painters/artists? thanks for having the time to share these videos by the way . cheers and love!!

[@jameskalm]

That would be a hard one to answer. I have way too many "favorites", and they change from tome to time.

[@ziadmaroun7396]

Thank you very much

[@seikorebel7967]

Dope Jazz duo in your intro

[@JadenJahci]

Motherwell=Incredible Truly, 777

[@jimiverson4831]

In the Naifeh/Smith biography of Jackson Pollock, they talk of the suspicions of many of Motherwell's contemporaries about the integrity and originality of some his earlier paintings. They speak of an incident where a friend dropped by his studio unannounced and found him assembling tracings of forms from a Miro painting. Roger Wilcox was quoted as saying, "These were not authentic paintings and Jackson and just about everyone else knew it." Seeing some of these earlier paintings, I can see where there may be an argument for those doubts. Always loved Motherwell's work regardless(especially his work from the 1970's), just an interesting anecdote to share.

[@jameskalm]

Irving Sandler has also spoken of his "mistrust" of Motherwell, and I think, not only for his being directly influenced by contemporary masters (Gorky was also criticized for his slavish copying of Cezanne and Picasso), but because Motherwell came from a wealthy family and never had to suffer the struggle of making a living while trying to produce his art. I have my own doubts regarding the dozens and dozens of " Elegies for the Spanish Republic" he produced, but some painters I admire like the idea of finding an iconic image, and staying with it for decades.

[@cliffdariff74]

I can't quite get over the Bellinger work.. I want to dig more , got this feeling there has to be something around the corner of those lines. I bet the paintings are more digestible in person, don't know, but enjoyed.

[@jameskalm]

Here's more on Len Bellinger kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKXWqpqfqrusnqs

[@cliffdariff74]

@@jameskalm 😊 thx

[@AX1A]

I wonder if Artists realize when they talk to James that they'll likely be talking to more people in those few minutes about their art, AT ONCE then they will EVER again in their lives, and as many people as would attend a average TRUMP rally. Yo Artists -- James is for real ! Thanks Kate.

[@TheTerminalExpress]

The last elegy that Motherwell painted was #174 (with blood) in the permanent collection of the Denver Art Museum.

[@jhb61249]

Motherwell is the master artist.

[@morganhanam9522]

The Bellingers interest me as I ve been desperatly trying to visualize the 'Logrus' from Roger Zelaznys Amber series of books ; these paintings are eerily helpful in just this enterprise. Is ha a Chaos magician by any chance? ;)

[@barbarajohnson1442]

Also see Matisse influence in there!

[@TheTerminalExpress]

The Denver Art Museum owns his last Eulogy to the Spanish Republic. It's #147 (with blood). It's considered to be unfinished.

[@RubenCastilloGomez]

Could we dare to speculate that the "Bella mexicana" from 1941 (at 4:32) might have had an influence on DeKooning´s "Woman" series 9 years later?

[@anthonymorton3074]

Greetings James, Are you going to Doig at Mike Werner? Thumbs up for popular demand...

[@jameskalm]

I can't make any promises, I'm bogged down with studio work and personal commitments, but I'll try to get my butt up to 77th Street.

[@anthonymorton3074]

thanks bru!! it would be a treat. I don't know how to thank you for what you do besides saying thanks... but I will bring you some delicious South African wine when I come to nyc one day. Promise

[@felixcloud2333]

how do you do James

[@jhb61249]

Motherwell put out some real amazing stuff for his time. Very original and personal in many ways and with a strong confident hand without wavering or tentativeness. However, clearly he has looked at other modernist painters (Miro, Matisse, Picasso, and Braque as well as their colleagues) and stolen elements of theirs. Perhaps we all are great artists worthy of all that the big named guys receive, but most of us are just not destined for that recognition. Perhaps not! But, I think Mr. Bellinger will never get his full due! Maybe he just does too much and works too small for the money boys to notice or be able to focus on. If he did 5 pieces 20 ft long, he would be in the biggest shops getting the most. Size is what gets attention it seems.

[@williamsadler6467]

You know it is not often that I would say that my daughter could do better, but this is one of those times. James, let's talk about real art!

[@superfly2449]

What gallery represents your daughter?

[@williamsadler6467]

@@superfly2449 You know, I don't remember making this post. I don't remember seeing the video. All I can think is I must have been drunk. I'm not usually so petty. Reviewing the video now, I agree my comment was out of line.

[@MrIrons-og3rg]

oh

[@metajomaguire396]

Not sure what going on Jon 😹

[@LouMajors]

like

[@scrapart2492]

Bad on my eyes. Total junkish works.

[@unobooks]

they are terrible

[@williamsadler6467]

No. The '51 pieces look like the pretentious shit that they are.

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you Kate, thank you everybody.