Carmen Herrera at LISSON Odili Donald Odita at JACK SHAINMAN

James Kalm is an astute observer of the New York art scene and its neighborhoods. And due to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, he’s still trying to reengage with the creative community after a near six-month lock-down, he hasn’t been able to get to Chelsea as frequently as he’d like. For this episode, your reporter returns to Chelsea, and grabs some footage of a couple of exhibitions of “high formalist painting”. Viewers will saunter through Carmen Herrera’s “Painting in Process” at Lisson Gallery, and be treated to examples of the artist’s preparatory drawings, ancillary gouaches along with the final acrylic on canvas pieces. Then we trip over to visit another great example of geometric color-based abstraction with “Mirror” by Odili Donald Odita, at Jack Shainman Gallery. Odita constructs hard-edge paintings with a color sense that pairs hues, tones and tints with the verve of a Jazz composer. This program was recorded September 26, 2020.

[@patrickcareyart4080]

Wow a 101 years old and only got recognition 10 years ago! My god James that gives me some hope at 63! As always thank you James and Kate.

[@prc139210]

Thanks for turning the canvas over for us! Thank you, Kate!

[@lieschenart]

I like how the presented artist demonstrate that behind any formal idea there is also an informal one (vice versa). Carmen Herrera's sketches and the wood structures of Odili Donald Odita are very good examples I think. Thank you very much and obviously thank you Kate, indeed!

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

First artist like Blinky Palermo. Straightforward. . Second artist has interesting use of black and colors like a tapestry. Lively compositions. I enjoy both. James is a connoisseur of surfaces the way he gets in close.

[@surality]

Thank you Kate, much appreciated James. Reminded me to look at Bridget Riley's work again.

[@flooramplidude]

I love hard edge art. Thank u for sharing!

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you Kate, thank you everybody.

[@brentswitt]

Thank you kate and James.

[@TD-qi2rw]

Thank you

[@missinglink9973]

I love her work very good gives me lots of ideas for my own stuff

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate.

[@philnasmith9755]

Innovative, technically superb. Thank you for sharing (from South Africa.)

[@alisonamaryllis111]

So funny, just as you mention Ellsworth Kelly I was thinking the same same!

[@Cbrook2012]

Electric Chartreuse? Now I know what to call my next stoner band!!!!

[@megawatt2916]

Carmen Herrera is 105!

[@simonlinke1]

Thanks Loren. I couldn't make out Herrera's surfaces on the large paintings, they look like they might be sprayed or rollered, but if so must be with a very fine pile because of the flatness of that surface (orange peel). There didn't seem to be any inflection from brushwork either, nor did there appear to be built up edges on the colour junctions indicating the use of tape. Neither was there any wobble or indication of the lines being hand painted. Were you able to work out how they were made from your direct experience? Best wishes and thanks again for you stirling work!

[@deelot1]

I was curious about this too and found out in another video that the artist uses a roller.

[@jameskalmroughcut]

Yeah @Simon Linke from what I've seen (both in the galleries and in some videos) is that Carmen (or the people who execute the paintings for her) use tape, plastic sheet masking, rollers, and paint these works horizontally. I think the paint is thinned enough that there isn't much beveled edge...Odita is kinda on the other end of this(?)

[@simonlinke1]

jameskalmroughcut thanks Loren!

[@mikedrewry3113]

A couple of works were interesting.

[@jhb61249]

We have a show of her Structures going here in Houston at MFAH through January 18, 2021. Thanks

[@candeaguilar]

could it be that galleries are showing formalistic work to stay neutral from the current social climate, interesting

[@waylonwraith5266]

Nearly 50 years ago, Harold Rosenberg wrote: “The recently influential formalist conception of High Art, pledged on principle to refuse to take note of the destruction of the planet, seems thoroughly played out, and with it the dialectics of an increasingly self-purifying abstraction” (139). [from The De-definition of Art, 1972] If only it HAD played out, ... but the 1% would, of course, rather not uphold art that addresses the ecological (to say nothing of economic) injustices the system that benefits them generates.

[@DanSwanson2070]

She’s 105 years old

[@amab.7557]

Do you have Instagram? Thanks for a very inspiring video 🙏😍👍❤️

[@jameskalmroughcut]

Yes @Erika Ama @lorenj.munk thanks JK

[@M0D60]

🎃

[@dansisco3076]

The more successful composition or work of art is, the less likely it will successfully translate through photography or film............> < zzzzz

[@AndrewWeisMusic]

The compositions are just dead. There's no there there.

[@journeymantraveller3338]

Diagonal edges! Non-primary colours!

[@mamamia6925]

saw her works in K20 Düsseldorf, was not impressed.

[@charlestaylor6279]

James lad, it's not really art is it ? Any kid with a bit of gumption and a rule could produce most of these in no time at all. A proper artist, a really, talented artist can draw anything, figures that look like figures, landscapes with figures and animals in them. Produce a story in a single picture, you know Norman Rockwell. Whether these people can draw or paint we could never tell from this selection of their work. To use that very old and very true phrase "The emperor is in the altogether" - Yes, I know the colours and shades and tints are pretty, but maybe that's what you really like. Lots of colour and the rest is of little consequence to you. Whatever turns you on. But where is the "Wow factor" The "Bloody hell, that's wonderful" factor. It's not seen here that's for sure. New York's not got the reputation it once had and now with the virus many rich clients are leaving New York. So maybe this is the beginning of the end of New York for the immediate future ? This economic environment will certainly sort the men from the boys And of course you've got to give the present Mayor and Governor the elbow at the next election. And to even talk about defunding the NYPD cops seems totally insane to me. But hey, what do I know ? Here in Thailand, despite the lack of potential customers I've still managed to do OK. It's a bit of a struggle, but I've sold a couple of big action golfer portraits, and a Marilyn with gold leaf and yesterday I was awarded four commissions for various vehicles - oil on canvas. So I've now abandoned my huge "Trump Portrait" for the moment. However I finished my huge Winston Churchill portrait and boy has that got the "Wow factor" It's four foot high and hits you like a thunderbolt from thirty feet. Sad, I don't know what to say for the best. PS, I hope Trump gets better quickly, the USA needs many more like him. Kind regards - Chris in Thailand

[@jameskalmroughcut]

Nice to know your still kicking @Charles Taylor. I worry about viewers with "co-morbidities"...

[@charlestaylor6279]

@@jameskalmroughcut I'm doing just fine. Of course over here in Thailand we've had about sixty deaths from the virus. Govt have made it VERY difficult to enter Thailand by land, sea and air. And it's paid off. They check everyone entering and their paperwork to prove they're not sick. Then if they are positive, they're escorted into an isolation facility organised by the Thai Govt. Here everyone wears masks to enter crowed public area. They've done since the very start. So, I should be safe enough. Not so sure about YOU James, you're in New York City run by a couple of real beauties. If Trump really was a dictator, then those two and their accomplices would be already six feet under.

[@DanSwanson2070]

Obviously, you seem to into Realism. This is not someone painting pictures for the Saturday Evening Post. This artist is exploring IDEAS. Experimenting with form and color, hypothesis. Not all art is about pretty pictures. I’m sure the artist can render realistic images if they so desire. Now, go find a nice Andrew Wyeth exhibit, and leave the conceptual art to us.

[@charlestaylor6279]

@@DanSwanson2070 Conceptual Art. what the hell is any painting only a concept. You need to have the concept before you start any kind of painting. These galleries are selling crap and using the "emperors new clothes approach" like you are. I like modern art. I produce it myself. BUT it's no good holding up crap that any low IQ idiot could produce and say "Oh, this is minimalist or gah gah art, or any other kind of "school of art" Nah, explore away to your heart's content but please don't give me "This is important and valuable art" cos it damn well is NOT. And guess what I don't like to be patronized.

[@peterlangbridge4286]

@@DanSwanson2070 Bit of a below the belly swipe there, Dan. Liking Wyeth and(some)so called conceptual art is not necessarily mutually exclusive, as is my case. Let's have a dogma free appreciation of art that includes the good, the bad and the ugly. Neither of us has to be offended because you like apples and I like oranges. It's about enjoying(to a greater or lesser degree),artwise, what's out there.