David Row, Al Held, Amy Sillman March 2016

James Kalm has recently been remiss in his self-appointed mission of bringing viewers glimpses of the New York art scene (especially Chelsea), so… When other business took him to the West Side he turned on the camera, and captured some footage of three outstanding painting shows. We'll start with "Four Decades of Painting" by David Row at Loretta Howard. David has been a fixture in the abstract paining scene since the mid 1970s. This show presents the breadth of variation he's explored within this genre. Then it's on to Cheim & Reid for "Al Held Black and White Paintings 1967-1969. Held had taught Row at Yale, and this period of reductive design established Held as one of America's most influential painters. We trot around the last lap of this triple header with a visit to Amy Sillman "Stuff Change" at Sikkema Jenkins & Co.. Sillman, as an example of contemporary painting in New York, is a fitting conclusion. This exhibition contains a selection of recent major painting, a gallery filling installation of digital printed and painted canvases, and many examples of the artist's works on paper. A musical introduction is provided by the Meetles and Eric Paulson Ensemble, This program was recorded March 9, 2016.

[@patrickcareyart4080]

Wow! This guy has my attention, I love his forms. Thank you James and thank you Kate!!

[@robertspies4695]

One of your best videos. Thanks for showoing us these wonderful artists.

[@scottgarrison9558]

Thanks for this wonderful tour... I'm sure that you know what a gift this is for people without easy access to these shows. Though you report on many things, its obvious to me that you favor this sort of work... and I agree. I saw the Sillman show you mentioned at the Hirshorn. It was contained in one large gallery and I sat on the bench in the middle, turned in every direction and got up from time to time to stick my face right to the surface... just like you film.

[@yoshiyamamoto3122]

Drawing is alive and well in all of these artists, very satisfying review. Thanks for the great video!

[@chriserskineartist]

Great shows. Dumb question, would Amy's last piece in your film be available as individual canvases, you would you be expected to buy whole thing? Love her work and the real complexity to the layering of colours. Also, very impressed by David's large black line paintings. Al's pieces are nice, love the scale.

[@atelierploeger]

At last it´s time to leave a comment: I am appreciating your videos for more than a year now, always in contact with the most actual painting-scene in NY. I´m a german artist and these informations have become kind of indispensable for my own work. Thanks a lot.

[@jameskalm]

+Axel Plöger Thanks for your appreciation Axel. I've spent some time in Germany, and I love the art...

[@jeffreyturner4438]

Hi James, One thing you said was, "we don't get finicky, we get our tools, we get our materials and we just make the work." That's the New York school in a nutshell! I just watched the video for the 2nd time and I'll probably watch it again.

[@imag3reader]

Smtms i feel like appreciating painting is moreso an appreciation of its (social LOL) status than creative relevance! It kinda reminds me of totalitarianism where the celebrated artist pushes its status upon the viewer. Celebrated as an excuse for creating money! The institute is corrupt James,!

[@cliffdariff74]

Hi James as far as the black and white Al Held paintings do you think it was black over white or white over black? thanks

[@jeffreyturner4438]

Thank you James and thank you Kate, 3 wonderful shows and I think it's your best video. It just blew me away.

[@sarjenjo]

So helpful to those of us that can never get to these shows...James knows how to use the camera to let us see.

[@josephcambron7060]

David Row- very good. Al Held - bullsh!t.

[@ohvnaq]

guitarist in the beginning looks a bit like George Harrison

[@soothingtrax]

One of the best videos you have put out to date James. I feel a connection with all three artists. Would love to learn more about their process and technique.

[@michaelroberts8300]

Thank you James. You certainly have put the time in, again thanks.

[@jhb61249]

Very nice group. Davis Row is particularly nice. I love Al Held's pigment paintings from Paris back in the 50s. Amy gets better all the time.

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate

[@bschart]

David and Amy were great. Fantastic painting. Amy is wonderful. She may be my favorite painter today. Thank you James.

[@elflaco6654]

Awesome!!! What a great show. The David Row paintings are magnificent, splendid. I would go as far in calling his work genius. Thanks James

[@johnlewis9650]

David Row is amazing!

[@brydon10]

Thanks for the informative tours! We all owe you so much.

[@ARCTERYXSWEATSHOP]

thank you

[@culturefan]

Wonderment & always fun to watch.

[@draskosavicevic4621]

Stop going into the paintings that is so stupid way to see the whole work.

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you cake, thank you everybody.

[@LeukipposInstitute]

great report - thanks

[@etienelavoisier3725]

Thank James

[@magdalenawestman6285]

Very nice.