Forrest Bess at CHRISTIE'S and the WHITNEY MUSEUM

James Kalm presents this program for hard-core Forrest Bess fans only. As one of the most mythic and eccentric American painters of the Twentieth Century, Forrest Bess (1911-1977) exerts a force over contemporary art that is hard to measure. Working in isolation and on a small scale, he was nonetheless able to garner the attentions of critical and art world heavyweights. With his inclusion in the Whitney Biennial of 2012, in an installation curated by Robert Gober, and the presentation of a cache of mostly late paintings from Texas, this program records over twenty-six minutes of paintings, possibly documenting twenty-five percent of his life's output.

[@janicesztabnik5471]

So grateful for your videos! Continue to learn and appreciate new artists and styles. Love how you tie in art history and reference to the more well known.

[@jameskalm]

Thanks @Janice Sztabnik, what we've been tryingto do here for the last seventeen years, is to bring "High Art' down to street level...JK

[@janicesztabnik5471]

@@jameskalm Yes, and you're the go to man and have succeeded at the task! Thanks James, and Kate! NY

[@chezceleste]

Thank you again Kate. It gets better every time.

[@jubilanti15]

Just thank you so much jameskalm for making it possible for us to visit all these shows with you - and a lot of the pleasure is listening to you !

[@henrygrove100]

Titled Black Bitch

[@UntitledPainter]

Absolutely amazing paintings. Bess is one of my all time favourites. As magic as paleolithic cave paintings. Thanks for making such a comprehensive video. KEEP KALM and CARRY ON

[@sharimendelson2325]

Excellent video, Mr Kalm, of this painter who has influenced our group for many years! Thank you! Just want to give a shout out to Ezekiel "Zeke" Healy who is the excellent guitarist at the beginning of this vid and a friend of mine. All Best, Rick

[@jameskalm]

Thanks Shari, I hope you and Rick are holding up, and staying safe. Hope to see you two soon...JK

[@chezceleste]

Thank you Kate.I meet so many artists for the first time via your videos.

[@chezceleste]

Thank you again Kate...will need to keep revisiting this..

[@razorfistforce1]

Simply astounding...A nice full-length, high quality feature documentary film on the life and works of Bess is LONG overdue! This video was extremely enjoyable however, thank you!!!!

[@jameskalm]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mprPoqWurch1iNk

[@annalexander8787]

Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed the walk through. I was gifted a painting by Forrest Bess last week and have been doing some research.

[@jameskalm]

"Gifted a painting by Forest Bess" Wow, you are one lucky person...congratulations.

[@annalexander8787]

Thank you. Unfortunately, because of a medical situation, I have it listed on eBay right now. Take a look. It's the only Forrest Bess oil painting listed. It's really nice. I hate to let it go. I want it to sell but sorta not.

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate.

[@padgettparker1815]

Have heard of but never seen this artists' work . Thanks for bringing these paintings to the hinterlands , Mr. Kalm .

[@Kristbergur1001]

Never heard of this artist before, I enjoy his works. Thanks.

[@awildacruzcruz2859]

This type of art work testifies to the non-discrimination of the human brain. Thanks for the video. Didn't know Bess existed.

[@abestits]

i live in rural new mexico. i love these art tours. gives me a sense of connection. thank you.

[@mayormc]

Tremendous. Have not seen much of his work. Thanks for this!

[@jameskalm]

I could be wrong but...I think this video captures about two thirds of all of Forest Bess's known paintings, and I feel privileged to have documented these exhibitions and presented them to the world via KZbin.

[@mayormc]

I feel privileged being able to view them and thanks again for all your tireless postings of great great art which I very much enjoy.

[@rechargedimpetus6644]

James your so far ahead i can never catch up in a million lifetimes

[@michaelroberts8300]

Thank you James.

[@TheTerminalExpress]

Your videos always thrill me. But this one just blew me away! Thank you so much James, I may have a new favorite painter (move over Joan Mitchell)

[@kissthewires]

Oh James, thank you thank you thank you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@satchelyork]

What I love about these is how pure his intention was, he made these strange images straight from his visions. also for James and anyone else wondering, the cracking in the black would have been unintended, Ivory Black, especially the older kinds, is much more prone to cracking for some reason, I forget why.

[@chriserskineartist]

James, I only think a New Yorker could pull off the stuff you do:))))) I recently discovered Bess via Philip Guston. I have seen most of these works online, but your film really adds a new perspective on them. You can really appreciate the depth to them. Strong stuff. Thanks James and Kate and the nice security guard at the end. Chris

[@jameskalm]

I think this video captures about two thirds of all the known Bess paintings in existence. I was lucky to capture them.

[@axejaw]

excellent. thank you.

[@strawwoodclaw]

nice paintings

[@ScottRuen]

great video!!

[@IETCHX69]

TOTALLY diggin' on the opening jam.

[@kevinhernandezrosa1890]

Great work, just wish there wasn't a commentary on top of it.

[@barbarajones9385]

Volume switch/button?

[@izzyc-c6696]

@jameskalm I know this show was a while ago but I was wondering whether you still have the sheet defining Bess' symbols and, if so, if you would be willing to share these?

[@Cre8iveSignWorks]

nice narative james!

[@MrIrons-og3rg]

His works are as sick as his mind!!!!!

[@JackANDJude]

kalm keepin it on the d.l.

[@LordHaveMercy]

A lot of these remind of Hilma af Klint actually

[@xxxrdc]

I believe that James is mistaken in trying to assign any typical standards to this 'abstract' display of colorful marks on supports. It's just whatever resonates with you that provides value... I just can't imagine anyone purchasing any of these pieces.

[@jameskalm]

One of the recent paintings that came up at auction was priced at over $70,000 www.blouinartinfo.com/artist/368649/lots

[@jennyhughes4474]

@@jameskalm blimey!

[@florinest]

I just can't imagine anyone NOT purchasing Forrest's paintings. I own three of them; have lived with them for over thirty years.

[@cpkelley]

Hey...did you get a new bike? Nice wheels, James.

[@dermic]

love the kirchner's robe

[@satchelyork]

LOL at the dolts saying these are shit. You probably think Bob Dylan sucks because he can't sing like the singers on America Idol

[@runway12]

a serious urge to eat Oreo cookies at 9:40 into vid.

[@trinitaterion]

Jung actually was a competent painter

[@JeffersonDinedAlone]

Remember when artists were actually artists, and actually created art? I do. Some still do. However, there is not a trace of that here.

[@tadaasatoorian65]

sure thing dude, Im pretty sure all artist appreciate Forrest Bess, the fact that you do not should tell you just how much of an "artist" you really are..

[@tadaasatoorian65]

Lol and what should "a real abstract painting" look like??

[@tadaasatoorian65]

haha ok

[@satchelyork]

you're a dope Jefferson. these are pure poetry. feel bad for ppl like you.

[@florinest]

First, search out other Bess images (and in person), the work shown at Christies is a good Bess primer. And now the rest here is the second part: Forrest's paintings are pure, full, dyed-in-the-wool artistic creation. They are "really real" and no paintings will never get "realer" than Forrest's. His work puts most painters to shame. I'm assuming you've only seen Forrest's paintings here on a computer screen or perhaps in a book, so you haven't really seen the actual paintings (although you sure aren't afraid to make your bold and sad and uninformed pronouncements). As for me, I own 3 of Forrest's paintings, and have had them in my life for 30 years. My opinion comes from in-person, hands-on experience, as well as and nearly 50 years of making paintings my own self. Forrest's paintings speak, you just have to learn to start listening.

[@nrjcrossing]

Tantric

[@earinsound]

Bess was heavily influenced by Jung and the concept of the androgyne.

[@sbachem]

ouch! hammer on thumb...

[@TODDZEN]

I find most of these paintings ugly. Hard to understand why he is famous.

[@d1artbob]

I don't understand this level of acclaim. "Deceptively simple"? Out of the tube colors and simple mixes. Shapes that are sometimes on, often clumsy. While useful to look at as a stimulus, as "art" it seems simplistic. I think that because he somehow got into Betty Parsons (would like to know the way that worked), he got "blessed," collectors started up (and Newman liked him), and he became a big deal. I'd have bought some bait from him, but find nothing special in his lathered-on painting.

[@florinest]

First, search out other Bess images, the work shown at Christies is a good Bess primer. And now the rest here is the second part: Betty Parsons saw the paintings and offered him a show more or less on the spot (and offered him shows after that). That's how sure this now legendary dealer felt about these now legendary paintings (I own two of the paintings that were once in Betty's personal collection and they are sublime). Yes, small canvas bits, paint straight from the tube, clumsy, humble, true and real. Forrest was a Force of Nature. As for collectors "starting up," his work, that's neither here nor there, but for the record, Forrest was mighty unpopular in his day, rarely sold a painting in conjunction with Parsons' shows, but Betty continued to show them regardless because she knew, as do so many of us now (you, unfortunately, are not included in this).

[@d1artbob]

@@florinest I am happy for any artist's success and collector's joy. Perhaps what I critique is precisely what collectors like.

[@robinbland1656]

satanic.