Albers and Morandi "Never Finished" at DAVID ZWIRNER

James Kalm occasionally finds himself scurrying through the Downtown art scene, with plenty of potential visits on his schedule, only to be enraptured with an unexpected gem of a show that keeps him stuck at one location till closing time. “Albers and Morandi…” is a museum quality show displaying the subtle similarities and aesthetic contrasts these contemporaries shared. Joseph Albers (1888 - 1976), is a seminal color theorist and educator, who influenced generations of painters, taught at the Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, and headed Yale University's department of design. Giorgio Morandi (1890 - 1964) was a founding member of the Italian movement “Pittura Metafisica” (Metaphysical Painting), who maintained a stylistic approach to his intimate canvases, using a limited number of humble still life objects, and a tonal approach to color. A musical introduction is provided by “Helen”. This program was recorded January 8, 2021. #jameskalmreport #jameskalmroughcut #lorenmunk

[@13012able]

James, thank you for getting up close while in front of a painting. As a painter myself, that helps tremendously.

[@jessetomballe3310]

beautiful show

[@kathyhartley2461]

Morandi...Such a great painter, radiates out to so many like Guston, Thiebaud, Diebenkorn, even Sean Scully. Also, I think Albers was at Yale when Brice Marden was a student there.

[@lieschenart]

Albers and Morandi together, what a wonderful thing to do! And thank you Kate!

[@lelatenor7854]

Thankyou so very much for a chance to view such beautiful master works

[@deelot1]

I think this was one of my favourite videos from your channel. It was really nice to see how the two artists’ works could relate to one another in the show. It brought out how they both valued placement of colour, harmony and simplicity. And I didn’t know of Morandi’s etchings, which were wonderful to see!

[@kimwilkie9819]

Love the Morandi’s I did not know he did etchings how nice to see these! Thank you Kate!

[@michaelrowe1907]

Thank you Kate a brilliant show of two fantastic Artists who had similar ideas of colour and spent their lives expressing it. Amazing how at times the Morandii's had an homage to the square as well.

[@janetroy5489]

I looked at the Gehry building, 2 pm on Thursday afternoon., before going to the show. The light hit the building and reflected the sky, blue with clouds, in the most extraordinary way. In fact, I walked back to look again before proceeding to this fabulous show.

[@michaelrowe1907]

Thank you very much Kate & James

[@maurouccelli2228]

Morandi , grandissimo pittore e uno dei migliori incisori !!

[@elainequick9646]

Thank you for this. I have recently become very attracted to Morandi's work and now after this Josef Albers. Great show pairing.

[@slipton6493]

What a great pairing! I never had a taste before for Albers but these painting are quite sumptuous. Always loved Morandi. Thanks so much James Kalm and Kate too!

[@ForeverAcme]

Im so thankful for the huge discography of videos you have of exhibitions, you are truly saving a lot of us during lockdown. Thank you.

[@gannoncrutcher9055]

beautiful exhibition

[@jackgalmitz]

Still Life with White Bottle and small blue bottle is sublime.

[@cathywilliams4492]

Thank you for these gallery walks during Covid!

[@axiomarabians]

That was incredible show! Lots to see. Morandi is really interesting.

[@spgora]

Thank you James. A jewel.

[@MrIrons-og3rg]

Thanks James

[@jimhresco1728]

Putting a frame around an Albers is like putting a barbed wire fence around a Rodin.

[@elizabethsiojo7848]

thoroughly enjoyed this gallery tour, with your commentaries. am a fan of both Albers and Morandi.the artworks of these artists really do complement each other and invite closer inspection and contemplation.thank you for sharing this.

[@jhb61249]

Morandi !!! Yea!!! Thanks Y'ALL!!!

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate! ❤

[@Dranectrakon]

thank you!

[@artboy2]

Wow the green in that last Albers sprang off that canvas! Thanks for the color inspiration!

[@edyerae1000]

So thrilled to be able to see this exhibition as I couldn't get into the city to see in person. I did see the Morandi exhibition at, I think, it was at the Metropolitan and just loved his work. Albers was an extraordinary colorist. Many thanks for taking the time to bring this to us.

[@suttonallen7214]

Greetings from Arkansas! Great show, right in my wheelhouse. Thanks so much!

[@StephenS-2024]

Great job! Thank you!

[@bebop54]

WOW whatta show ! thanks James ...you are great ...

[@ryaneck51]

what a treat, thanks for doing this show!

[@anthonymorton3074]

Thanks Kate!

[@Ptiliid]

Beautiful. My day is complete....and thank you, Kate!

[@yolandacarter6770]

Great visual of exhibition. Thankyou

[@bschart]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@patjones4713]

Thanks again James! Great as always! Be safe and keep the Art alive! ( Bob & Pat from North Carolina)😎

[@mikedrewry3113]

I really like how he contrast the direction of the staples around edge of the frame

[@frcscrts6617]

Thanks James & Kate for the tremendous treat, this is as close as I currently get to seeing exhibitions, parisian galeries and museums are currently closed, I very much like for these two painters' work. One of the Alberts actually had 6 colors variations, it was a reddish one.

[@captainsouth4460]

Thanks for doing these! When I do get to the City I rarely have time to hit these small galleries much. But we will be seeking them out more in the future!

[@luciemaragni]

Thank you James and Kate! So informative and enlightening! I hope one day I too can go visit galleries again!

[@nadayounis1747]

thank you for you for this vidio it is an amazing study of colors and composition

[@barbarasenglaub1655]

Awesome show and reporting James! The atmosphere and relationship between objects in Morandi's paintings are delicate and beautiful, but his etchings are exquisite. The feeling is different in both. It is so interesting to experience the different aspects of his creativity. I love the tonal quality in the work of both artists. Albers has long been a favorite of mine. Thank you for many years of viewing pleasure! You have helped keep life sane and hopeful in these past months.

[@jameskalm]

Having the opportunity to bring some "sanity," or pleasure to folks, makes me happy. Thanks @Barbara Senglaub...

[@larsetom1]

@@jameskalm Hi James. Interesting juxtaposition of terms "sanity" and "pleasure." Pleasure is very much a human thing, a human need too! In the New Normal TM, our sanity as well as our humanity seem under threat. Art, can be seen as the pleasure of the senses. The government response to the pandemic has been devastating to art and music, dance, theater. Thank you for this video! I have been distinctly unmotivated to paint since February...

[@jameskalm]

@@larsetom1 For the last ten months, I feel like we've been crawling through a long, dark, spider infested tunnel . I'm lucky to be in New York, loved, and own a bike. I'll keep doing what I can to pass on some information, and I hope "good vibes" too. I can see some light ahead...JK (Stay tuned.)

[@johnjones3714]

Love love love

[@l.artcast9547]

James - a wonderful walk through. Thank you!!! Who ever curated this really put the time in, as the artist work really did compliment each other nicely. Also, I wondered if you ever really get moved by an exhibition, do you ever go back with out camera to fully appreciate it?

[@davidtoner3314]

Wonderful video, thankyou James. My art appreciation and knowledge continues to expand through your insightful observation.

[@tomliii8619]

They were not kidding when they said Morandi, could hatch and cross hatch.

[@kimwilkie9819]

Oh love tha Albert too!

[@kostasl6882]

God bless you

[@donemigholzjr.7344]

Morandi's squares reminds me of Rothko.

[@bryandibucci583]

I like the Brite Rothko'$.😇😂

[@bryandibucci583]

James Kalm, good job again - didn't know Warhol said that about Mo£andi. I know Cy Twombly once made reference to Morandi

[@mikedrewry3113]

If only those squares where at the hole It would have made my day and saved me a fortune on tuinsion:)

[@johnreilly9748]

Nice! Cool how you feature the street music. I really appreciate masonite!

[@janetroy5489]

I thought of the squares as resting.

[@karen-mariemondrup4969]

t Thank you

[@tonymelluzzo9923]

" nothing is more abstract than reality" Morandi

[@tomliii8619]

Hey, James, my man. I never realized Morandi's paintings were so small. He probably saved a lot of money that way?

[@antondavidovic3996]

I remember once seeing a Luc Tuymans still life that was rather large and very "Morandi-esque", it was a great painting but for some reason I really like Morandi's smaller dimensions. They definitely give off a very intimate and quaint feeling.

[@tomliii8619]

@@antondavidovic3996 I would like to see more of his inks.

[@johndaarteest]

Also, with smaller paintings, you have to make an effort to lean in and look thus you get a sense of achievement in some way rather than just casually looking like we do most paintings.

[@antondavidovic3996]

@@johndaarteest Exactly, this is why I call smaller paintings more "intimate", they make you get more up and close to them.

[@lawrencetarpey373]

Nice show. Please review, Nicole Eisenman and Keith Boadwee @ Flag Art Foundation. It's got to be one of the best shows of the year.

[@janetroy5489]

While there's still time, you might want to see the film Isabella at LIncoln Center. Very Albers. Very beautiful in many respects. It's there until the film festival starts.

[@peterney2402]

Morandi is the boss.

[@larsetom1]

For me the work of both artists is about the ambiguity of space. Where is a color? In front or in back?

[@robertalenrichter]

Ridiculous to put those Albers paintings in shiny metal frames, which completely overwhelm the subtlety. What a clash.

[@mikeoconnor2272]

I don't think Albers was ever "brushy". His process was to use a palette knife. I enjoy your videos.

[@bschart]

You could have a show of Morandi and Guston and it would still work.

[@tomliii8619]

Malevich, that's the guy who painted like Albers. Right?

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

I am into both sides of things. Weird framing of Albers in a few cases.

[@jameskalm]

Yes, for some reason they made me think of "Chiclets" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiclets

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

@@jameskalm Haha. I remember Chiclets. Presentation is everything. Trying to imagine a person who would actually decide on that look. Obviously not what Albers would choose.

[@yorgosGreece]

Ω!!

[@claudesandjivy6063]

MORE ANDY

[@bschart]

Sorry. I didn't wait until the end to comment.

[@henrydoake6659]

What a strange, ahistorical pairing. Title should be "2 Hot Painters from Recent History"

[@janetroy5489]

The main color is purple in Isabella. A cool red, a warm blue. Not like these.

[@elation0x]

Guston straight carbon copied this guy wtf

[@perditachavez]

some fresh air in this Donald Covid era, thanks so much