Louise Fishman New Paintings at CHEIM & READ

James Kalm has been witnessing the evolution of Louise Fishman’s paintings since the early 1980s. Described by painter Archie Rand as filling “in the last open slot of the first generation of Ab Ex”, and while champions of Fishman may suppose some right to carry on this legacy, she never the less has struck out and developed a bare bones abstraction that privileges the brush stroke, essential mark making, and the calligraphic gesture. Leaving vast areas of her canvas unpainted, many of these works reference drawing, and have a freshness that captures some of the spontaneous quality of her drawings and small works on paper. This program was recorded on October 21 and 28, 2017. A bonus peek at Ai Weiwei’s "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors", which is temporary located under the Arch at Washington Square Park, was recorded October 19, 2017.

[@jayantb1]

Enjoyed this tour and thanks for your enlightening commentary.

[@focusedfreebird]

These are nice. I believe abstract artists are not just throwing paint..as some suggest.. ..but are actually going to the canvas with something in their mind's eye..and trying to resolve their vision into some form of order out of chaos . I do abstract art and always longing to get into the next one and the next one. Thank you.

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you Kate oh, and thank you everyone. I absolutely love watching and listening to everything you wonderful people do.

[@chezceleste]

Thank you Kate.

[@mayormc]

These are cool. I like the open space left to define itself. Very nice. Will watch this again.

[@frcscrts6617]

Thank you James for sharing with me something I wouldn't have seen otherwise. Louise Fishman's work is a discovery for me, I like her work, it's a source of inspiration that might put me back into painting soon.

[@jameskalmroughcut]

Yes @frcs crts Louise was an inspiration for many New York painters, and many were heartbroken to hear of her passing earlier this week...

[@alphajava761]

These pieces are amazing !

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

I was going to say that these were skimpy because of the thinner paint (compared to her work of a few yrs back) then realized what I was seeing. She is becoming more masterful and succinct in her language. In the past she would have built these very solid forms by what appeared to be many revisions. I think her painting is about pressing forward on the picture plane and constantly finding the power of that rectangle. Every mark and part of the painting is contributing. And then there is the very poetic color. Well worth spending time with these. One of the most accomplished painters I can think of. Great video and commentary as always.

[@deborahbaca1345]

Thank you.

[@robertspies4695]

Very worthwhile show. Archie,s supposition is that the board of major possibilities has been covered for Ab Ex. Is this hubris? Enjoyable. Thank you James/Loren.

[@Cherrytea558]

The work at 7:52 really grabbed my attention. It's a collection of very gutsy marks with so much going on.

[@jameskalmroughcut]

Yeah, that's a good one...

[@jhb61249]

I am surprised if not shocked to heard today August 3, 2021 that Louise died a week ago due to complications of a cardiac procedure. Louise was one of my favorite painters.

[@jameskalmroughcut]

Yes, a lot of the New York art scene is heartbroken...Sorry.

[@mymythology8799]

thx a lot James! this report was very inspiring for me. Great paintings! I could see anything in every one of them. all of them had affected on me as if I had almost recognized the real objects reflections and landscapes, but my brain could not identify them completely...:) Very interesting feeling.

[@stevechmilnitzky9574]

Good show James!

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you Kate, thank you everybody.

[@meltdowngrfx969]

Interesting insight about the size of deKooning's paintings regarding his reach.

[@shengdauniversity]

I

[@lonely71]

Groove is in the Heart!

[@michaeleccleston2739]

The continued use of the underlaying grid /cross is most interesting with this painter, as she strongly identifies with her feminist and Jewish beliefs. Most painters struggle with a platform from which to work from. Louise Fishman has her platform . As an aside surnames are sometimes Talisman for creative direction. Regards from Down Under.

[@cliffdariff74]

Wonder if she uses some sort of straight-edge for some of those brushed on lines. Great color saturation.

[@cordera9543]

A good painting is about the whole, so film the whole!

[@neuromantikz]

Definitely feel like white is the most important colour here- in that she seems to know the perfect time to stop- though i'm sure its quite calculated. Nice stuff.

[@pamwagner4509]

Please try to find the wonderful abstractions by the late Leon de Lew

[@chriserskineartist]

Respect the experience and the great range of mark making, but I don't really connect with these works. I recently saw a film on Peter Acheson work and his rejection of hard edge lines, something he argues that you don't find in nature. Interesting to see this classic abstract approach. Thanks James and Kate. Chris

[@davidmayhew4818]

I don't see Remington at all! Kline yes. Even something linked to my own work. The architectural linear motifs.

[@julianosantosguilherme422]

this painting realy moves me. I think it has intense violence, more than Kooning's work, and Kline. And she is a woman, that is something cool. Reminds me Hofman too that uses squares in his expressionist abstraction. But she is much more "violent" that the great painter

[@donemigholzjr.7344]

There will be oil paint a thousand years from now.

[@cliffdariff74]

Did JK say Manogahela ? A river in Pittsburgh.

[@gerrylk9]

Close eyes, dip stick in bucket of paint, throw it on a white cloth. Open eyes. Finished

[@user-uj8rj7hj5y]

Lookin many of your reports we know now New York is the painting universe center..be modest please many paintings are insignifiant sometimes doodling only..you could suggest genius to use smallers canvas..and start learning painting for real..save art .stop paint...nication.

[@sigalitbutterflybenjamin6655]

You call these things paintings? These are just random strokes of paint on canvas

[@lyletucker6685]

Thank you.