Philip Guston: A Centennial Exhibition at MCKEE GALLERY

This exhibition celebrates the 100 anniversary of Guston's birth. Philip Guston (1913 --1980) was one of the most recognized painters of the second half of the twentieth century. Gaining early recognition for his narrative paintings, he had firsthand contact with some of Abstract Expressionism's founders and joined that movement's second wave, becoming the prototypical Abstract Impressionist. After nearly twenty years and a burgeoning career as an abstract painter, Guston became frustrated with the isolated nature of his art, and decided to reenter the world of figurative painting, using the examples of cartoonists like George Herriman and Robert Crumb as a jumping off point for his poignant critiques of humanity. This show presents twenty-five paintings and drawings many of which have received only limited exposure. A musical introduction by "Super Bad Brad" (AKA Brad Prowly) was recorded live on the streets of Williamsburg Brooklyn.

[@RLCroft-yi2cw]

I think Guston was especially enthralled by Uccello, which is evident in his earliest "street battle" paintings as he transitioned from social realism into increasingly abstracted work, back in the 40s, I believe. The book is a few feet away, but it's 5am and I need to get my ass to work at the assisted living facility as a maintenance man. Boy, what would I have thought about that in 1980, had I known where my BFA would lead? Thanks for your reviews. --Robin rlcroftdotcom

[@tharkanzox1493]

"the only duty of a painter is to be free." -PG

[@johnbrocado1083]

the guy is a genius, enlightening and bright!

[@elizabethboustead2841]

I love jameskalm videos. It's like he's looking for me. Not quite the same as being there but the next best thing when you live on the other side of the world and down. Thanks for Philip Guston USA.

[@camilopalomino8319]

Wow. Tu cobertura de la Expo es una maravilla. Y el acompañamiento musical no podría ser más apropiado. De corazón muchas gracias. Nos permite ver unas pinturas muy hermosas. Saludos,

[@mayormc]

Thanks Mr James for another stellar post. 20 years ago, I hated the late Guston work. Today, I find it fascinating and influential. Nice close-ups of that deep brush work too.

[@TheTerminalExpress]

Only one early, abstract piece? CRIMINAL.

[@sibastoune]

A big thank you for this coverage of Guston exhibition. You know, when you live in a fucking village like Montréal, you don't have any chance to see great exhibition like this.

[@javiertrivino5729]

Thanks so much James, love your videos! Greetings from Spain

[@benksy96]

This entire channel is so high quality holy guacamole thank you

[@chezceleste]

Thank you again Kate.

[@brydon10]

Really great work here

[@ziraprod6090]

Thank you so much (again).

[@elation0x]

Thank you for your service sir

[@katgillang]

Love Guston. Found a book of his work when I was in High School and I just fell in love with it. THANKS KATE! :)

[@jennyhughes4474]

Great show, thanks James & Kate.

[@ARCTERYXSWEATSHOP]

brad & this artist = DOPE EPISODE

[@chriserskineartist]

I have always found Guston very challenging. Drawn by the strange and mysterious subject matter, but also pushed away by it. How he constructs his compositions is also interesting. Thanks James and Kate. Chris

[@chezceleste]

Thank you Kate.

[@fuktface]

fuck, that little black and white painting of a lonely ass little book blew my mind. geeeezus.

[@ljphilp]

Thanks for a great walking tour of the Guston exhibition.

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate

[@jcbw786]

That really does my heart good - Thanks!

[@trapazoidalwindow]

Enjoyed this viewing from Singapore. Love PG's painterliness. Nice to see the light's shine emphasizing his physicality with the brush. Thanks for the share, jameskalm!

[@michelleroy7345]

Troublant mais tellement fascinant , merci pour ce merveilleux voyage au delà de la peinture.

[@johntaylor771]

Tremendous James! a reflective and erudite commentary-Guston had a large exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria around 1985 when I was an art student-the paintings at Mc Kee are strangely fresh and animated.best wishes! and thanks

[@davidwilliams7935]

After all these years the camera work is just as lousy on today's KZbin videos as this one was. Simple rules, hold your camera steady and don't point it every time your head turns to look at something.

[@wikidub]

Great video James - one of your best - about a great artist. Thanks for sharing for those not in NYC.

[@michael4250]

Seasick movement never stops. How about a still shot that actually shows the entire painting?

[@JohnBrown-be6re]

many thanks for filming this..i always think Gustons paintings are like mirages, you think you know whats there but its, in reality, difficult to pin down. i am wondering if this is because of his slipping between figuration and abstraction and his mastery of form.

[@jennyhughes4474]

Very well said John Brown!

[@Johnconno]

Brad Pitt's blinding Richard Ashcroft 'ommage, they were the days.

[@guardian1111]

Thanks for the art scene reportage. Really appreciate your coverage. Keep it up.

[@2s2s2ss]

Thanks a million James! love the closeups and the commentary! Super to get a chance to see this.

[@eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehy]

BEAUTIFULL INTRO

[@camilopalomino8319]

Completamente de acuerdo.

[@simonegad]

also james kalm-very very nice. love guston

[@geosebsr]

Bravo great video! Great, great art. these works are a national treasure!

[@hswatnik]

very outstanding tour- a work of art in itself!

[@annelllivingston2797]

Thank you, James! Another good one!

[@SCANREIGH]

Hello from Nîmes and thank you a lot ! Scanreigh

[@elizabethboustead2841]

I also saw the show in Melbourne in 1985. Lucky.

[@ed-od9sd]

oh man only if this was in 4k.....

[@alinashevyakova2888]

Vielen Dank!!!!

[@michaellawson2797]

Guston was one of pollock's closest friends

[@cervantesmoisess]

THNK YOU JAMES

[@wblake1]

Super Bad Brad!

[@xyzllii]

The trick is to hold the camera still.

[@cimerioporinternet5989]

es un trabajo interesante,esos cuadros donde usa la escala y colores puros estan bien

[@simonegad]

the videos are actually loren munk's. wonderful

[@strangethingsmoss]

You are the best!!!!

[@Johnconno]

Guston's fucking great. How many inches wide was the painting at 9.05? 😂🇺🇸💨

[@hellorodney]

excellent,,,thanks

[@hammerjammer]

so sweet!

[@MegaZidzid]

It all looks like unobtrusive version of naïve art. Very nice art.

[@RLCroft-yi2cw]

I adore Guston's work. Unshakably. But I've always held Westermann (and other imagists) in equally high regard, because he bucked the muteness of AbEx elitism (you know it's true) and went the shunpiker route. Do you know if Guston ever commented on these artists? Was he aware of Westermann? If anyone had a claim to the imagery and angst of our times, HCW beats them all. The guy shot down a kamikaze who was diving down his gun barrels for christ's sake. --Robin rlcroftdotcom

[@AndrewWeisMusic]

Only one abstract one? Bummer..

[@simonegad]

james kal m. sorry

[@RLCroft-yi2cw]

What's it take to get you to ride your bike to my world and review work that Guston continues to influence 35 years after art school, in the face of complete anonymity and daily doubt, while suffering the cold shoulder of DC, the endless unanswered attempts to find representation and serious critical attention? I'd buy your tires when they went Guston-flat. I'd fill your water bottle with Guston-green energy drink. I'd resole your shoes with Guston-nails. --Robin wwwdotrlcroft

[@artbyty]

Great vid! Bad singing. : P

[@thomhobson3554]

WRONG

[@cliffdariff74]

thanks for all ur videos, however Guston is one painter where I don't see the beauty or get what all the fuss is about. it's just not there for me, the cartoonist nature of it all... I do like the color.

[@benwoodcock5539]

+Cliff Dariff lol

[@electrocatodo]

I don´t know how come this artist ended up painting these non sense cartoons drawings look like, instead of keeping his former abstract expresionist style like other artists did of his generation.In my humble opinion his former style is further good as these monotonous cartoons.

[@benwoodcock5539]

+Joche lol

[@robertgiles9124]

Hmmmm, cartoons worth millions. The Jury has spoken. Gee, you don't know "how come this artist ended up painting these"… maybe because they are great and you simply can't see it.

[@JeffersonDinedAlone]

When did crap come to be considered art? I know it's still crap, but, when?

[@perditachavez]

a really unique voice on canvas