"What Is Painting?" At THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Part I

[DoctorLawyerWhatever]

Conceptual bullshit.

[MrWowforever]

@whosthisguythinkheis. The curators words mean more to 'you', not me, just you. Some of us study and love this stuff :)

[henrygrove100]

Where in the world is James today?

[bagoona]

Thank u Guy on the Bike!!!! ...for all those who work in obscurity & isolation. that can`t get to these places.

[eisee8sch]

Where is part 2?

[jameskalm]

@eisee8sch Part II is right under Part I on the front page at the Kalm Report.

[whosthisguythinkheis]

just going 1 minute into this video it just blurts out to me how modern art has left a bruise on the reputation of art forever. If i was the artist holding that show I'd be fucking pissed to see that the people coming in aren't even looking at the art there just dwadling about listening to some old lady talking about it!

You can just see all the people are "unconnected" to the paintings there not even looking at them therefore it must mean they don't mean anything to them.

[whosthisguythinkheis]

@whosthisguythinkheis I dont think i'd ever see that happen at an traditional artists show

[whosthisguythinkheis]

@whosthisguythinkheis considering i didn't see all of this, I'll just tell you that you can see that the viewers are drawn much more to the more traditonal art rather than the modern art. which proves my point somewhat

[MrWowforever]

@whosthisguythinkheis 1 sentence into your comment and its clear you don't know the show wasn't curated by an artist. The 'old lady' is a curator of Modern Painting at MOMA. The 'people' are on a guided tour, a public service for folks who desire additional information. Ignorant, but not dumb, and not disinterested. Your comment is equally ignorant and doesn't distract from the educational and artistic value of this Art. Art is a choice....move on if your mad :)

[whosthisguythinkheis]

@MrWowforever I didn't say that it was curated by an artist, besides thats not my point either, when i went to a few a galleries, and i saw these guides going through two different exhibitions, one was completely portrait painting whilst the other was just abstract and some modern art the same group hardly paid any attention to what the curator was saying for the portraits whilst they hardly looked at the work on display for the modern/abstract art.

[whosthisguythinkheis]

@MrWowforever how has the artist done their job when the words of a curator mean more than their work?

[Cr3ativity]

One thing that I find funny is that there are so many other greater artists who are not exhibited because of their status, etc. We need variety, not quantity!

[3idiot3]

idiot

[edwinandwilliams]

thanks for sharing all this knowledge with us. your friend edwin from malta

[cybeavertoo]

people, lets not forget the title of this movie. to miss Temkin i would say: art is a passion and a craft, both of which these days are open to quite extreme individual interpretations, making artworks sometimes totally unrecognisable as art. But they will never be unrecognisable for personal taste, for liking or dislikinga certain piece of art. And it is not in the interest of art, artist nor the public to be told how they should look the specific art, which i dislike in the movie above.

[MrWowforever]

sorry cybeavertoo....someone was trying to tell me art didn't exist anymore. i don't mind if you don't like something, taste is an open question, just like the title. but cy, we've had this discussion before. miss Temkin is just providing entry level dialogue. art is a relatively small niche in this mediated world. museums provide Basic information for anyone interested. i really don't think she is attempting to define meaning for the work, thats what the paintings do.

[cybeavertoo]

well, u r as persistant as i am;) I dont think though that u were told art didnt exist anymore, but it definitely gets smeared all over the place. With Art as blurry as it is today, due to total loss of context, we should skip the simple stories about the how's and why's of art and accept different perceptions have lead to different practisings and artist will take us to places were we mayb least expected it. But if those fleeting artworks will be as persistant as the classic objects..

[tmad890]

smeared is a good word for it...i have been drawing since i was three..and always put my all in to every piece of work..and always looked up to artists such as dali, piccaso, goya, van gogh, and marveled at there originality and depth of perception, and worked hard to emulate that into my own works..yet when i walk into a gallery, and see such works that sell for thousands of dallors, with no such depth or touch to it..i feel artists need to honor those who came before them, by doing real art..

[MrWowforever]

thanks for your opinion...........yawn.

[tmad890]

your welcome..yawning are we??..if you are so bored with other peoples opinions, you shouldnt spew yours...it only invites those who dont agree with you..i am no computer artist, i am an old school artist..so no iphone comments to throw at me..

[MrWowforever]

......yawn

[tmad890]

lol..what ever man..

[Domytar]

artists are giants

[Craigisatwat]

I know someone else who suffered for his art, and his art made it possible for us all to go to heaven! As long as we accept him, that is.

[extra1234567891]

is it jeasus

[Craigisatwat]

Real artists smoke cigarettes with oil paint on their hands, and that oil paint gets all over the cigarette, but they don't even care, because they are totally suffering because they know that school sucks, bro! Oh man! I need to order some new shit off zappos, like right now.

[Craigisatwat]

School totally sucks, dude! All you really need to do is experience suffering and then you can channel your emotions like Degas! Yeah! Beerneerneer! If you want, I can teach you how to play the electric guitar (I am self taught) but that doesn't mean I don't know how to "rock!"

[xg8512]

no myth it's true,TRUTH HURTS they are all over here in nyc it's weird.student loans? stop borrowing money you don't have duhh.SCHOOL SUCKS!!!!

[MrWowforever]

sweeping generalizations don't hurt.....artists come from all kinds of places and situations.....alot of us borrow money to supplement our development, because we are not all rich....DUHHHHHH!!!!!

[MrWowforever]

what is painting? is a question. each painters painting is a possible answer to the question. is this a painting? the answer is always yes, and then no. then the painter makes another and another.......TRUE ARTISTS are historically created from fact (we all love van gogh) and myth (all artists today are spoiled kids).....

[xg8512]

yes i agree with some of your views TRUE ARTISTS LIKE VAN GOGH SUFFERED AND HIS PAINTINGS CAME FROM HIS HEART TRUTHFULLY,NOWADAYS ALL THIS PEOPLE THAT GO TO EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS CALL THEMSELVES ARTISTS AND THEY ARE NOT, THEY DID'NT SUFFER FOR PAINTING THEY ARE JUST RICH SPOILED KIDS AND THE ART SUFFERS.WHAT IS A PAINTING?THAT IS AN OXYMORON.

[MrWowforever]

PAY MY STUDENT LOANS !!!!!!!

[BreakDaMaT]

your comment sucks ASS !

[Bosirant]

Thanks James Kalm for yet another really, really great great video for those of us who could not be there. Be sure, that you provide a great service for those who are into art appreciation and those who produce the art. Thanks again James.

[fredericduren]

the modern salon

[7dollarbeer]

They wouldn't let me film in the MoMA, did you get permission or just whip it out?

[sneha1965]

Blurring a picture, blinking eye through layers of juxtapositional imagery... this is important because of why?

[MrWowforever]

the blurring pictures(Richter) are about the camera and its trauma of replacing the painter with a machine; layers of transparent imagery starting arriving around the time of Freud's discoveries in psychology, painters like Picabia used it to show overlapping states of mind. these are only some of the ideas behind your question, there are many interesting books on these subjects.

[sneha1965]

Are there traumatized painters? What, did they wake up and find out it's 2008 and the world has left them behind?

[MrWowforever]

no...you have to imagine (which we really can't) time before cameras. Cameras changed (traumatized) everyones way of looking at the world; everyone. When the camera can capture a fixed point of view so readily, this changed artists' focus. Cubism and its rotating point of view on a single subject is an example of how Picasso and others dealt with this knowledge. Technology does not replace the human creative impulse, if you think it does then your probably not an artist, thats fine.

[MrWowforever]

the short answers are the camera and Freud

[MrWowforever]

'judgements in art and love r subjective to the absolute'???????????????? i think the paintings CAN be seen as illustrations of the curators ideas(do we need them?), but, for example, i CAN still see ideas in agnes martin or m. kippenberger that exist outside of the curators parameters. the museums choices are'nt absolute, just a pleasant distraction, a gift.

[jameskalm]

Nothing is as simple as it appears in the "Big Time New York Art World". Every one of these pieces is from the museum's permanent collection. Interests both financial (Dealers and collectors who want to see the value of work in stock appreciate) and political (donors and benefactors who want to see their gifts shown off) were taken into consideration. JK

[MrWowforever]

mr. kalm, isn't this the nature of capitalism more than the nature of art. my point is that, while not perfect, these large museum shows offer glimpses at some good painting, alot bad and a few amazing, if your lucky. gossipy curators or questionable art are capitalist hurdles i will jump to see kippenberger. thanks mr. kalm:)

[cybeavertoo]

Ofcourse art is subjective ('to the absolute' i meant its 'absolutely' subjective, just a joke)

And no, art never is an illustration to ideas of others, curators or what. Genuine art isn't even an illustration to the ideas of the artist, it just symply IS. It springs forth from the wish and habit of the artist to create something. Sometimes artworks even seem to direct themselves into being. Lots of artists have referred to that feeling, being an onlooker to their own creative activity.

[MrWowforever]

'it simply IS' ...... 'direct themselves into being'....your traveling into the talking of making, pretty gray area, i'll stay mum here....:)

[cybeavertoo]

those r a lot of words to express nothing worthwhile about art, just trying to promote the museums interests.

Oh how i hate that arthistorian's mumblejumble.

They got nothing to say and they r saying it! over and over and over and over and over and over..

MEANING?.. my ass!

[MrWowforever]

yeah the museum of modern art are morons, all the painters in the show are morons and everything is wrong, alot--your ass!

[cybeavertoo]

whatever, mr WOW. How can a MUSEUM be 'morons'? In the show there r only PAINTINGS (by painters) and mayb even some r worthwhile in a broader sense then the personal (although not many IMO).

But its the obligatory senseless art-talk that i expressed my discontent over. So mayb next time react to that, otherwise u could as well react on the colour of carrots. thx.

[MrWowforever]

'art historians mumble jumble'-- art historian works at museum for tour groups, nice public service. why so concerned about public service? public tour not a requirement. i think she does a fine job within the context of the tour, museums provide entry level dialogue 4 the public, if your smarter than that, then move on, don't hate.carrots are orange.

[cybeavertoo]

this is the PRESS-PRE-SHOW! The lady is curator, not just some pr-tourguide. The people attending this r people that should know a lot about art and r going to write or whatever-it in the media.

And even if it was a daily public tour i dont accept all the labyrinthic art-mystifications that seem to b so normal and needed these days to promote the art-historians interests. Artist dont bow-down either to public level. The make and convince through work the best they can come up with.

[cybeavertoo]

this is the press-pre-show! the lady curator painting and sculpture, her public r people who should know quite some about art. This is no publicdailytour. But actually, nobody should accept all those labyrinthic mystifications over art that seem to b needed these days and r used all the time to prolong the interests and selfrighteousness of arthistorians and the institutes that support them.

[MrWowforever]

'labryinthic mystifications'.....some strong paintings in the show, museums with the 'mass appeal' issue diluting value....museums are'nt perfect,but, malls suck....'press pre-show' the words are as fruitless as 'arts and leisure', it's just an intro of some good paintings, according to...?

[cybeavertoo]

u keep talking about the value of the paintings in the show. Its genuine to have ur own pick, but remember judgements in art and love r subjective to the absolute.

Thie people who organised this exhibition wanted to tell a story about painting (what is). Paintings become the illustrations for their projected ideas. Even if there were interesting paintings its hardly recognisable through the mist of art-talk by the lady doing a lot of talking

[sneha1965]

Painting is now craft. The only sensible reason to paint now is for the love of it. What more can be said with paint that hasn't been told already? Not much.

[MrWowforever]

Painting is craft to you because YOU have no ideas. that means you are not creative. For you to make such a sweeping generalization says much more about you than Painting. To imply that all future artists should give up because you are artistically bankrupt is retarded.

[sneha1965]

Picasso wouldn't have given a shit about cubism if he had a MAC, AE, PS and MAYA. Let's face it, painter are either too stupid or scared to use the tools of the times.

[MrWowforever]

that statement is its own stupidity

[sneha1965]

And you would know what is stupid? You obviously haven't realized that your art world is collapsing around you. Go make your craft loser.

[BreakDaMaT]

that is really idiotic thing to say dude. lets face it you dont understand painting and you dont even know what youre talking about....

[sneha1965]

I have many ideas and they are better served using a different medium. Lets face it, if Mr. Picasso had After Effect and an editing system, he would have been using that.

[MrWowforever]

you work at McDonalds

[sneha1965]

You eat at McDonald's because it's all you can afford. How's life in your trailer?

[sneha1965]

Your world is collapsing.

[MrWowforever]

they need you at the french-fry machine

[sneha1965]

Nope, you've had the job since high school. How's your acne?

[MrWowforever]

done....your above statements railing against all art begs the question, why are you on a place designed specifically for viewing and discussing Art? just to complain? anger? your job working at McDonalds? done.

[sneha1965]

Believe me, you are way over done.

[cybeavertoo]

i dont agree sneha. 'craft' is just one aspect of painting. The focus on 'craft' these days merely springs forth of lack of cultural coherency and imagination. 'craft' seems to provide safe ground, But hey! to me it seems just a facade for all those things the craftsman isnt able to come up with and the public isnt able to accept Most of the imaginary aspects of art lie in the realm of the personal. So yes too, if there ever has been a time for art to be produced for the love of it, it is Now.

[cybeavertoo]

Dont u think that is a good thing? going back to the personal, to the love for. Lets free ourselves from the almost hermetic ever repeated canon of art-historians and their laymen.Our present-time revelation is that art and artworks can actually be LOVED! Not just because of their Meaning, but on all levels and aspects. Arthistorians and the artists catering them have lead art into a deadalley. U cant be far enough from that mumblejumble

[sneha1965]

Absolutely. It's the Art World that is a joke and in need of a huge enema. Ahh, lets just forget it. The art world will eventually just collapse. It's practically there already. Just show your friends if you like to paint. Painting won't die no more than having sex will die. People love to do it.

[sneha1965]

I've seen too many Art Graduate students that cannot execute their ideas. Pathetic. By the time you're in grad school you should be able to say anything you want in your medium of choice. The undergrad teachers are failing.

[MrWowforever]

schools don't invent artists, they help those who care become better. you sound really disgruntled. why even bother to make such specific complaints. if you really think art is dead then why not just move on. you have very base disillusions about art and technology, somehow implying that the two haven't been working together for the whole 20th century. i'm convinced you are a failed artist motivated by your own glowing failures. move on..........

[MrWowforever]

Her name is Ann Temkin and she has just been named the new head of MOMA........

[cybeavertoo]

oops, there goes the neighbourhood..!

but hey, thanx for informing me

[MrWowforever]

i guess we'll have to wait and see.....:)

[sneha1965]

Yeah. Someone speaking the truth. Technology has been replacing everything traditional artists used to do, so these "has been's" have been flying around in circles trying to find new meaning in what they do. It's like a tether ball winding around a pole until there's no more rope. Like a bee flying around until it has flown up it's own ass.

[MrWowforever]

the only ass here is you

[sneha1965]

The only ass here is the space between your nose and your chin.

[MrWowforever]

why don't you paint that on your iphone and then send it on your blog and see who gives a shit:)

[suckscanada]

is sucks when as artist with over 25 years hard working I never had any art show in fucking Canada and some stupid guy never had talent and get what they want, because they are women or lesbian or some crazy ideas they have

[MrWowforever]

its hard for a'stupid guy' to be a lesbian.

[MrWowforever]

"everyones stupid except me" ...Homer Simpson

[joop1977]

she's trying to convince ppl that the shit paintings that could be painted better than a 5 year old are deep and meaningful

[MrWowforever]

you are obviously the president of the world, how should we live wise one? you are a complete moron. move on........

[MrWowforever]

thank you mr. kalm

[jameskalm]

A Very insightful review of this exhibition by Jerry Saltz titled "Back From the Brink" appears on the September 19, edition of artnet magazine website, Thanks JK

[ferdasyn]

Ya. . . your right, rictit. I can't think of any 'important' artists from America. (sarcasm) What the hell are you talking about?

[rictit]

The plans of the americans to monopolize all the museums in the world, so americans can also manage the art market with american artists only!!! Can you believe that recently Jasper Johns, Pollock, Dekooning etc, sold paintings for more than 120 million dollars!!! I cant believe that these stupid simple atists are more than Picasso, Matisse, Duchamp, Van Gogh, rembrandt, Velasquez,Renoir, Miro etc.

[MrWowforever]

your powers of deduction are mesmerizing!!! your dismissal of history is all-encompassing!!!! your nationalist ideology as powerful as cardboard!!!!! your equation of monetary value with artistic value exemplifies your love of the market, your love of wall street, your American-ness!!!!!! your are an iside-out pair of blue-jeans!!!!

[sapphirerose666]

you "europeans" dont care about money anyway... so why do you care if american paintings sold for 120 million dollars? stop complaining. it doesn't mean anything, it doesn't mean its better, it just means people are getting money and people are buying and that has nothing to do with us poor people. w/e.

and sigmar polke rocks, i just had to say it lol.

[sneha1965]

Dude, de Kooning is from the Netherlands.

[sneha1965]

They're all stupid. They're all trying to justify their existence when they have been replaced eons ago by technology.

[MrWowforever]

machines don't imagine; machines don't have emotions and machines are not spontaneous. you are a machine, the rest of us are not

[sneha1965]

No, most people have left behind the arcane walls of a museum and "has been" art teachers and are now creating and affecting minds and culture through film, tv, web, ipods, iphones, blogs and anything else that has to do with now.

[MrWowforever]

so, you make art on your iphone...who gives a shit!

[sneha1965]

more people than care about painting. Btw, only you would call it art to try and elevate it more than what it is. I call it living.

[BreakDaMaT]

painting will never die sucker!

[rictit]

Thats the problem of the USA, you americans need to have an understanding of each piece of art. If it doesnt, then is shit!! So, thats why american artist are not good in art, because they feel and think about art like a scientist, instead like an artist made out of emotions!!! Thats why american artist really donot have an important place in the art market adn will never have goood art!!

[rightredbln]

i couldnt agree more, tbh, i think that the american culture is alittle more pampered, through television, i just saw an american artist on here, who just uses computers. no realism to it.

[MrWowforever]

REALISM!!!!!GENIUS!!!!!!

[sneha1965]

Don't kid yourself. There are plenty of Americans that can and do learn realism in middle school. No one cares. That's why no one does realism.

[MrWowforever]

for centuries the church and the rich were the subjects of artists, not by choice. the invention of the camera displaced the traditional role of the painter, at first traumatizing notions of realism(whats the point?). now, paradoxically, this trauma has freed artists from the burden of mimicking the camera. the reason there is so much 'freedom from the confines of mimimickery' in this show is because artists are now FREE to choose any subject. the realism you seek is just an option, thankfully.

[MrWowforever]

yes, you've done it. with your powers of language you have defeated the entire UNITED STATES! america=scientist! GENIUS! Emotions! GENIUS! America has fallen!!!!!

[sneha1965]

Sour grapes.

[MrWowforever]

sarcastic grapes

[theyummies]

Thanks James! It's nice to be able to see what's going on at the NY Moma with you!

- Ninja Nate of The Yummies -

[ernesthartman3]

@theyummies

[pues13]

james kalm you are doing a good thing