Jasper Johns, Luiz Zerbini and Thornton Dial

With the belated approach of summer, James Kalm, finds himself in Chelsea and with trusty camera in hand, records exhibitions that he hopes this world-wide viewer-ship will appreciate. The tour begins at the Matthew Marks Gallery with a walk through of Jasper Johns Monotypes. This iconic American artist has been innovating and reevaluation the practice of print making and graphics since the mid 1950s. This show presents over thirty years of work from the “Crosshatching” series of the early 1970s to his latest plates depicting a grieving soldier. West on 22nd Street, we pop into Sikkema Jenkins & Co. and view “Perhappiness” by Brazilian painter Luiz Zerbini. This exhibition shows a breadth of vision, scale and technique all within a knowing employment for current free form abstraction. Lastly, Thornton Dial’s “We All Live Under the Same Old Flag” at Marianne Boesky Gallery is a look back at the work of one of America’s most beloved “Outsider” artists.

[@tonsfocus]

Three great shows. Thanks so much!

[@wemblyfez]

I pretty much love everything Jasper Johns creates but the drawings and monotypes are closest to perfection. There is a sensitivity to the touch and technique that makes them real gems. I hadn't seen these latest pieces. Thanks so much for showing these, James. A real treat.

[@michaelroberts8300]

Thank you James, three very interesting shows. Thornton Dial is a revelation (unfamiliar with his work over here in London) the work just sings.

[@RichardKing4U]

You'll love my stuff then - WWW.100Temptations.com and it's cheap at the moment. Give your eyes a real treat

[@Feicthisart]

Terrific blog JK. I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks.

[@faustlacrimosa]

Wonderful review!!

[@gavinyates9189]

Thank you Kate, thank you everybody.

[@MrDonaldmaddog]

WOW, am I seasick!!!!!!I

[@markpx]

What do you think Johns was going for with the crosshatches? Im not quite sure, but I am intrigued by how he creates what looks at first like an assortment of randomly grouped hatches, until one comes upon an area that reveals that the painting is a vertically mirrored image, partly cropped on the left hand side.

[@favors59]

The vampires got Thornton

[@tralexan]

Thornton Dial. Thornton Dial. Thornton Dial.
The quilt makers are from Gee's Bend, Alabama.

[@IzzyCubito]

Thanks, were these curated from private collections?

[@cliffdariff74]

wonder what kind of glue Thornton used to get the cloth to stick on wood backing.

[@slimnics]

thank you, it would be cool to go slower when panning close in, to give a chance to see the detail better.

[@slimnics]

Thanks for the good idea, but that doesn't work either, because the camera moves to fast. Any more good ideas ?

[@slimnics]

The Big F U cool, sounds good thanks.

[@rrdd8457]

you can set the speed duration lower for your personal needs. if he went slower we would all feel slow in the head.

[@pjr5913]

thanks kate i could do with out the lousy beatnick every now and then

[@chinesesteel2713]

Thornton Dial's metaphors are better than anyone's but his paint handling and color is what misses the mark. That would make him equal to Jasper Johns.