Loren Munk is an (amateur) art historian, an alchemist and maker of vibrant paintings about the history of the New York Art community. His nom de guerre is James Kalm — an art fanatic that rides a bike around the boroughs and visits galleries and art shows in New York City.

Loren has obtained a unique perspective and understanding of the New York phylogeny of art and its communal happenings. This was a default process of acquiring knowledge, through delivering art supplies for Utretch, to the artists' studio. Making notes of his findings of who and where everyone was, Loren started making connections, and analyzing systems of thinking and behaviors. Take a look at his paintings and the story will be clear. Something Loren reflects on, is the idea of the symbiotic relationships that exists within art communities. Saying hello to your artist neighbor at the bodega you buy your milk, sharing a drink at the local bar, it may not be a significant exchange but these passings are present. Munk believes it is these engagements and interactions that are just as essential to an artists life, as to what is happening in the studio. 

We discuss the aesthetic propensities of James Kalm, who makes wobbly videos, which are posted on two prominent youtube channels; The James Kalm Report and James Kalm Rough Cut - quoted as the ‘freshest and most urgent art coverage on the internet”. With 18 years of footage, these two channels have amassed over1600 programs, and many millions of views. Loren has presented his artworks across Europe and New York, his most recent exhibition at was a dynamic display of paintings with Ruttkowski;68 and Rail Curatorial Projects, presented as the 10th installment of Singing in Unison; Loren Munk & James Kalm [Curated by Phong H. Bui & Cal McKeever]. James Kalm previously wrote art criticism for The Brooklyn Rail, from 2000 to 2012.

Links:

@lorenmunkstudio

www.lorenmunk.com

www.youtube.com/@jameskalmroughcut/videos

www.youtube.com/@jameskalm

Singing in Unison, Part 10 Loren Munk & James Kalm

Show notes:

Irving Sandler Railing Opinion: A Call to Art Critics

The Brooklyn Rail

Jane Goodall

Soho Art Mateirals

Red Hook

Sun-thickened linseed oil

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