Mary Heilmann at 303 Gallery William T Williams at Michael Rosenfeld Gallery

James Kalm brings viewers along to the far West Side of Chelsea for a brief tour of two shows featuring a pair of “mature” artists, that are experiencing the phenomenon of being rediscovered. Mary Heilmann Moved to New York from California in the late 1960s. Having studied ceramics before her arrival in New York, Heilmann gravitated to painting almost as an act of transgression against the Minimal hegemony. After years of unrecognized work, in the early aughts the artist begins to win converts over to her trippy version of hard-edge painting, and the quirky processes she employs.
William T. Williams was working at the very center of the Downtown painting scene in the late 1960s, and produced some of the era’s most striking painted works. Though engaged in the turbulent cultural, and political milieu of the period, his works attracted serious attention for their ambition. As times and tastes changed, and due to his commitment to teaching, he withdrew somewhat from the day-to-day self-promotion needed to stay in the local art press. The paintings in “Tension to the Edge a Selection of Paintings and works on Paper, 1968-70” give new viewers a chance to experience these works and appreciate their historic importance. A musical introduction is provided by Gabriel Mayers. This program was recorded September 30, 2022. #jameskalmreport #jameskalmroughcut #lorenmunk