James Kalm pays a heartfelt tribute to one of the legendary artists of the East Village. From 1978 to 1987, a sleazy rundown neighborhood on the butt of Downtown Manhattan became the most exciting and controversial battleground in the art world struggles. A cadre of whacked-out disenfranchised artists, using their own wits and energy, grabbed the international spotlight and for a brief skuzzy moment, changed the course of history.

Martin Wong was an essential character within that milieu and it is fitting that on the tenth anniversary of his death this retrospective of his work is presented.

James Kalm is slumming on the Lower East Side when he comes across this opening. Tracey Emin is a founding member of the YBAs (Young British Artists) and represented Great Britain in the 2007 Venice Biennial. Featuring over 53 works in neon, film, sculpture, embroideries and monoprints, this extensive show continues the artist’s exploration and objectification of her own sexuality, lust, longing and desire.

James Kalm makes a pre-Halloween visit to bring viewers some tricks and treats from the painterly grab bag of Nicole Eisenman. Combining styles and techniques, Eisenman presents a series of large “Beer Garden” paintings that capture friends and inhabitants of this bohemian milieu. The pictures are rife with art historical references and show Eisenman’s regard for past masters like Picasso, Nolde and Ensor.

James Kalm treks into Marlborough Chelsea for the second one-man show by the eccentric abstract painter Steven Charles. Three days earlier, your reporter biked to West Harlem for an impromptu studio visit and interview with the artist. Charles discusses his recent investigations of figurative subject matter and accumulative sculpture.

James Kalm makes a walking tour through the recent exhibition of Jack Pierson. Known for his poetic wall constructions in which he uses found letters from commercial roadside signage, this new body of work investigates the formalistic aspect of these shapes without regard for their linguistic meaning. The resulting accumulations resemble totems or snippets of calligraphy. The weathered and faded surfaces evoke a romantic nostalgia yet Pierson’s arrangements remain elegant, humorous and formally satisfying.

James Kalm, despite the daunting task of trying to capture the grand spectacle of 113 openings, muddles on, and brings viewers a select few of the exhibitions on offer. Drawings and recent paintings by Raoul De Keyser and the “Afro Margin” drawings by Chris Ofili begin out tour at David Zwirner. Heading north, we pop in for a glance at the double shows of Kara Walker and Mark Bradford at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. and then slip in at Sonnabend to catch a look at the Photo-Realistic Surrealism of Matthew Weinstein. Trying to beat the clock we get an oh so brief look at Maya Lin’s installation, ”Three Ways of Looking at the Earth” at Pace/Wildenstein. We wrap-up with a viewing of the luminous abstractions of Kylie Heidenheimer, at 532 Thomas Jaeckel Gallery and pause to reflect on the 9/11 Memorial Lights over lower Manhattan.

James Kalm returns for the 2009 season opener on the LES (Lower East Side). This sampler features run-throughs of five openings that give viewers an idea of the tastes and trends we likely to see more of as the year unwinds. Beginning with the zippy tape stripes of Franklin Evans at Sue Scott, we dash up Freeman Alley to take a peek at the work of one name wonder Carter at Salon 94. From there we visit Khalif Kelly’s “Metamorphosis” at Thierry Goldberg Projects, and take a glance at the video installation of Adam Shecter at Eleven Rivington. Finally it’s up to East 2nd Street to check out the most recent offering at Museum 52.

James Kalm drifts into Soho to kick off the new season with a pair of highly anticipated exhibitions. Tauba Auerbach’s “HERE AND NOW/AND NOWHERE” presents five bodies of work that are all related to the duality of space, the here, and, time, the now. Illusionistic paintings are contrasted with “Auerglass” a custom made pipe organ. Kehinde Wiley explores the photographic medium with “Black Light” a series of digitally manipulated photos that continues his studies of young black males. Using various lighting sources, decorative backgrounds, gestures and poses that relate to medieval religious iconography, Wiley creates images that balance precariously between “Boys in the Hood” and “GQ Magazine”.

The following are brief excerpts from a Facebook dialog that’s taken place over the last four days on the Loren J. Munk page. The impetus of the original post was a demand received through YouTube from a supposed dealer, who threatens “getting ugly” if his demands aren’t met. This subject seems like prime territory for the investigation of “New Media” and some of its implications. Thanks here to those who contributed. I’ve edited due to space limits, but tried to capture the general tone.

TUESDAY JULY 24
7-9, Soho/ RENWICK GALLERY 45 Renwick/ Screening: "The Brigid Berlin Story"
6-9, Midtown West/ HESKIN CONTEMPORARY 443 W 37/ Closing party for Julie Peppito’s "The Breath"
{recommended}
7:30, Midtown/ CHASHAMA 112 W 44/ Performance: Jonathan Zalben "Bialystok/Brooklyn"
8-11. Midtown/ MUSEUM OF MODERN ART 11 W 53/ "Paper Rad Featuring Cory Arcangel" $10 {recommended}