Filming Trip: Klaus Kertess

I just wanted to share some memories I was playing in my head last night as I listened to Physical Graffiti. As some of you know, I have loads of images from artists in my screensaver. I use it for, well, I use it because I like looking at what I consider the best art. And inside that barrage of painting and sculpture photos, there is photos of people too. People who have made a significant impact on my life. One of those is Klaus Kertess, granted I only got to meet him once, but damn we had a good time talking in his home. I wonder what happened to his place after he passed. What happens when you don't have kids but you have a home of your own. Does it go into some kind of trust, hell I don't know...Just things I think about.

If you want background on who Klaus Kertess is...go look him up.

In 2004 July, was the first time I got to visit NYC. Because of my friend Joseph Marioni, he helped me to come there for a visit. Granted this trip was only 3 days. You don't get much time to do things when it comes to only having that much time on your first visit. I did get to visit the Met for the first time, but it was also when Moma was over in queens, and I wasn't about to go to queens on my first trip to this city. I remember getting to finally meet David Reed in person on the first day I was in town, was funny because Joe was walking me around chelsea to check out the show at Robert Miller which he was in. Pretty sweet since I also got to see a BUNCH of other artists who's work I had yet to see in person. They had a wonderful yellow painting by Jason Martin too. One thing I remember during that trip was how cool it would be to see Klaus Kertess out and about. Granted I had no idea at the time where he lived.

Fast forward and rewind.... 2003 I wrote to Klaus with a few slides (maybe they were photos) of my work, with a nice letter. He kindly wrote back not long after I sent the letter. I still know the dates, because he wrote back on the same paper I sent to him. Pretty funny in relation to the way our emails go back and forth today. He told me to get in touch when I was there the first time, but alas, I was too afraid to get in touch. It took me quite a long time to even get up the courage to ask Joe if I could come visit with him. Sure was a relief when he said yes, and a few days later I was on my way to NYC. Greyhound. What a journey...i'm not able to sleep on public transport, so the little bit I did get to didn't help much when I got there. I think the second we were in NJ and I could see the Empire State Building, the adrenaline in my body shot through me and I was definitely not feeling tired after that.

Again, fast forwarding. In 2011 I began the long task of filming people for a grand documentary I was to make. In retrospect, it was a good idea, just too big for ME on my own. During the period from 2004 to 2011 I had been in touch with Klaus, he even got a painting of mine...

07-30-2002

25.5 X 24"

Acrylic and Wood Filler on Canvas.

Well. When I was planning my first big filming trip, the actual first one was months before when I filmed Carl Belz. But I had to drive up to New Hampshire, 60 miles from the Canada border to get him. And unfortunately I was so unprepared for that interview that I only got 45 minutes of interview with him. I will forever wish I was more prepared on that. If my old Boy Scout troop leader knew that, he'd probably smack me upside the head. LOL.

By the time I went to NYC to stay with Marioni again in 2011 to begin filming where the bulk of my interviews would take place. I was set up to film Peter Reginato first, the day after I got there. Boy was that a wonderful experience, and boy did I learn a lot about my abilities as a filmmaker. The next day I was to go visit with Pat Steir, but as I got there I found out she had been in a bit of a pickle and couldn't do the interview. I did get to spend an hour in her studio, which was awesome just to be there. She was really nice but we haven't gotten to cash in that raincheck yet. It was also the only time I have tried to do two interviews in one day, I went right after Pat's up to Karen Wilkin's place. And here I am carrying two bags of camera gear by myself, I feel like after this whole trip my shoulders dropped a few mm's from all that weight. After Karen's interview, I walked back to Joe's, since it was literally just a couple blocks away. I remember thinking how cool it is to live THAT close to a fellow colleague. As you know, or maybe you don't. I come from Columbus, Ohio, and you don't get any of the same type of art world here as you do in NYC. The next day I was in Brooklyn for my first interview with Michael Brennan. Wonderful times but his lighting situation in his studio was such that it completely messed with the quality of my video. Ended up with all kinds of red bands through the video that was damn hard to fix.

I had a free day after that, and used all the evening to download all the information from my camera to the computer. Took me until I got back home and talked to a fellow filmmaker that I found a much easier way to transfer things into my computer.

Sunday I was able to get up with John Zinsser, who gave me all kinds of new information about being an artist in NYC, along with his history. The guy has amazing stories and is one hell of a painter.

Monday, the day I left, I got to meet up with Klaus at his home on 8th Street. It was a wonderful day, he was out walking his dog and I got him just as he was coming back. I honestly would have thought that a guy with his legend, would be living in a bigger space, but it's his decision on where to live. I had never been in so many different types of apartments in my life. It was wild going into the lair of one of the most legendary of people I had interviewed. This guy had basically at one time been what some thought would be the next Leo Castelli, with the caliber of artists he found and began his gallery with. Klaus had a view outside his apartment most would dig to enjoy each day. Lots of windows from his place meant he barely needed a lightbulb until the sun went down. The windows surrounded two walls in his apartment, which is cool because most only have windows in the front and back. Really gave a wonderful view of his surrounding area. He told me some funny stories about living there, but they are a bit too much for sharing here. It was one person to another, no extensions on those conversations.

He sat in front of a Joan Mitchell drawing and we proceeded to do our interview. Thankfully we were able to get what would become the whole interview done. Granted I wanted to do more but it wasn't long after this that his health caught up to him. I heard a few years later that he was being walked around town by an assistant, and it wasn't long after I heard that news that I heard the news of Klaus' passing. Upon hearing the news, my brain lit up with memories of walking in front of his place when I would go down to the original Whitney museum. Each time I think of him, I think of his telling me I need to get to NY, it makes me wish I had tried harder in order to make that very thing happen.

I wonder about who is now living there, maybe his partner, could be someone completely oblivious as to whom lived there before. Life goes on, but memories keep the past alive too.

Here are a few clips from our interview session...



And



Thanks for reading. I appreciate your interest in what I am doing.
Cheers.
Jeffrey Collins

Klaus Kertess on Matthew Barney

In case you live under an art rock. You have heard about the passing of one of the legends Klaus Kertess. The gentleman who began the Bykert Gallery which gave rise to artists like Ralph Humphrey, Brice Marden and David Novros. Klaus passed away little over a week ago now, and I've been doing some serious thinking about the interview that we did back in 2012. So many questions are still unanswered and will remain that way. I heard from a friend that he wasn't quite all there in his last few months, really wished he had been one of the healthy up to the end ones. Feeling for his partner of over 40 years, Billy Sullivan and what he's been going through.

In 2012 I got to sit down with Klaus for the first and last time. It was quite an experience to hear his stories, many you won't hear from anywhere else. Most of the people who wrote about him were only really interested in his time as a gallerist in the 60's. But he was OH SO MUCH more than that. And he really shared that with me.

One of the interview subjects we spoke about was his working on an exhibition of Matthew Barney at the Morgan Library in NYC. He was in the midst of planning it as we were talking. He felt free to share what I am going to share with you now. No need to talk more about the clip, since Klaus does all the talking in it. Enjoy. 



If you would like to see more and more clips like this, please visit the black DONATE box to the right>>> Your help is greatly appreciated, as it takes a lot to do this by oneself and it's been getting harder and harder to keep up with my filming. I haven't been able to do much lately as I've no funding for this. If you know anyone or anywhere you think would help, please do let me know.

Thanks for your time.
Jeffrey Collins
Director

Painter Ronnie Landfield in his NYC Studio 2012

It wasn't too long after I got to film Ronnie Landfield and his wife Jenny in his Tribeca studio moving paintings around, that the storm of the century for NYC hit and ended his time there. I'm glad I got to spend some wonderful time there, either filming, or just hanging out. Ronnie is always a great person to talk with. We have lots of differences in the way we see art, but that's what makes the conversations all that much richer. I've been looking forward to visiting his new studio for years now and who knows when i'll be able to get up there to film.



If you know someone who likes to sponsor art projects, especially of the documentation sort, please get them in touch as it takes more than I've got to make these films for you. History needs films like this.

Thanks for watching!
Jeffrey Collins
Artist/Filmmaker

Francine Tint Studio Interview

I was introduced to Francine around 2013 during my first visit with Sculptor/Painter Peter Reginato and Painter Dee Solin to the Hamptons to visit ArtMrkt Hamptons. Francine's work was in the same booth as Peter's and while I didn't get to meet her that weekend. I did soon after. We finally got to get together in September of this year and filmed for a couple hours. What you are about to see is a culmination of that day.



Equipment used:
Canon 5D2
GoPro Hero 3
LG G4
Zoom H4n for Audio.

New Films Coming.

I've been working on two new films from my last trip to NYC in September (Thanks Peter!). I interviewed Francine Tint and Anders Knutsson in their studios and got so much wonderful footage. I could easily have just put out all the clips online, but they go better for people when they are compiled together to create a moving story of themselves and their art. As you know I've been doing this work since 2011 and am now creating films specifically for each person. I'm no longer working on one giant film. Too little time, too little money, as a film like that takes so much time, resources, and money, or which I have none of those. I've only recently begun to monetize my youtube site to help raise funds for more shoots, but so far it's only raised under $16.00 in the 4 months since I began the monetization of my page. This is a true passion for me and I hope to be able to make many more of these in the future. I'm definitely missing out on the 1st rule of business, Location, Location, Location... but am working on changing that.

Thanks Francine and Anders for letting me into your studios and your lives to help document your histories.

John Zinsser on Pat Hearn, Peter Schuyff and Philip Taaffe in this Interview Video

Here's another of the recent clips from my interview with John Zinsser. Kenny Schachter on Facebook reminded those who follow him online that July 2015 marks the 15th anniversary of Gallerists Pat Hearn's passing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/20/nyregion/pat-hearn-art-dealer-in-new-york-dies-at-45.html

As I was thinking about what he was saying. I remembered that Zinsser had spoken about her in his most recent of interviews. What you see below is that interview. He also spoke of Peter Schuyff and Philip Taaffe, two painters he really admires. Dig in and enjoy!



Thanks for watching.

Jeffrey Collins
Director

Robert C. Morgan

I got to visit with Painter/Writer Robert C. Morgan and this is some of what came from it.

Enjoy.

Color Correcting and other News.

I wanted to take a moment and share how things are going. As you can see by the two images from below, I have been working a lot on my color corrections for the footage. Below you see Painter Dee Solin, and Painter and Gallerist Richard Timperio. On the left is the original footage and it's right is the color corrected version. The more I see how easy it is to edit my Canon 5D2 footage, and the more I learn about the camera, the more I like it and want to learn how to make the best for every shot I get.

I have been spending a lot of time working on all the separate edits. The one's I did with the GoPro Hero3 have been good, some not so good. The settings on it don't give you much for manual control so it's always trying to compensate for changes in light. But we are working through all of that. Always onward and upward.

Soon I'll be selling all my big household items and heading to NYC where I will set up my base and get deeper into my art and into this film. Looking forward to it.

Rodney Dickson Talks About Influences.

Everytime I sat down to speak with Rodney, I was always immensely drawn into his stories. Here is one of those stories where he speaks about one of his major influences, and one that also became a friend.

I got so much footage from Rodney, and I really wanna put it all online, but that would kinda kill the need for a documentary film that I've been working on for over two years.



Thanks Rodney for letting me into your world. I look forward to future filming jaunts with yourself.

Jeffrey

BTW, Here's another great video of Rodney while he was painting. Filmed by Emanuele Sferruzza Moszkowicz, when he visited the painter a number of years back. It's amazing to get to watch Rodney paint, as it's such a private experience.

Second clip with Louise P. Sloane.

As I originally put up in November, the first clip of Louise P. Sloane in her Great Neck NY studio. I felt there should be something more of her stories for people to enjoy online. This is a most amazing story about Louise's first solo exhibition in NYC. She later went on to have many solo exhibitions at OK Harris in SoHo and at Sideshow Gallery in Williamsburg Brooklyn. This also gives you a wider glimpse into her growth in her working materials and methods.

If you like this and want to see more, please click the black box to the right and donate to the film. So there will continue to be more amazing interviews with amazing people.

Thanks Louise!!!



Thanks for your time.

Jeffrey Collins
Director of Who's Afraid of Red Yellow and Blue.
Coming in 2014 I hope.

More interviews in NYC.

My time in NYC is almost up. Got just a couple days to go before heading back to Columbus via Syracuse. Going to do some more filming with Darryl Hughto and Susan Roth.

So far I have had the pleasure of meeting many more people from this journey. And even got a few more interviews done. One more to go tomorrow, which will be the writer James Panero from the Wall Street Journal and The New Criterion. 

This trip I got to meet and film...

Forrest "Frosty" Myers in his Brooklyn Studio.

Louise P. Sloane in her Great Neck Studio.Dennis Hollingsworth in his Brooklyn Studio.Matthew Deleget in the offices of Minus Space in Brooklyn.

James Panero in Storefront Bushwick, BrooklynThanks to all that have helped me get to this point. Your contributions are going to some very informative and thought provoking art documentary filmmaking. This archive and film is going to be available for many many people over the decades to come, and you are helping make it possible with your donations.Cheers.Jeffrey CollinsDirector.

Susan Roth Interview Clip.

Another amazing clip from my recent travels to Canastota, NY. Visiting with Painter Susan Roth in her studio she shares with her husband, Darryl Hughto.

Spent some amazing time getting to know them, here's a little bit for you,



So much to come in the future. And there will be plenty of interviews coming.

I'm also working on an actual website for the film, as I like this blog, but am in need to incorporate it into something a bit more professional for this project. Keep checking back.

Thanks.
Jeffrey

Ronnie Landfield being an art mover of Rosenquist.

Sharing this fantastic clip of Painter Ronnie Landfield talking about his early days and how he helped set up a few shows for fellow artists, including James Rosenquist's second show at the Green Gallery.



Thanks to all who contributed in helping get me to NYC for this recent filming trip. It is all greatly appreciated. Already looking forward to the next trip.

John Zinsser on his history.

Short clip from my talk with Painter John Zinsser. He speaks about the painting he was in front of during the last interview and how it relates to his history as a painter.



Much more to come. The documentary is getting closer and closer to being ready for the editing stage.

Thanks to all that contributed to the campaign to get this film made. History is on our side.

Kickstarter Campaign is LIVE!!!

I have finally gotten the project ready for this phase of the film. I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far, and need your help to get to the next phase till the finish. You can really grasp all I have been working on and all the time I have been desiring to do this documentary.

Have a look...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/105716108/untitled-conversations-on-art-1970-2012-documentar

And THANKS for your help.

Jeffrey

Clip of Curator Klaus Kertess...

Clip of Curator Karen Wilkin speaking about Jules Olitski.