Hilton Kramer (1928-2012)

James writes:

Hilton Kramer was one of the last survivors of the serious age of criticism. He casts a longer shadow over art and culture than his famous adversaries like to acknowledge. His front page columns for The New York Observer allowed a younger generation, myself included, to see art through his eyes long after he left The New York Times. And he wasn’t just a taker down. He was a builder up of under-appreciated talent. He knew how to deploy the knife to cut away the layers of celebrity, politics, and commercialism and to experience art face to face and unfiltered. The best kept secret of the art world is that Hilton was a hero to artists. We are planning a special issue of The New Criterion in May dedicated to his legacy. He will be deeply missed.

Hilton Kramer 1928-2012 (Roger Kimball: PJ Media)

Hilton Kramer and the 'Correction of Taste' (Roger Kimball: Wall Street Journal)

Hilton Kramer, Critic Who Championed Modernism, Dies at 84 (William Grimes: New York Times)

Hilton Kramer’s Provocative Time at The Times (John Williams: New York Times)

Artful Arbiter of the High and the Low (Stephen Miller: Wall Street Journal)

Hilton Kramer, art critic and editor who championed high art, dies at 84 (Matt Schudel: Washington Post)

Hilton Kramer, Polarizing Art Critic and Founder of The New Criterion, Is Dead at 84 (Michael H. Miller: New York Observer)

Some of Hilton Kramer’s Greatest Hits (New York Observer)

"What a Brilliant Man!" (Myron Magnet: City Journal)

On Never Meeting the Master (Franklin Einspruch: New York Sun)

Hilton Kramer R.I.P (Aaron Goldstein: American Spectator)

The Superb, Dazzling, All-Conquering Hilton Kramer (Jay Nordlinger: National Review)

Hilton and Lana (Mark Steyn: National Review)

Hilton Kramer, RIP (Rick Brookhiser: National Review)

Hilton Kramer (John J. Miller: National Review)

Hilton Kramer, RIP (Terry Teachout)

Hilton Kramer, 1928-2012 (John Podhoretz: Commentary)

Hilton Kramer, A Man of Arts & Letters (Gary Shapiro: The New York Sun, 2006)

Deborah Solomon on the Cuddly Side of Hilton Kramer (1928-2012) (New York)

Hilton Kramer dies at 84; polarizing but widely read art critic (Elaine Woo: Los Angeles Times)

Hilton Kramer R.I.P. (Bruce Bawer: Front Page)

Hilton Kramer, 84, 'Scourge of the Art World' (David Gurliacci: Darien Patch)

A collection of Hilton's body of work for The New Criterion may be found here.

Readers are invited to a memorial reception for Hilton Kramer scheduled for May 9 at 6pm. The event is open to the public but space is limited. Click here for details.

A Faith in Art

Wayne Roosa, now on view in the offices of First Things

James writes:

I'm honored that Matthew Cantirino at First Things has picked up on my review of "What I Know," the survey of contemporary art curated by the Bushwick-based impressario Jason Andrew. I'm also glad that Cantirino has offered up some additional information about the exhibition's unusual venue--a gallery on the 7th floor of 44 West 28th Street called NYCAMS.

The New York Center for Media Studies, as the institution is officially known, is much more than an exhibition space. It's a "faith-based artist and writing residency program" run by Minnesota's Bethel University that offers applicants the "opportunity to live, create, and interact in the cutting edge cultural capital of the world." Surrounding NYCAMS gallery space is a beehive of artist studios available to students twenty-four hours a day. NYCAMS also boasts an impressive roster of faculty members and advisors. I look forward to joining them when I speak at NYCAMS on March 28 about the role of social media in contemporary art. 

The director of NYCAMS is the Brooklyn-based artist John Silvis. A graduate of Bethel, Silvas is also a curator who has recently mounted two art exhibitions in the editorial offices of none other than First Things. The latest show features work by Wayne Roosa, an artist working at the crossroads of contemporary abstraction and faith. In an interview with First Things, Roosa describes how he tries to "preserve the ‘real presence’ of ourselves, our neighbors, and God."

The First Things gallery is open to the public every day 12-2 on the 6th floor of 35 East 21st Street, New York and Roosa's work will remain on view for another month. 

Magazine luminaries panel

James writes:

Luminaries? Gosh. If you must. Such is the title for a panel at the The College Media Convention in New York, which I will take part in next Monday at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Here are the details. See you there!

Magazine luminaries panel: Dispatches from the bloody trenches of little literary magazines

A summit of the most powerful and pioneering generals of literary magazine warfare will share their dispatches from the front lines. Or perhaps the gentle souls of the placid pages of literary America will mellifluously share their kind encouragement. Truth is, we don’t know what will happen when we bring these folks together!

Brigid Hughes, editor-in-chief, A Public Space
Paula Deitz, editor-in-chief, The Hudson Review
Jeanne Leiby, editor-in-chief, The Southern Review
James Panero, managing editor, The New Criterion
Raymond Hammond, editor-in-chief, The New York Quarterly
Monday, 12-12:50 p.m