James Kalm rushes from his Brooklyn studio to slip into Chelsea’s Pace Gallery just minutes before they shut down the opening celebrations for “James Siena New Paintings”. Having watched the career arch of Siena, your correspondent is constantly surprised by the artists inventiveness and risk taking. An avant-contrarian, Siena has eschewed many of the tropes signifying the New York School such as large scale, chunky paint surface, and obvious gesture. Includes a chat with well known art critic Jerry Saltz.