Our most recent member Kevin Aita has sent us the following note:

… I did read through some of the blogs on the AERA wordpress page and although I don’t totally agree with all that is written I am in agreement with most of the points. I attended Art School at the University of Oklahoma from 77-81 when the art college was populated with professors that were known as Cowboy Conceptualist (what ever that is?). I had the good fortune to be able to study under a Photorealist painter who was a graduate assistant and I was able to learn and teach myself how to be a realist painter.

I felt inferior to all of the other art students in that I never “drank the cool-aid ” of appreciating modern contemporary art. I absolutely saw all of DeKooning’s work as hammered dog shit and was never really allowed to admit my disdain. What I do understand about art is that art is essentially visual communication and it has served that function since the earliest cave paintings. When a contemporary conceptual artist needs to post a verbose written treatise on what a piece means they have failed in the basic need for their art to be visual communication.

….Now I am striving to say something with my artwork without having to explain it to people. The interesting thing is that some of my viewers interpret my paintings as saying something that I never had in mind which is an added bonus. I hope this gives you some insight on where I stand as a realist painter. Of course I am honored to be asked to join AERA