Aesthetic Realism and the Relation of Art and Life

For the last 13 years, Donita Ellison, sculptor and Aesthetic Realism Associate and I have been giving presentations to teachers on the relation of Art and Science through the Aesthetic Realism Teaching Method.  We have loved talking to art educators throughout the country about this principle by Eli Siegel: "All beauty is a making one of opposites and the making one of opposites is what we are going after in ourselves."  We have related, for example, the beauty to be found in the Color Wheel and the Periodic Table of Elements; the way separation and junction are present in the way a coil pot is made and the structure of the human heart; and how near and far are mightily one in linear perspective and the way are eyes make a one of these same opposites as we look at the world.  This has been a wonderful journey for us, learning from each other about how to see beauty in our respective subjects and relating the opposites in art and science to the opposites every person is yearning to put together in his or her own turbulent life.

I am proud to post this great talk by Dorothy Koppelman, Aesthetic Realism Consultant, painter, teacher of "The Critical Inquiry Class," and authority in the field of art criticism.   Mrs. Koppeleman began her studying of Aesthetic Realism in classes with Eli Siegel in the 1940's and her knowledge of art is deep and vast.  A beautiful instance is: "Light and Dark, Hiding and Showing in Joseph Mallord William Turner, which you can read here: http://www.terraingallery.org/archive/J-M-W-Turner/turner-light.htm.  You're in for a wonderful experience.