ABOUT US
At once widely cultural and of the most practical personal value, Aesthetic Realism is magnificent education, taught by a distinguished faculty.
CLASSES VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE
The Aesthetic Realism Foundation offers a rich curriculum of classes via Zoom, including:
In these classes, knowledge and scholarship are warm, scientific, vivid, and kind—and of immediate use to men and women’s lives. People learn centrally about the subject and at the same time better understand the everyday questions they have. Each class is based on this groundbreaking principle stated by Eli Siegel, founder of Aesthetic Realism: “The world, art, and self explain each other: each is the aesthetic oneness of opposites.” More ►
Discussing a Beethoven symphony in The Opposites in Music class, taught by Barbara Allen, flutist, and Dr. Edward Green, composer
AESTHETIC REALISM CONSULTATIONS
In consultations, the matters that concern and puzzle people are comprehended through the principles of Aesthetic Realism. People find that their questions—about anger, love, self-confidence, boredom, and more—are made sense of at last, with cultural width, immediacy, and satisfying logic. A consultation is a 50-minute discussion, via Zoom, with three consultants on the Foundation’s faculty. Consultations are given to people throughout America and abroad. More ►
THE AESTHETIC REALISM THEATRE COMPANY
Pioneering dramatic and musical presentations are given at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation in SoHo, as well as other venues in the New York tri-state area and beyond. These productions are a new dramatic form, a rich interweaving of performance and comment. Musical productions include “Love, Life, and the Opposites—A Cabaret!” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll, the Opposites, & Our Greatest Hopes—A Celebration!” Dramatic presentations are based on Eli Siegel’s lectures on world drama, including “Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; or, Earthy Whirl,” “Ibsen, Bach, & What Interferes with Love,” and “Sheridan’s The School for Scandal; or, A Sneer Brightens Everything.” More ►
THE TERRAIN GALLERY
The Terrain Gallery in SoHo, New York City
The Terrain is the first gallery to show the inextricable relation between the technique of art and people’s lives. Since its opening in 1955 in New York City, the Terrain has presented exhibitions of contemporary paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs, with comment based on Eli Siegel’s historic Fifteen Questions, “Is Beauty the Making One of Opposites?” Among the artists exhibiting have been Will Barnet, Chaim Koppelman, Robert Blackburn, William King, Andre Kertesz, Clare Romano, Peter Passuntino, Selina Trieff, Richard Sloat.
The Terrain Gallery is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 1–5 pm, Eastern Time. It’s located at 141 Greene Street in New York City. More ►
OUTREACH PROGRAM
Architecture presentations at community centers
The Foundation provides speakers on a wide range of subjects—for example, architecture, music, and film.
This very successful, much-loved Outreach Program includes presentations and workshops for senior citizens, in both English and Spanish, such as “Every Person Can Tell You about Yourself” and “Memory Shows We’re Connected to the Whole World!” As part of the talks, there are lively discussions with people attending, who feel deeply met by what they’re learning.
The architecture series includes talks such as “Can We Be at Home in the World? The Architecture and Life of Frank Lloyd Wright,” “Innovators of the Renaissance: Filippo Brunelleschi & Andrea Palladio,” and “Architecture of Today and Its Thrilling Meaning for Our Lives: Frank Gehry & Shigeru Ban.” These presentations include a dynamic question-and-answer period following each talk. More ►
OTHER WAYS TO STUDY THIS EDUCATION
People can study Aesthetic Realism anywhere in the world—not only through the online classes and consultations described above—but also through this website and the Online Library. They are rich with articles; poetry; works on literature, philosophy, the social sciences, the arts—all in relation to life as people live it
The international journal The Rightness of Aesthetic Realism: A Periodical (TRO) features groundbreaking commentaries by Editor Ellen Reiss on immediate life, the arts, and history. In TRO, people can also study landmark works by Eli Siegel, and writings by Consultants and Associates. Professional classes for Aesthetic Realism Consultants, and Associates studying to teach Aesthetic Realism – these historic classes are conducted with the deepest intellect, imagination, and kindness by Ms. Reiss, who is Chair of Education, appointed by Eli Siegel.
The effect of the Aesthetic Realism education on people’s lives is tremendously beneficial and thrilling. Men and women learn to see other people, the world, and themselves more exactly—with honest respect and therefore much more pleasure. They like the world and themselves more, feel freer, are more expressed, kinder, deeper, keener, and happier. Aesthetic Realism is education urgently needed by America and the world.