Friends of Aesthetic Realism
       Countering the Lies
“It’s a lie, and not a well told one at that.
  It grins out like a copper dollar.”

                  —Abraham Lincoln

Statement by Anthony C. Romeo, R.A., Architect and   Adjunct Professor CUNY


As an architect with 30 years experience, including more than a decade as principal of my own firm, I write to counter the lies on the Internet about Aesthetic Realism. I study this philosophy because I want to, and I do so with my own questioning mind and free will. To accuse me of being a “cult member” is an affront to my intelligence, reputation, and character, and I resent it! Aesthetic Realism is the education I credit most for the success I have achieved in my profession.

About Education & Career

I learned about Aesthetic Realism in 1974, when attending the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, majoring in Architecture. When I returned to New York, I began to study Aesthetic Realism in consultations and enrolled in the New York Institute of Technology School of Architecture, where I received my Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1979. Contrary to what is alleged on the Internet, I was always encouraged by my consultants to advance my education, my career, and my professional associations.

Following graduation, I completed my architecture apprenticeship, and upon taking my state exams, I received my license to practice architecture in the state of New York. Subsequently I attained registrations in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. In 1991, I opened my own architectural firm, Anthony C. Romeo Architect, PC, fulfilling a life-long dream. My study of Aesthetic Realism assisted my professional development in every way possible. My business was, of course, my private concern, and never a subject of discussion in Aesthetic Realism classes, except that I did learn in these classes what I could learn from no other academic source: the relation of the art of architecture to the questions of life. I have spoken about what I've learned on this subject at professional conferences and educational institutions, including the 2000 annual conference of the American Institute of Architects, and at Harvard, NYU, and Vassar.

I am proud to have studied in classes with Eli Siegel in 1978. It was a privilege learning from him about architecture, the questions I had about love, anger and so much more. The knowledge I gained then, and continue to learn in classes taught by Aesthetic Realism Chairman of Education Ellen Reiss, has made my life a success. In September, I will og celebrate 27 years of marriage with my wife, Karen Van Outryve Romeo, a poet and Aesthetic Realism consultant. My desire to know my wife increases every day and I love her because she wants me to care for the world and beauty truly. We were blessed in 1993 with the birth of our dear daughter Alessandra, who is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge. The study of Aesthetic Realism has made me a kinder husband and a more thoughtful father.

On Families, & Friends Who Don't Study Aesthetic Realism

The accusation that Aesthetic Realism “splits up families” and discourages students from associating with people who don't study is absurd!  I enjoy a wonderful relationship with my family, some of whom have studied Aesthetic Realism, and with my wife's family, none of whom have ever studied it. In addition, my wife and I are fortunate to have a wide circle of friends and to entertain frequently at both our city and country homes.

In my careful opinion, Aesthetic Realism is a beautiful, coherent, diverse and comprehensive philosophy, and Eli Siegel is one of the greatest minds of all time, because he discovered that “All beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making one of opposites is what we are going after in ourselves.” He also saw that the greatest opponent of art and life is contempt, “the addition to self through the lessening of something else.”  I have studied these principles and put them to the test in my life, work, and teaching. I've looked at hundreds of works of architecture and the lives of many architects, and asked if these principles were true. The answer is always a resounding Yes!

 

READ WHAT'S TRUE—
  • Read statements by many individual men and women
  • Reviews from the NY Times Book Review, Saturday Review, Library Journal, Harlem Times, Popular Photography, and more
  • The poetry by Eli Siegel, so greatly respected by William Carlos Williams and many others
  • Read lectures by Eli Siegel on subjects as diverse as literature, love, & economics
  • What is learned in classes taught by Ellen Reiss

  • A Little Anthology of Comments (Some Funny We Hope) on Further Misrepresentations.

    >> Continue

    "On the Pleasures and Advantages of Anonymity: An Ode"—
    >> Continue

    A Dramatic and Cautionary Tale about an Unknown and Very Unimportant Person

    There once was a young man of ancient Greece named Milos. And Milos knew Socrates. He did not like Socrates because the great man asked far too many questions.... >> Continue

    Statements by Friends of Aesthetic Realism

    Barbara Allen
    Frances Amello
    Jerry Amello
    Christopher Balchin
    Mara Bennici
    David Berger
    Alice Bernstein
    Rachel J. Bernstein
    Barbara Buehler
    Gina Buffone
    Beverly Sue Burk
    Maureen Butler
    Jeffrey Carduner
    Margot Carpenter
    Lori & Robert Colavito
    Albert Corvino
    Nicholas Corvino
    Henry D'Amico
    Matthew D’Amico
    Ernest DeFilippis
    Vincent DiPietro
    Carol Driscoll
    Donita Ellison
    Anne Fielding
    Lorraine Galkowski, RN
    Pamela Goren
    Edward Green
    Avi Gvili
    Ames Huntting
    Mark Lale
    Dale Laurin
    Rose Levy
    Timothy Lynch
    Lorraine Mahoney, RN
    Derek Mali
    Glenn Mariano
    Haroldo Mauro Jr.
    Joseph Meglino
    Pauline Meglino
    Allan Michael
    Marvin Mondlin
    Robert Murphy
    Michael J. Nadeau
    Meryl Nietsch-Cooperman
    Ruth Oron
    Arnold Perey, PhD
    Lauren Phillips
    Jack Plumstead
    Maria Plumstead
    Rosemary Plumstead
    Rev. Wayne Plumstead
    Marcia Rackow
    Zvia Ratz
    Ann Richards
    Anthony C. Romeo
    Leila Rosen
    Rhonda Rosenthal
    Sally Ross
    Claudia Senatore
    Sheldon Silverman
    Jeffrey Sosinsky, MD
    Barbara Spetly McClung
    Joseph Spetly
    Faith K. Stern
    John Stern
    Arlene Sulkis
    Devorah Tarrow
    Jaime R. Torres, DPM
    Dennis L. Tucker
    Francine Weber
    Steve Weiner
    Miriam Weiss
    Carrie Wilson

    Also see the Aesthetic Realism Online Library  the Aesthetic Realism Foundation  Terrain Gallery  What scholars, writers, artists & teachers are saying  the Aesthetic Realism Theatre Company  & Links

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