Why Realism?

By: Murad Abu-Rayyan

SAN MARCOS, TX — The Art Renewal Center is organization whose mission is to bring back Realism and oppose the abstract/contemporary art movement that dominates the art world today.

Samuel Oakley
Photo by Murad Abu-Rayyan

To bring back age-old traditions and promote training, standards and excellence in the visual arts is one of the mission statements of the Renewal Center.

Although not a follower of fine arts particularly, Samuel Oakley, founder of Refurbishment of Life, agrees that art of today has a taken a turn for the worse.

“Growing up as a man-child and spending time in the pen, I had a lot of time to read and study,” said Oakley. “It was at that time that I gained an appreciation of the realism art style.”

But not all agree with the mission of the Renewal Center. Victor Camacho, Austin Community College student, says the art movement of today is a positive one, full with potential and new standards of creativity.

Victor Camacho
Photo by Murad Abu-Rayyan

“I think art should be consistent with the changing times,” said Camacho. “If we don’t keep moving forward with new ideas, we will just be repeating what has already been accomplished.”

Farrah Nur
Photo by Farrah Nur

The Art Renewal Center, as well as promoting the understanding of great art, strives to make the largest online resource of high-resolution images to provide for students who wish to make master studies and gain knowledge of all aspects of technique.

Farrah Nur says that an online encyclopedia that yearns for greater standards of quality in art is exactly what we need today.

“When I look at abstract art, I see a bunch of lines and squiggles and stuff that looks like doesn’t need much skill,” said Nur. “Honestly, it makes me mad that that stuff sells for millions.”

There are many opposing sides between what seem two be two polar-opposites of art, both with

compelling arguments.

Whether you side with one or the other, it is safe to assume that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.