Statement by Wendy Gaynor, Information Systems Technician

As to the lie about not being allowed to see your family:

I’ve been studying Aesthetic Realism for over five years and never once have I been discouraged from seeing my family or spending time with them. In fact, it has been quite the opposite. My husband Matthew, who also studies Aesthetic Realism, and I see my family quite often and we are always glad to!

Furthermore, in Aesthetic Realism consultations, I’ve been encouraged to not only see my family but to be interested in them, who they are, even when I’m not in their presence. The way I have been encouraged to see my parents and siblings as real and not to think I know everything about them or own them was one of the best things that happened to me. It has made me a deeper, kinder person and a real friend to them. I respect myself more too! The fact that I feel I can really “talk” to my family because of what I’ve been learning from Aesthetic Realism has strengthened me, and has had such a profound effect on me. And my family has noticed the difference too!

I find it offensive that certain individuals are fabricating these lies about Aesthetic Realism, because with them they are insulting the minds and feelings of the people who carefully study it, as well as Eli Siegel and Ellen Reiss, whose wide and kind scholarship so many benefit from beautifully!

As to the lie about not being able to travel:

What hogwash! I’ve always been a person who has loved to travel. I’ve traveled to various places, including abroad, before I started studying Aesthetic Realism and I can tell you that my travels have in no way been curtailed or discouraged because of it. Together my husband and I have been to Canada, Mexico, California, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Vermont, and more. We’ve enjoyed every trip and look forward to others.

As to the lie about being discouraged from receiving higher education:

Besides the fact that the very study of Aesthetic Realism will have a person’s knowledge of the world and things increase—the very basis of Aesthetic Realism is knowing the world. This and the fact that I myself have been encouraged to get my Masters degree refute the outrageous lie that it would discourage people from receiving higher education.

As to the lie that most people who study Aesthetic Realism are Jewish:

I am of Italian and Irish ancestry and know many people who study Aesthetic Realism of various backgrounds.

As to the lie that you have to live in walking distance to the Aesthetic Realism Foundation:

I live with my husband in Nassau County on Long Island, which is approximately 25 miles from downtown Manhattan.