Art and the Aesthetics of the Everyday

Delve into the mind and art of Ray Kleinlein in this philosophical commentary of his paintings. Block examines Kleinlein's work as an artist against the philosophies of Plato, Merleau-Ponty, Husserl, Heidegger, and current thought on the aesthetics of the everyday, a relatively new philosophical school of thought. Kleinlein pulls us into the objects he paints by pulling them out of their natural environments and shining a spotlight on them. He invites us through his paintings to the beauty, order, and chaos in everyday objects that we most often overlook. Gaining unfettered access to the artist, Block has included detailed interviews and many examples of his paintings in this wide-ranging analysis of Kleinlein's work. Readers will be surprised by Kleinlein's evolution into the aesthetics of the everyday and his philosophical views. Block's personal interviews with Kleinlein provide an intimate look into the world of art and the artistic process, reminding us to take the time to stop and admire the everyday objects that surround us, searching for personal meaning in them at the same time.

Betty A. Block is an award-winning scholar. Her body of work examines the relationship between the phenomenon of embodiment and being-in-the-world. She applies her knowledge of the philosophy of the body to multiple subjects including aesthetics, art, dance, poetry, and physical education. She has received recognition for her research, teaching, and service throughout her career of over thirty years. She is a 2019 Texas A&M System Regents Professor. Betty currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, Steve Estes, who is a former U.S. National Team Rower and leadership scholar.