-David Swift ... since deceased (writer & director of Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, Under the Yum-Yum Tree, Good Neighbor Sam & How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
His own fine art, let lose from other's ideas, has a chance to tell its own visual story. Gary's awareness and sensitivity to worldly events and American culture and his ability to visually interpret conditions and attitudes and actions of people and events, is uncanny. He presents a point of view and shows us the way we feel or don't feel about many things. In either case, he causes us to think, consider, and appreciate his art.
Beyond the powerful initial impact of his social and political paintings, subtlety and ambiguity add a dimension that mesmerizes viewers. His skill combined with his incredible imagination and perception result in some of the most intriguing works. "Model Citizen," "Grange Gangsta Gothic" and "Suicide Blond" are prime examples. The total meaning of many of his works are beyond verbal interpretation and may mean different things to different people.Gary Aagaard creates pertinent visual comments on our time and the way he does it makes his art timeless. As a realist painter, his technique is flawless.
Stylistically he brings American social realism up to date.
Gary Aagaard is a unique and important American Artist.
-Harry Nasse, owner/director Ward-Nasse Gallery, NYC
As a curator with socialist tendencies leaning quite left-of-center and preferring socio-politcal commentary delivered in the vein of Hunter S. Thompson, Gary Aagaard's work is the perfect amalgam in 2D form. His execution and skill is extraordinary and is dwarfed only by the amount of comments and interaction from observers. I see people linger at his work for far longer than any other artist that I have ever displayed and receive far more discussion as a result. I personally own one piece, covet a dozen others, and have yet to work in a more pleasant atmosphere of business. I find it an obligation within my soul to see that his work hangs in public as it is far too good to go unnoticed.
- Michael McGivaren, Curator (Seattle)
***Below are letters published in The Village Voice special letter section entitled, "Dark Side of the Hill" after publication of my Hillary as hooker illo accompanying the "Hillary Clinton Cheat Sheet Scandal Guide" article a week earlier.
"Congratulations to the Voice and William Bastone for his superb article, and bravo to the artist who brilliantly depicted Hillary and Bill as hooker and pimp. It's a masterpiece that should be hung at the Metropolitan Museum. It once and for all establishes them for what they inarguably are: our preeminent husband-and-wife grifter team."
-David A. Powers, Manhattan NY
"Sell the picture of the Clintons as a poster! It would surpass the pinup of Farrah Fawcett from the 70's! What an illustration! The Clintons have never been depicted so accurately!
-Rich Murray, Slocum TX
"Whether or not one supports Hillary for the Senate seat in New York, and whether or not one believes that William Bastone's assessment of her behavior is for real, please, just admit it outright that this article was absolutely hilarious, not to mention how fab was the artful caricature of Hil and Bill! If my response is any measure, I guess we lefties do have a sense of humor after all."
-Joan L. Washington, Manhattan NY
A special Village Voice Letters section entitled "Dark Side of the Hill" (with my illustration above) received many letters from readers after publication of my Hillary as hooker illustration (below) accompanying the "Hillary Clinton Cheat Sheet Scandal Guide" article a week earlier....... see several letters at left.
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