Artistic Excellence

David Pagel’s review of the installation “L.A. Stories,” a group exhibition of 40 prints, drawings and paintings at Jack Rutberg Gallery, has truly missed the point (“The Strange House That Pae White Built,” Feb. 19).

Pagel’s premise is clearly an academic assessment based on his belief that this exhibit should have expressed some clear intention to communicate or support some grand idea, to fit a specific historical context and, failing this, “does not serve as an insightful inquiry into the nature of our culture.”

Oh please! The collection of these artworks, contributed by 13 local galleries, constitutes a “salon exhibit.” This is just a group of excellent pictures: Nothing more and nothing less.

J. ANTHONY VERGONA

Tujunga