FACES OF ’96

Christopher Knight states that L.A.-based artist Lari Pittman has “arguably become the most significant American painter of his generation” (“Faces to Watch in ‘96,” Jan. 7).

“Arguably” is right. Knight must be joking! His assessment would be laughable were it not so naive. Pittman’s brand of commentative pop art is anything but significant, since it merely regurgitates worn themes and cliched juxtapositions that have already been seen and used ad nauseam.

The attributes which would qualify a painter’s work as truly significant, i.e. a unique vision realized with an awe-inspiring technique, these traits are completely lacking in Pittman’s work (the only local work that might qualify as significant in this sense is that of Sharon Ellis).

Wry and witty social commentator Pittman may be (a la Mike Kelley), but a painter he ain’t, and certainly not one even approaching national importance. Too bad LACMA didn’t have the foresight to mount a joint retrospective for Pittman and Kelley; the show could have been called “Two Naked Emperors.”

BRAD FORD

Pasadena

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David Kronke wrote that actress Kate Winslet will be appearing in a film entitled “ ‘Jude,’ based on Thomas Harding’s ‘Jude the Obscure.’ ” Obviously English novelist Thomas Hardy is not one of the people to watch for in ‘96, since The Times hasn’t heard of him.

ADAM ABRAHAM

Los Angeles