Eggs-quisite Visits from the World's Finest - Schilling Farms Middle Samples Art - By Cyndi Schenk October 17, 2007 How do you inspire a child's interest in the fine arts and create excitement about visiting a museum? Just ask any band or advanced art student at the Schilling Farms Middle School. They have the answer -- simply place an original piece by Pablo Picasso in their hands and teach them how to read it. If you ask these students about Impressionism, they will inform you that Impressionists will draw what the eye sees, not what the mind knows. Clyde Leon Keller's 1930 "Hills of Lavender" instantly becomes a thing of beauty, rather than a landscape with purple hills, and Picasso's 1954 "Pour Bernard" becomes a work of genius after a quick explanation of Cubism, the showing of multiple perspectives at the same time. The students enjoy learning about the lives of the great composers Christian shares classical music with the students They discovered the remarkable beauty of a spoon crafted by the hands of Peter Carl Faberge for the Czar of Russia. These students were the recent recipients of a master art class conducted by Christian Thomas Lee. "In order to appreciate art, you have to read it and understand it," explained Lee to students at the Schilling Farms Middle School last week. A renowned classical concert guitarist, private art collector, and founder of the Mercy Foundation, Lee established the Art in Schools program in 1996 to directly benefit and inspire children. Through this unique, one-of-a-kind program, he has reached thousands of children across the United States by bringing original works of art into the classroom for children to see, study, and even hold in their hands. These original works of art include pieces by Pablo Picasso, Peter Carl Faberge, Giovanni Battista Pasqualini, Bolswert, and many others, acquired from the great auction houses of the world including: Sotheby's New York, Sotheby's London, and Wilnitsky Fine Art, Vienna, Austria. This privately owned collection of fine art is believed to be the only collection of original, museum quality art collected and used solely for the inspirational benefit of children in America's classrooms. Over the last 10 years, it is estimated that Art in Schools has reached more than 50,000 students across the country. His dedication and commitment over the last 10 years has awarded him the recipient of the Daily Point of Light and the President's Call to Service Awards. The Schilling Farms Band Booster's, in cooperation with the PTSA, were delighted when Lee answered their request to bring his program to the school. Over the course of one week, he has changed the lives of the band and advanced art students. The Art in Schools program has added a new dimension to the fine arts department at the Schilling Farms Middle School, achieving to enlighten and inspire their students with this once in a lifetime opportunity. During his seven-day visit, Lee taught 10 master art classes, and performed three private evening concerts.   To Return to Previous Page, Click Your Back Button or Click Here For Main Menu Page