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Art collector shares priceless pieces with local students By LAUREN ROMANO |
Art and history came to life for Faith Lutheran Junior and Senior High School students on a Friday morning in February. Christian Thomas Lee, a local art collector, brought original works of art to the students as part of his Art in Schools program. "I want to really inspire children, not only in art, but in history as well," Lee said. Along with opening students' minds to culture through the pieces, the experience was unique because students were able to touch, with two hands, masterpieces dating back to the 1600s. "This is not show and tell," Lee said. "The kids can hold the art. It's one thing to look, but it's another thing to hold."
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More than 10 years ago, Lee spoke with a group of students about his art collection and a student later wrote him a letter asking if he could bring the pieces to his school. Lee said he had a good career as a concert classical guitarist, which enabled him to begin collecting art. "I didn't do it for an investment or to share. I wanted to wake up every day in a home full of art. It was a child who challenged me to start sharing it with kids. It never occurred to me to bring priceless art to schools." "I think it's great," said June Uhlig, Faith Lutheran art teacher. "This is something we don't normally get. We don't go on a lot of field trips so it's nice to have a field trip come to us." Lee, who still works as a concert guitarist, begins each lesson with a song. He said, when he starts, "(The children) know this is going to be dreadfully boring stuff, but by the time I'm done with them I've opened the door to a world they thought wasn't for them." Lee's collection spans 3,000 years and includes works by Pablo Picasso, Peter Carl Faberge and The Austrian School. The museum-quality collection also includes the death mask of Sir Walter Scott, photographs and historic documents. "I have some art in my house," Kevin Dunning, director of Faith Lutheran, told the students. "They are reproductions of reproductions of reproductions. This morning you'll have the opportunity to see and touch some original art." Lee said he looks for pieces of art that can work in a classroom to inspire children. During the lesson, Lee spoke about the movement of cubism and told the students that Picasso is the single most influential artist of the 20th century. He showed the class a drawing Picasso did in 1954 called "Pour Bernard" and asked the students what they thought. With a little encouragement the students suggested that it was simple and elementary. They quickly changed their minds when Lee explained why this doodle, which took Picasso only a few seconds, is extraordinary. He told the students the whole picture was drawn with one line and asked them to find the different perspectives that unfold as they looked at it longer. He suggested they do this next time they see a Picasso, too. "Successful artists understand all the rules of art and then break them," Lee told the students. "The reason why we remember Picasso is because he's done something that's never been done before." Lee said although there are places in town to see original art, "There is a cultural perspective problem. People don't associate Las Vegas with fine art or fine music. Our children today are being raised in a cultural Chernobal. In my experience children are hungry for what is good and beautiful." After showing the class a cornhusk pipe used by King Edward VIII of England in the late 1930s and the death mask of Sir Walter Scott, Lee encouraged the students to find out more about the king and to read "Ivanhoe." Uhlig said she noticed how excited the students were as they left the class. She said the kids were talking about the creative things they were going to do in their next art class. In many of the schools Lee has visited across the country, he has set his exhibit up for a week and every student in the school takes part in the Art in Schools program. He said the teachers from other classes will borrow pieces from his collection and work them into their lessons. Although many pieces Lee has are religious, Lee said he shares them for artistic and historic value. Lee said he speaks to groups of 25 or less and that the lesson is a comprehensive art and music appreciation class. He has given the lecture to students from elementary through the university level and at homeless missions and homes for the mentally handicapped. "I do it because the purpose of music and art is to share," he said. Lee has received the Daily Points of Light Award, which recognizes America's unsung heroes. He also received the President's Call to Service Award for his volunteer work with the community. For more information, visit www.artmercyhope.org. |