Page 31 - Imagination: The Art of Charles Keeling Lassiter

Lassiter's inspiration has been people and animals he studied during his daily walks in
Central Park in New York. He drew and painted every day until shortly before his
death in 2005.

Like Dubuffet and Klee he transcended traditional forms of artistic expression to
define his unique contribution to art history. Charles said, "All these years I've really
been trying to trace the roots we all have in common; to me that's the whole point of
art." The most important 'common root' that Charles discovered in his paintings was
that "bodies are spiritual forms that travel through space into infinity."

Charles had an engaging personality - open, people loving and carefree. Keel said,
"Lassiter brings joy into his paintings; he invites us to join into his joy." Subtle humor
peaks through his work; it is playful, happy and loveable. It is life enhancing art.

When Picasso died, his family discovered over 3,000 paintings, which he kept for
himself. "Picasso's Picassos" became a book and the core collection of the Picasso
Museum in Paris. A similar experience happened with Lassiter. As his New York dealer
for over five years, he never let Yvonne go into the back room of his
studio/apartment because that is where he kept "Lassiter's Lassiters," the work he
created over a 50+ year time span that he did not want to sell. The Parker Collection
now includes all of the "Lassiter's Lassiters." These remarkable paintings on canvas
and paper cover three periods: Abstract Expressionism, (Raw) Visionary, and Fantasy
(Imagination). Pick any of the works at random and what you see are paintings that
are original, layered, and meaningful. It is simply the profile of great art.

The viewer gains something new from each visit to Lassiter art. Great art provides a
positive interaction over time. Does the work has any mystery? Intrigue? What is
revealed over time? Lassiters, like the work of few other artists, remain exciting and
interesting upon repeated viewing. Each one looks better over time because you
now begin to study the details and marvel at each little painting within the painting.