The ASCR Story

By Gary Christensen

Photo: Richard Lack with Gary Christensen

Below is an Excerpt from the Beginnings of the Classical Realism movement.  Gary Christensen was the instrumental force behind the growth and direction begun by Richard Lack. Lack began his atelier with just a handful of students in early 1970, seven in total. In 1988 Gary would meet Mr. Lack and thus began the ASCR movement leading to the publication of  Classical Realism Quarterly. (more  coming)

My Journey with Richard Lack

Part 2

Meeting Richard Lack

December 15th 1988, I knocked on the Lack’s door. It was cold and blustery, the beginning of a typical Minnesota winter. I was invited in and the first thing I noticed was a grand piano with a six-foot Christmas tree on top of it in the living room. I was overwhelmed by beautiful paintings floor to ceiling in their two-story living room. It was like walking into a museum gallery. Paintings of all sizes were on every wall. Soon we were joined by Annette LeSueur and Mike Coyle. Richard Lack joined us after they arrived.

After introducing myself and why I was there I presented our business plan. This began a long series of weekly meetings to discuss the plan in detail.

It was Lack’s idea to form a fine art society with its first focus on a local exhibition program followed by national exhibitions. The cornerstone of this organization would be a guild of artists, modeled after the Boston Guild of Artists. We called it The American Society of Classical Realism, ASCR for short. In 1989 it was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. We were on our way. While I was its president and, as a professional graphic designer, I was also the publisher of its periodical and exhibition catalogs. Richard was its heart and soul, our guiding beacon.

Richard and I met weekly for lunch, at first at a Chinese restaurant near his home, then later at his home. Katherine graciously prepared a nice lunch and then she would leave so we could talk. We discussed issues relating to ASCR operations, my visiting all of the local artists at their studios, and possible exhibition opportunities to pursue in Minneapolis. Gradually we became friends and added other topics to the mix.

(More coming)