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| Background: |
Although both C.M. and Grace Kelly Laster were both artists from
an early age in rural Kentucky, they each had also struggled in their young life
with family dysfunction,leading to their own alcohol and drug addiction. In 1993,
after transplanting himself to the inner city of Chicago, C.M. had a personal
awakening and decided to get clean. Newly sober, he helped to found the Recycled
Art Project, a "trash into treasure" art program for inner-city youth. Friend
Grace Kelly, also newly sober, moved up to Chicago to help, and while looking
through the trash for art supplies for the kids, they fell in love over a dumpster!
They soon decided to marry and move back to Kentucky in search of their dreams.
After the return to country living,they continued teaching art and making art
themselves as therapy and expression, all the while doing various jobs to make
their way. Rural living was both a great blessing and a hardship. And family dysfunction
continued to be a struggle in spite of their own sobriety. Soon after moving back
to Kentucky, they met folk artist Rev. Howard Finster who had a major impact on
the direction of their lives and work. Mentoring them , he encouraged them to
"get on the alter" and make art their ministry and life's work. After the drug
overdose death of C.M.'s brother in 1996, they became further committed to using
their art to teach people about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse, and the
healing power of God's love. Since then, showing and selling their artwork, they
have watched it grow and reach people all over the world. A blessing for which
they are truly thankful to God. Their artwork covers a wide range of subjects,
from the Bible to Elvis. Music,humor, nature ,politics,addictions and vices, memories,
dreams, and visions all find their way into their work according to their inspiration.
Many pieces include words, warnings, poems and inspirational messages. Their art
materials vary, as they use whatever they can find for free or cheap to recycle
into art. Recently as a testament of faith to becoming fulltime art ministers,
they took the remaining scrap material from C.M.'s last job in the family construction
business and used it to create an art car, "the Laster Blasters" Rockin' Holy
Roller" dedicated to Jesus and the great joy of gospel music. They continue to
do Recycled Art in a variety of settings and take their art car to art shows and
events, sharing their hope and vision for a better world. |
| Samples |
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C.M.Laster
Greatest Gift
25x12 metal, nails ,paint on wood
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Grace Kelly
Temptation / Awareness
19 x 10 paint on board
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C.M.Laster
my wife met him in memphis
10 x 24 . enamel on wood
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Grace Kelly
everlasting waters
19 x 16 . paint on wooden boards
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Grace Kelly
I Love the King
6 x 11 on cardboard
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Grace Kelly
Eye of God #1
10 x 6 on cardboard
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Grace Kelly
Gospel Revival
22 x 22 on wood framed
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Grace Kelly
The Mud
7 x 9 on wood
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CM Laster
Let Jesus Fix It
4 x 12 on tin
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C.M.Laster
The Road Rager
barbie car with gas vent ,vinyl siding , aluminum and other objects with enamel
paint
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Founding Member 
