February 9, 2002
Karen S. Kim

ANAHEIM - Mission: Renaissance, the world’s largest fine arts program for children and adults, has found a new home in Anaheim Hills.

"We are very excited about coming to Anaheim Hills," says founder Larry Gluck, "From our experience in other communities, we know first-hand the enrichment and revitalization that comes from pursuing the arts. Most people think of art as a commodity when it is, in fact, much more than that."

An award-winning artist, author and educator, Gluck founded Mission: Renaissance in 1975 to reinstate the basics of fine art after they were thrown out with the advent of the Modern Movement.

A lot of people might not know what this means. Many do not know when the Baroque or Impressionists periods were. But anyone who has cocked an eyebrow, and uttered the statement, "It looks like my 3 year old painted that," knows what the Modern Movement is.

Gluck has begun a movement that reinstates the traditional concepts of representational art.

"I want to teach fine art – the shading, the contrast between light and dark, the play with color – and use it to get people motivated to pursue their talent and interest.

"Art helps strengthen an awareness of ourselves. It reveals the best in us," says Gluck, "There are no losers in the arts, only winners. Not everyone can be a master. But anyone can be an artist."

Born in New York on April 9, 1931, Gluck studied under Italian portrait master Guiseppe Trotta.

From 1961 to 1979, Gluck lived and painted in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he gained international recognition for his water depictions of the island of St. Thomas.

In 1971, Gluck moved his family to Los Angeles where many of his admirers urged him to teach. In 1975, he founded Mission: Renaissance to reinstate traditional fine art skills no longer being taught in schools.

Through instructors at Gluck’s schools, a student can learn everything from how to draw a straight line to painting a still life in oils.

"No other painter has come close to codifying the subject of fine art," said Gluck.

"Now anyone can learn to draw and paint with or without natural talent," he said.

"Everyone can acquire the talent to draw and paint beautifully. The urge to create forever beckons. You’re cheating yourself everyday you ignore it."

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