Sunday, April 20, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Hunting the Perfect Pose

Artist Lassen photographs Siegfried & Roy's big cats for series of paintings

Christian Riese Lassen photographs Siegfried & Roy's animals in the Secret Garden at The Mirage. Photo by Christine H. Wetzel. Christian Riese Lassen concentrates on a shot while working on an art project that involves the white lions and tigers of Siegfried & Roy. Photo by Christine H. Wetzel.

On a recent cool and breezy morning at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at The Mirage, the magic duo's white lions and tigers are out on display an hour before the exhibition opens to the public.

As the white lions Quest, Vision and Pride ignore the small band of nearby guests, the atmosphere is filled with jungle noises and drums emitted from hidden speakers while a waterfall adds to the effect.

The rare animals pace along the fence and climb onto the trees in the exhibit area, closely followed by camera-toting Christian Riese Lassen, the famed wildlife and marine artist from Hawaii.

Dressed in blue jeans that are cuffed about 5 inches -- he didn't have the time to get them to a tailor -- and a black pullover, Lassen isn't just another visitor with a camera at one of the Strip hotel's biggest attractions.

Lassen is attempting, without much success, to grab some good shots of the animals for a limited series of 12 paintings he plans to work on for the next eight months. Each will feature the Siegfried & Roy animals and will be signed by the entertainers. The first works will go on sale in his Las Vegas gallery in the Forum Shops at Caesars in about four months. No price has been set.

The light keeps coming and going behind the clouds and Lassen, his long, blond hair flowing in the wind, is trying to get the shots he needs.

"I shot them before," Lassen says, "but they were lying down. I want to get them with more action."

The animals are not somnolent this day, especially the young white tiger cubs Gandara, Akasha and Kuuma, who scamper around and wrestle like house cats.

Lassen's latest project came about through his friendship with the entertainers and their personal manager, Bernie Yuman.

"I love the Siegfried and Roy show," Lassen says. "We all arrived at this idea together. I'm grateful to have the greatest magic show appreciate my work and to get to paint these animals."

Lassen uses a variety of materials to make his art, including acrylics, enamels and oils. His art is widely popular and expresses the artist's concern with the state of the environment.

He grew up surrounded by the beauty of Hawaii, which shows up over and over again in his paintings.

"I believe in making a difference through my art," Lassen writes on his Web site (www.lassenart.com). "In my work, I seek to act as a messenger, alerting people all over the world to the deterioration of the global environment, and to the need, as well, for greater understanding and respect for the world's diverse cultures. The Earth's irreplaceable treasures are steadily being eroded, but each of us, collectively and as individuals, can make a difference and must! This is my message."

Besides being sold in his galleries in Las Vegas, Japan, Tahiti and Australia, Lassen's work appears on everything from bank checks, beach towels and shower curtains to greeting cards, umbrellas and mouse pads.

The Siegfried & Roy series also will appear in a calendar.