Charles Searles

SEARLES

CHARLES, age 67, died on Nov. 27, 2004 from complications of a stroke at his home in NY; adored husband of artist, Kathleen Spicer; loving father of Vanessa Mitchell; beloved brother, uncle, grandfather and dear friend. Charles Searles was born in Philadelphia and graduated from The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; where he was awarded the prestigious Cresson Memorial Traveling and the Ware Traveling Memorial Scholarships. These enabled Mr. Searles to travel to Africa, which had a significant influence on his art. He taught art for over 20 years in Philadelphia and later in NYC where he moved in 1978. Mr. Searles was a renowned painter and sculptor. In a long career he had over 25 solo art exhibitions and his works are included in numerous museums and collections. Among these are the Smithsonian, the Schomburg Center in NY, and the Philadelphia, Dallas, and Montclair Art Museums. His first public art commission was a 1976 mural at the W.J. Green Federal Building in Phila. He has received numerous other public art commissions, among them Freedom's Gate (Brooklyn NY), Striving (Phila PA) and 5 painted aluminum wall sculptures for train stations in NJ for the Delaware River Port Authority. Mr. Searles has been the recipient of several awards, among them the National Endowment of the Arts, and recently the Pollock-Krasner and the Adolph and Esther Gottleib. In October he received the prestigious Van Der Zee Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brandywine Workshop in Phila PA. Mr. Searles described his painted sculpture . . . growing out of (his) early work as a painter . . . and often having reference to the figure, in particular, dancers . . . and [he] has always been inspired by music, especially percussion.² His work, either boldly painted curved wood, or stately bronze, dances through space. The images created by Mr. Searles are multi-cultural in feeling and are a living example of positive energy. A memorial service in celebration of Mr. Searles¹ life is being planned.