Artist Craig Tyler
COMMUNITY News:
A portrait of the late Duane W. Smith will be unveiled at 6 p.m., May 3 and dedicated to the newly remodeled Duane W. Smith Auditorium. Artist Craig Tyler will be present.
This celebration will be followed by a concert featuring Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero beginning at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Los Alamos Concert Association.
Duane W. Smith worked for the Los Alamos Public Schools from 1959 until his untimely death in 1979 when he was superintendent. In 1994, the auditorium was named for him and in 2018 the auditorium was remodeled with funds from the Los Alamos Public Schools and Los Alamos County.
In 2018 an endowment was created by Smith’s wife Joan Brown and his daughter Kelly Myers. The Los Alamos Community Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of the Duane W. Smith Auditorium Endowment and funds collected so far are just shy of $30,000. These funds will be used to maintain and upgrade the facility.
“Providing an endowment will hopefully take some of the burden off the schools to continue to upgrade and maintain this lovely community facility,” Myers said. “Please consider donating to this endowment, especially if you or your children have had the opportunity to use this facility. It is the only venue in town that seats more than 900 people.”
To donate to The Duane W. Smith Auditorium Endowment, go to: www.losalamoscf.org, under “Giving” or send a check made out to: The Los Alamos Community Foundation with “Endowment for Duane Smith Auditorium” in memo and mail to:
Additional questions on ways to give to the fund can be directed to LACF at 505.661.4420.
About the artist:
Craig Tyler is an artist and illustrator raised in Santa Barbara, Calif. Graduating from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. with a degree in illustration, he spent the beginning of his career creating art for the film and television industry.
At the age of 29, he returned to the Art Center to teach storyboard composition and design. Known for his portrait art and posters, his clients range from private galleries to Disney Entertainment. His illustrations have been used for billboards in Tokyo, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In 2010 he was asked by Duke University to be the official expedition illustrator in a special voyage to highlight the challenges facing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Craig’s illustrations were used in high level policy meetings and a select few were auctioned for charity.
At 47, he retired from the entertainment industry to pursue his passion for painting portraits. His art can be seen in private collections, galleries and corporate offices across the country. Craig now splits his time between Ventura, Calif. and Santa Fe.
