Who’s Minding the Gallery?: R. K. Smith

R. K. Smith

1960-1969

Robert Keyes Smith grew up in Seattle where he graduated from Roosevelt High School and then earned Bachelor and Master Degrees in Art and Education from the University of Washington.

After teaching art at Madison Junior High and Sealth High Schools in Seattle, R.K. came to Yakima in 1960 where he taught art, headed the Art Department, and was the curator of the Larson Gallery at Yakima Valley College, bringing innovations and improvements to all facets of his job. He was an exceptional painting, drawing, art appreciation teacher, and a talented artist, painting in acrylics, watercolor, oils and mixed media. He exhibited and sold paintings all over Washington State.

When R.K. was in Seattle, he was an active member of the Seattle and Washington State Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO. When he came to Yakima, he continued his passion for support of working men and women and founded the Yakima Valley College Federation of Teachers Local 1485 in 1963.

After retiring from the college in 1983, R.K. continued painting, exhibiting, and selling his and his wife Kay’s paintings. They also enjoyed trips around the United States and especially to Oregon and Washington beaches, to Europe, Canada, Russia, Northern Africa and Hawaii. R.K. was a constant reader of history and political books and periodicals, and he liked to clip out and pass around pertinent newspaper articles to anyone who would accept them.

He was included in the Central WA Artists Archive Project Oral History, produced by Larson Gallery. R. K. passed away July 28, 2017.

Partnership

The partnership between Yakima Valley College and the Larson Gallery Guild creates an environment where ideas flourish.

The Larson Gallery Guild supports the mission of the Larson Gallery to foster curiosity and appreciation for the visual arts in our diverse community.

Your financial donations fund Larson Gallery Guild programming which includes staffing, publications and materials, special events, lectures, workshops, visiting artists, and jurors.

Yakima Valley College supports the Larson Gallery through the maintenance of the building, providing the director’s salary and benefits, technology, security, and work-study students.

Hours

During Exhibitions:
Tue – Fri 10 AM-5 PM
Sat 12 PM-5 PM
(Note: Schedule varies during opening reception days)

Mission

Fostering curiosity and appreciation for the visual arts in our diverse community.

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Vision

Cultivating a Love of Art