Historian Ron Smith will lead an in person walking tours on Avalon Ball weekend (May 13 & 14) to see an easily walkable portion of the beautiful ceramic tile the island is known for, but we've asked him to take us on a virtual tour of the may other areas where this glorious tile can be found, further from town center.

As passengers disembark onto Catalina Island, they are greeted by a manifold array of colorful tiles decorating the storefronts, walkways, planters, rooftops, and fountains. These tiles were made on the Island with native clay, from 1927–1937. Ron will take us through the history of the tile producing era with stories about the many locations decorated in Catalina Tile.

ABOUT RON SMITH:

R. D. Smith is a screenwriter and author living in Southern California. He holds a Master of Arts in Illustration Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, and has been a college professor teaching graphic design for seventeen years. He is also a member of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles!

You can purchase Ron Smith’s book In Search of the Vintage Tiles of Catalina Island: An Easter Egg Hunt in a Sea of Easter Eggs and have him sign it when you take this tour!

“R.D. Smith’s colorful tour book is both beautiful and functional—much like the Vintage tiles he describes within. Accessible and yet rich with the technical detail of the tile-making processes, Smith has crafted a fun and engaging way to experience the legacy of the island. His well-researched histories and use of local knowledge make this a unique, interactive, and necessary guide.”

—Johnny Sampson, Chief Curator, Catalina Museum of Art & History

A recorded version of this program will be made available to ticket buyers who cannot view it live. However, you must purchase your ticket prior to the day of the show. Tickets are not refundable.

photos: Ron Smith.