About The Wyly

Mission
The Wyly Community Art Center fosters creative expression through the visual arts for learners of all ages and abilities. We provide classes, outreach partnership programs and community events. We are committed to enhancing and enlivening our community through excellence in teaching, promoting freedom of expression and encouraging the unique learning style of each individual.

History
Founded in 1996 by Deborah Jones, the Wyly Community Art Center began as a project of Compass, a Colorado 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to experiential learning and educational excellence. The generous donation of Charles and Dee Wyly and the Communities Foundation of Texas provided for the construction of the original building and established our namesake. For nine years, the art center served the Roaring Fork Valley from its Woody Creek location providing visual arts programs for students, emerging artists, professional artists, and volunteers. The Wyly is indebted to George Stranahan and the Compass staff for their support during the art center’s formative years before launching into the larger community.

In February of 2004, the Wyly Community Art Center established our Board of Directors and incorporated. In February of 2005 we received 501(c)(3) status, becoming a Colorado non-profit organization. In an effort to further expand and reach a larger, more diverse audience the art center moved to downtown Basalt, Colorado, a thriving community centralized in the Roaring Fork Valley between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. The relocation of the art center was made possible by our Wyly Stewards; Charles and Dee Wyly, Jr. through the Communities Foundation of Texas, Karen and Bayard Hollins of The Elizabeth Foundation, Thendara Foundation on behalf of Goss, Reed, and Schlumberger, Ann Nichols, Lynn Nichols and Jim Gilchrist Family, Chaffin-Light Associates, Maggie Woods, and Billy Weisman of the Soar Foundation. We opened our doors in Basalt on July 1, 2005. The past several years of expanded programming and active interface with the community have assured us that the relocation is realizing our dreams.

Dear Friends of the Wyly Community Art Center,

It is with great sadness that we send this letter honoring Charles Wyly, Jr., who passed away suddenly and tragically in a car accident on Sunday, August 7th in Aspen. Our sincere condolences go out to Charles' family and friends.

Many of you saw Charles, and his lovely wife Dee, recently when they hosted the annual Wyly Community Art Center annual gala at their Woody Creek home less than three weeks ago. Charles addressed the gathering, speaking with great pride of the Wyly Community Art Center, and its beginnings at the Aspen Community School in the 1990's. Charles and Dee generously funded the construction of the first Wyly Community Art Center location in Woody Creek giving birth to the Wyly Community Art Center.

Charles also talked with enthusiasm about the Wyly Community Art Center of today and with excitment about its future. He expressed gratitude for being able to relocate the art center in 2010 to its downtown Basalt location, making it more accessible to more community members. Mr. and Mrs. Wyly's support, especially for our children's programs and art opportunities for all ages and abilities, continued to grow over the years along with the art center itself.

Charles Wylyʼs quiet leadership and philanthropy in the Roaring Fork Valley arts community inspired all of us. He and Dee have made possible visual arts programs for thousands of local children as well as a wide range of adults, at-risk youth, and emerging artists. On the day of the gala, Charles and I discussed the importance of creative thinking skills for communities and leadership, and how these these skills are cultivated at the Wyly Community Art Center.

With his quiet vitality and his genuinely kind demeanor, he continued to encourage and support our work always speaking eloquently about the need for art and creativity in all the facets of our lives. We will deeply miss Charles.

On behalf of all of us at the Wyly Community Art Center, our hearts are with the family and friends of Charles Wyly.

Sincerely,

Carlyle Kyzer
Executive Director

A remembrance from Wyly Community Art Center Founder, Deb Jones

Our hearts are heavy and filled with deep sorrow with the news of Charles Wyly’s tragic death.

I became acquainted with Charles, Dee, and their family at the Aspen Community School in Woody Creek in the early 1990ʻs when their grandchildren were young students at the school. As active patrons of the arts, Charles and Dee upon hearing that we wanted to create a community art center on the mesa in Woody Creek, generously funded the construction of the new building that became the Wyly Community Art Center. The art centerʼs mission -- to foster creative expression in the visual arts for learners of all ages and abilities -- was embraced by Charles and Dee, who along the Communities Foundation of Texas continued to be major benefactors for the organization.

Charles Wylyʼs leadership and philanthropy in the Roaring Fork valley arts community, in Texas and beyond is of inestimable value. He, with Dee, embodied the understanding that art is an essential human endeavor, which contributes immeasurably to building a society that is prosperous, innovative and vital. Charlesʼ commitment to supporting education in the arts and emerging artists is unmatched. He whole-heartedly believed that building a foundation through the arts for next generations is essential to the well being of our culture and society.

Through the years Charles actively participated in the art center by visiting us when in town and attending our annual fundraising events. We will deeply miss Charles as we continue our work in creating a world filled with imagination and art for all.

Sincerely,
Deb Jones