July 3, 2026
When my parents, Larry and Laura Straley, passed away in Anchorage, Alaska in 1997, they left behind a treasure trove of art gifted or purchased from their close, lifelong friend, American artist Scott McDaniel. Sadly, my parents were heavy smokers and the paintings ended up laden with layers of smoke, dust and environmental damage. I just knew these treasured works needed to be saved; I just had to figure out how.
I instantly knew who to call; the artist, my ‘Uncle Scott.’ To my delight, Scott generously offered his time, patience, tools, knowledge, and talent to teach me how to clean, restore and preserve these paintings.
I’m humbled and honored to have had the rare opportunity to work closely with this amazing master and his youngest son, Tim. During those labor-intensive hours in his studio, I learned the importance of carefully following a slow, methodical process to preserve and protect these prized gems he’d created capturing the history and people of Alaska.
Last year, I agreed to accept a seat on the newly formed board of the O. Scott McDaniel Art (OSMA) Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and sharing the history and story told through the artist’s body of work.
My Uncle Scott and his family moved to Hawaii in the late 70’s for a number of years and continued to maintain a close relationship to many of the islands long after returning home to Alaska. In 1976, Charles Evans – a retired BP Alaska executive who later became a senior vice-president at First National Bank Alaska – commissioned Scott to paint a picture of a private boarding house he owned in Lahaina, Hawaii.
The painting survived the devastating 2023 Lahaina fire only because it was being held in the private collection of Charles’s son Paul. Now Paul hopes to offer the painting for sale, with proceeds going to support the Lahaina Recovery Project.
Can’t afford an original but want to support the recovery effort and own a small piece of history? Limited-edition prints will also be available for purchase.
Like so many others, I have deeply felt the loss of this extraordinary artist. I cherish the time I got to spend with him learning about his journey, witnessing the magic of his talent, and helping restore the spirit of these images. Many of the places he documented through his artwork no longer exist as the untouched wilderness of the past, making these paintings even more valuable as part of Alaska’s historical story.
On June 26, 2026 Scott would have celebrated his 100th birthday. To honor his legacy and gift of art left to the world, the OSMA Foundation will host a special centennial celebration and exhibition at the Anchorage Museum featuring some of the finest paintings produced by the artist. This exhibit will also include a silent auction offering a few original works for purchase.
I look forward to supporting the OSMA Foundation as we work to create both a permanent exhibit as well as a traveling exhibition dedicated to preserving, protecting and sharing the history of Alaska and the American North through Scott’s artwork.
Please join us on Friday, June 26, 2026 from 6-9pm at the Anchorage Museum for this rare and special exhibition. Learn more at https://oscottmcdanielart.org
Story by Frances Caulfield