Don Duga Does Demo at Holiday Market Plus
 
(Riverhead, NY) - Don Duga, the animator of legendary Rankin/ Bass Christmas classics like Frosty the Snowman, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and full-length features like The Last Unicorn (starring Mia Farrow and Jeff Bridges), will be at the East End Arts Council’s Holiday Market PLUS,121 East Main Street in Riverhead, to give animation demonstrations for children on Sunday, December 7th, at 1:00, and Saturday, December 13th at 12:00. Mr. Duga will show the kids how he draws some of the world’s most beloved characters, and he will remain to draw portraits of the children with their favorite ones. The December 13th appearance will be part of Family Day at the Holiday Market PLUS, which will include a visit from Santa and holiday stories and sing-alongs.

Mr. Duga is a resident of Riverhead, and he is passionate about sharing his time, talent and experience with local children through library demonstrations and classes, and he has exhibited his drawings in many area businesses.  He teaches workshops at the EEAC School of the Arts (the next one will be in March) in animation using his unique ‘lunchbox’ technique. Mr. Duga has become somewhat of a local icon, and is beloved by the folks on the East End.

Don Duga has been at the forefront of American animation for more than 40 years, having worked with some of the most prestigious animation studios in the world. He is a versatile animator, director and producer. His experience ranges from work with UPA and Rankin/Bass Studios to commercials, Sesame Street and feature films. Don has storyboarded such classic characters as Mr. Magoo and Underdog, and has worked on animated features such as the Mad Monster Party and Day Dreamer. As a storyboard artist at Rankin/Bass Studios, Don specialized in laying out the essential frame work for the various film projects. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Don worked animating commercials for various national companies. A relationship with Hostess Foods proved to be a large success for Don, where he designed and brought to life such memorable characters as Twinkie the Kid, Captain Cupcake, King Ding Dong, and Fruit Pie the Magician. Polestar Films and Associated Arts, a company DUGA co-founded along with animator Irra Verbitsky, has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Best Children’s Film of the Year and the Asifa East Award for their work on Owen, which was narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker.

The Holiday Market PLUS features beautiful and unique handcrafted gifts made by local artisans, and will be open daily through the 23rd of December. 

For more information, call Laura Helms at 631-727-0900.

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Arts for Everyone

Laura Helms
Communications Coordinator
East End Arts Council
133 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
631.727.0900