| History | Donald Richardson is an artist, writer and educator. Born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1956 he gained tertiary diplomas in Art and Art Teaching at the University of Tasmania and Hobart Technical College and, in 1965, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania. He undertook tertiary studies in fine arts at Melbourne University (1966-67), the Flinders University of South Australia (1980 and 1985-88) and the University of South Australia (2000-2002).
From 1956 to 2002 Richardson held various positions teaching, lecturing and tutoring in art, design, art history and theory and art education in high schools, technical colleges, and universities in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. Between 1968 and 1987 he was Superintendent of Education (Visual Arts) for the Education Department of South Australia. He conducted art classes privately and for TAFE SA (Technical and Further Education South Australia) from 1998 to 2002. Appointed to the Board of Management, Hahndorf Academy Inc., South Australia, from 1996 to 2004, he was its Honorary Secretary for most of his term (1999-2002). He rejoined the Academy Board in 2009.
Richardson’s art practice is in painting and sculpture and he exhibits in solo and group exhibitions. His works are held in private collections around Australia. He has been an art prize judge and a member of the public art group for the District Council (DC) of Mount Barker (2002-2005) as well as being involved in developing public art projects in his local community at Mount Barker, South Australia.
He has published widely on various aspects of the theory of curriculum in art, craft and design, and on art theory and history. His books include: Made By Man (Cheshire, Melbourne, 1971); Introducing Art (Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, 1983); Art in Australia (Longman Cheshire, Melbourne, 1988); Teaching Art, Craft and Design (Longman, Melbourne, 1992); Art and Design in Australia (Longman, Melbourne, 1996); and What Art Is – And Isn’t, An Aesthetic Tract (Strategic Books, New York, 2010).
His major research investigation into the design of Australian war memorials led to a number of publications including The National War Memorial, Adelaide (self-published, 1998);and a booklet (2000) and an Australian Dictionary of Biography entry on the Barossa Valley stone mason and sculptor Julius Henschke.
Donald was a member of the District Heritage Advisory Committee, DC of Mount Barker, from 2001 to 2003. He regularly contributes Letters to the Editor of the Adelaide newspaper, the Advertiser on matters related to art and design, heritage, planning and the built environment. |