Richard earned his MFA in sculpture from the University of Iowa and resides in Jerome, Arizona (population 444). There was a time in Jerome when it was not uncommon to see a parade of children heading down the streets in cardboard masks, body suits and large sculptures created by his students in the Jerome Kids’ Art Workshop, a program which he founded in 1990 and continues today.

In 1987 Richard received a Fulbright Fellowship for independent research into masking societies and masked rituals in Burkina Faso, West Africa, where he spent 10 ½ months, traveling, photographing and creating bronze sculptures. Richard’s residencies are beneficial to teachers as well as students. The students discover that universal symbols exist in color, form and design which transcend spoken language. While working on individual or collaborative projects, choices are made in form and color to express their own personalities or some message. The masks and sculptures do not hide one’s identity, but rather reveal individuality and purpose.

Richard is available for short-term projects, one or two-week artist in residence, teachers’ workshops, slide shows and DVD presentations.

Most of the tools and materials needed are in use in most schools and community centers: scissors, staplers, pencils, paper, erasers, cardboard or poster-board, tempera paint or colored markers. Richard has seven different project descriptions with photographs of the students art projects in pdf format, which he can email to anyone interested in his workshops.  

Richard prefers phone calls to emails if you wish to contact him.