Dar Richardson

Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross, left, and sculptor Dar Richardson

Local artist and arts organizer Dar Richardson was recognized July 16, 2017 when Georgetown Mayor Dale Ross read a proclamation making the day Dar Richardson Day in Georgetown.

The proclamation was planned as a surprise to Richardson. The Georgetown Arts & Culture Board had suggested the proclamation as a way to recognize Richardson’s role in curating the Georgetown Sculpture Tour, serving on the Arts & Culture Board, initiating the annual Texas Society of Sculptors exhibit at the Georgetown Public Library, and more, but the event organizers and City staff kept the plan a secret.

The surprise proclamation was read by the Mayor at the awards reception for the Texas Society of Sculptors Tenth Annual Show. The text of the proclamation reads:

“Whereas Dar Richardson is a Georgetown artist who has enriched the lives of others through his work; he has carved wood, sculpted in clay, created mixed media sculpture, painted in enamel, made 3-dimensional mosaic works, and even sung on stage at the Palace Theatre and with the San Gabriel Chorale;

“Whereas Dar Richardson is a local arts organizer who has promoted the arts in Georgetown in many ways including by serving on the City Arts and Culture Board, and has helped to provide artists with venues to show their work including contributing to the beginnings of the Georgetown Art Center;

“Whereas Dar Richardson has sparked interest and excitement in children and adults alike about doing art, whether during sculpture demonstrations at the library or teaching clay sculpture workshops at Rock House;

“Whereas Dar Richardson initiated the popular Texas Society of Sculptors Show at the Georgetown Public Library, which is now in its 10th year showing more than 80 works of art by artists from around the state;

“Whereas Dar Richardson has coordinated and curated the City’s outdoor Sculpture Tour during its first eight years providing visitors to the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas with surprise, delight, and beauty;

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, DALE ROSS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, do hereby proclaim July 16, 2017 as

DAR RICHARDSON DAY
In Georgetown, Texas”

After the proclamation was read, Richardson was asked to speak, so he stepped to the microphone. “I’ve been asked to say a couple of words,” he said to the 75 or so people assembled on the second floor of the library. He paused and then said simply, “Thank you,” before he smiled and stepped away from the podium to rounds of applause and handshakes.

Eric Lashley, director of the Georgetown Public Library, said, “It has been wonderful working with Dar for the past ten years with the annual sculpture show in the library, the outdoor Sculpture Tour around the Square, and his service to the Arts & Culture Board. Dar is a leader in the arts and culture community and he deserves this recognition for all he has done for our community.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email