Draft:Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick

Dr. Richmond Garrick

Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick: Sierra Leonean Awarded Winning Artist & NAACP GAME CHANGER AWARD RECIPIENT FOR EDUCATION.

Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick (was born in Freetown which is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone .). Dr. Richmond Garrick is married to Wanona Johnson with three children; Richmond Denzel Garrick, Richmonda Garrick and Deborah Garrick. Dr. Garrick's father’s name was Sydney Garrick and his mother’s name was Taiwo Isabella Garrick. Dr. Garrick's father passed away in 1985 while he was in his final year at the Milton Teachers College in Sierra Leone. His mother passed away in 2021 while he was getting ready to defend his doctoral thesis at Wilmington University in Delaware, United States of America.

Dr. Garrick is a renowned Visual Artist and Art Educator who is presently based in Willingboro, New Jersey. He gained notoriety before leaving the shores of Sierra Leone in 1991 to escape a brutal civil war that took his brother’s life. In Sierra Leone, he was selected nationally among other artists in 1988 to participate in a huge art exhibition at Ambassador Cynthia Shephard Perry’s residence, that featured her paintings as well local artists' artworks. Ambassador Cynthia, Shephard Perry was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to be his ambassador to Sierra Leone. Dr. Richmond Garrick’s paintings were also commissioned by United States Embassy’s staff and also the Late American Ambassador Johnny Young who was confirmed in 1989 as U.S. ambassador to Sierra Leone. Ambassador Johnny Young formally opened Dr. Richmond Garrick’s one man art exhibit in 1991 before the artist left for the United States. During the formal opening of his one man art exhibit opening, the Late Ambassador Johnny Young, gave a poignant speech about the importance of supporting the arts.

Biography

Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick is an international artist who has been featured on couple of media platforms such as: Channel 6abc Action News (6ABC) , '”Jersey Gents' Art Show highlights multi-generational artists from the Garden State”, Weekend Philler (Weekend Philler(PHL 17)”, Art With A Purpose” on Voice Of America, Sierra Films (DOCUMENTARY.Prof. Richmond Garrick, Award Winning Sierra Leonean Artist: NOBLE EXPRESSION), on News at WilmU Article titled “Brushstrokes for Humanity with Artist Richmond Garrick”, FRONT RUNNER NEW JERSEY: "Williamstown HS teacher Richmond Garrick Never Far From Sierra Leone", featured at the Art Institute of Philadelphia -“What those who teach can do”. Dr. Richmond Garrick was featured in a unique 'Black History Month' exhibit at Middlesex County College entitled 'Noble Expressions'. Noble Expressions was organized by the Middlesex County College Alumni Association at the College's Art Gallery. After the exhibit, thirteen of his ball point pen drawings of historic and inspirational Africa Americans were permanently installed at the West Hall Academic building at Middlesex County College. In 2016, Dr. Garrick received the esteemed Gloucester County NAACP Game Changer Award For Education. Dr. Garrick has got so many awards, States, Federal and School Board's Notoriety. His art has received wide acclaim. He has exhibited in museums and galleries, including the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton, New Jersey, the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, Noyes Museum of Art, and the PPOW Gallery in New York City, Arts & Innovation Center, Rowan College South Jersey etc. The British Council in 1990 commissioned Dr. Garrick to create three portraits of the following participants with the council in Sierra Leone: the Chancellor of the University Professor Kosonike Koso-Thomas, the Chief Librarian of the University Gladys Jusu-Sheriff and the minister of internal affairs Ahmed M Sesay. After the publication of the portraits in the "The British Council annual report and accounts 1991, Dr. Garrick was awarded an art scholarship by the British Council to study art at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Garrick works in all mediums, but mostly oils and ball point pen. His ballpoint portraits of iconic African-Americans, including Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Nelson Mandela, Former President Barack Obama and others are presently in the African American Heritage Museum collections. Dr. Garrick has collected many awards, including the Gloucester County NAACP Game Changer Award for Education. He received a Sierra Leone @50 Culture Award during the nation’s 50-year celebration of independence. Garrick earned a Legends Award from the Sierra Leone Association of Artists & Musicians.

Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick was raised in a nurturing family environment. His father worked Sydney Garrick at the Sierra Leone’s Post Office and rose to the rank of Postmaster Freetown. After retiring, he became a Postal Instructor at the Mano River Union in Sierra Leone. Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick's mother was an elementary school educator. As a result, his parents impacted his decision to become an educator. Before leaving Sierra Leone in 1991, Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick taught at the St. Joseph’s Secondary School and later The Annie Walsh Memorial School in Freetown between 1985-1991. Saint Joseph's Convent School is a Catholic secondary school in Freetown, Sierra Leone, established in 1868. The Annie Walsh Memorial School was established in 1849 by the Anglican Church Missionary Society as the oldest secondary school for girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. As an educator in those two institutions, he was challenged to prepare students to pursue Art at both G.CE. Ordinary Level (G.C.E O Level) & Advanced Level & ( G.C.E A Levels) exam. Evidently, the exemplary curriculum of higher learning at those schools has shaped his pedagogy and propelled him to become a phenomenal educator at both high school and the university. Such experiences prepared him for his quest as an educator in the United States.

EDUCATION

Dr. Richmond Stanley Otolorin-Garrick attended the Albert Academy and around finishing secondary school, he was a member of the Davalgee Brothers, a dance group that was nationally renouned and the heartthrob of entertainment. After graduation from high school, he pursued a ‘Higher Teachers Certificate in Arts & Crafts at the Milton Margai Teachers College now known as Milton Margai College Of Education and Technology. After completing his educational training, he taught at the St. Joseph’s Convent and later transferred to the Annie Walsh Memorial School. On his arrival in the United States, he pursued an Associate Degree Advertising Arts & Design and graduated from Middlesex County College. He transferred to Montclair States University where he attained his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in visual communication Design, and later enrolled at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, at Rutgers University, New Jersey, where he received his Master of Fine Arts (MFA). During his full time tenure at Williamstown High School, he also served in various capacity at the university level as Adjunct Professor at Middlesex County College, Part-time lecturer at Mason Gross School of the Arts, and Associate Professor at DeVry University. Dr. Garrick later pursued his Doctoral Studies at Wilmington University and graduated with a doctorate in educational leadership.

Career Accomplishments

● 2001-Present. Studio Art, Advanced Placement Studio Art

● & Graphic Arts Teacher: Williamstown High School, Tuckahoe Rd, New Jersey. Responsible

to teach Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Page Maker, Director, Flash, Photography & QuarkXPress, InDesign & InCopy.

● 2009: Associate Professor: DeVry University

● 2007: Adjunct Professor: Drawing. Middlesex

● County College.

● Edison, New Jersey.

● 2006: Adjunct Professor: Freehand Drawing.

● Middlesex County College.

● Edison, New Jersey.

● 2005: Adjunct Professor: Freehand Drawing.

● Middlesex County College.

● Edison, New Jersey.

● 2004: Adjunct Professor: Freehand Drawing.

● Middlesex County College.

● Edison, New Jersey.

● 2003: Adjunct Professor: Teaching Freehand

● Drawing, Middlesex County College,

● Edison, New Jersey.

● 2002: Adjunct Professor: Teaching Typography,

● Middlesex County College,

● Edison, New Jersey

● 2002: Adjunct Professor, Freehand Drawing,

● Middlesex County College, Edison,

● New jersey.

● 2001: Teaching Assistant, Design & Visual

● Thinking: Color. Rutgers, Mason Gross

● School Of The Arts.

● 2001: Teaching Assistant, Design & Visual

● Thinking: Black & White. Rutgers,

● Mason Gross School of the Arts.

● 2000: Part-Time Lecturer, Painting 1, Mason

● Gross School Of The Arts.

● 1998: Technical/Graphic Designer, Webcraft

● Technologies, Adams Station,

● South Brunswick, New Jersey

● 1988: Art Teacher, Annie Walsh Memorial

● School, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

● 1985: Art Teacher, St Joseph’s Secondary

● School, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

AWARDS

2023: Afro Arts Productions, Britain: Outstanding Contributions In Arts

2016: 2016 Gloucester County NAACP Game Changer Award for Education

2 0 1 2: Honored by the Middlesex County College Media Arts Depatrtment

during end of year expo.

2011: Alumnus of The Year Award: Middlesex County College, Edison,

New Jersey.

2011:Sierra Leone @50 Independence Cultural Award Presented By The

Embassy of The Republic of Sierra Leone

2 0 0 9 : 14th Annual Paul Aiken Encore Award. Presented By The African

American Heritage museum.

2006: Nominated for Gloucester County Teachers’ Recognition Program

2005: Established an articulation agreement with the Art Institute of

2003: Mason Gross School of the Arts State Funded Scholarship in art

2002: Dean John I. Bettenbender Memorial Performance Award for outstanding

Graduate Artistic Achievement.

1998: Lajos Markos Art Foundation Scholarship for representational art

1997: “Carpe Diem” Scholarship Award, Montclair State Alumni association,

University

1997: Student Citation Award. Montclair State University Alumni Association

1996: Talent Award, Montclair State University School of the Arts Advisory

Board

External links

● fineartamerica.com/artists/richmond+garrick

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hns89FjRZDM

● https://phl17.com/weekend-philler/artist-richmond-garrick/

● https://6abc.com/post/jersey-gents-art-show-highlights-multi-generational-artists-garden-state/15459301/

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsIuRRA2jvw

● http://frontrunnernewjersey.com/2020/07/13/williamstown-hs-teacher-richmond-garrick-never-far-from-sierra-leone//

● https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/arts/2017/01/29/middlesex-county-collegeblack-history-month-exhibit-features-alumnus-work/96677256/https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/story/news/2013/02/12/the-artist-his-art/17479593007/