My History

Richard Starks, Artist
8065 El Matador Dr.
Gilroy, California 95020
408-838-9428
[email protected]
  • 1957-1960 —Hard labor: field work picking berries, cutting apricots, and
    worked in a freezer plant handling macaroni and cheese
  • 1961 – 1965 – Watsonville Community Hospital:  Kitchen help and #1 dishwasher
  • 1966 – 1968 – Pajaro Dunes:  Gatehouse attendant and night watchman during weekends while attending SJSU
  • 1967 – 1968 – Gromm Cylinder Heads:  Porting high performance cylinder heads while attending SJSU
  • 1968 – San Jose State University:  B.A. Industrial Studies with Art minor
  • 1969 – San Jose State University:  Standard Secondary Teaching Credential
  • 1969 (Summer) – Custom Speed Marine, Watsonville, CA:  Fabricating custom boat trailers and wet stacks for ski boats
  • 1970 (Summer) – Detroit Diesel San Jose, CA:  Repair shop fabricating engine stands and misc. benches for working on diesel truck engines
  • 1970 – 2005 – East Side Union High School District: (Piedmont Hills, Santa Teresa, Oak Grove, and Independence):  Industrial Studies Teacher (metals, art metals, auto, wood,  drafting, electronics, art, math, and freshman orientation)
  • 1977 – 1998 – Designed and manufactured  fitness equipment for professional and home gyms (approved vendor for the Gold’s Gym chain)
  • 1984 – 1995 – Custom welding business: Winfield Blvd., San Jose, CA
  •  1998 – present – Began creating larger welded metal sculptures
  • 2005 – Retired from teaching, full time dedicated to sculpture design and fabrication
  • 2005-2011 – Back to school:  eleven semesters of advanced sculpture and public art classes at San Jose State University
Public showing of my sculptures
  • 2003
    • City of Santa Clara Indoor Sculpture Exhibit
    • Gilroy Art & Cultural Exhibit
  •  2004
    • Gilroy Art & Cultural Exhibit
    • East Side Union High School District Faculty Art Show
  • 2004-2008 – City of Los Altos Outdoor Public Sculpture
  • 2005
    • City of Santa Clara Indoor Sculpture Exhibit
    • Rancho Soquel Art Show
    • Gilroy Art and Cultural Exhibit
  • 2006
    • Gilroy Art and Cultural Exhibit
    • Camden Community Center Public Art Project
  • 2006-present – Columbia Neighborhood Center Public Art Project
  • 2007
    • Gilroy Art and Cultural Exhibit
    • Carmel Art Festival
  • 2007-2008 – San Jose State University Gallery Shows
  • 2008
    • Solis Winery
    • Clos La Chance Winery
  • 2008-2009 – Sierra Azul Nursery Outdoor Sculpture
  • 2008-2011 – 1st ACT Silicon Valley participant
  • 2009
    • Gilroy Art and Cultural Exhibit
    • Silicon Valley Open Studios at SJSU
  • 2009-2010 – SJSU President’s House
  • 2010
    • Silicon Valley Open Studios at SJSU
    • Saratoga Art Festival
    • Sierra Azul Sculpture Garden
    • Gilroy Center for the Arts
    • Sausalito Art Festival
  • 2010-2015 – Wells Fargo Performing Arts Center, Santa Rosa
  • 2011
    • Lodi Community Art Center 51st Spring Art Show
    • Sierra Azul Sculpture Garden, Watsonville
    • Silicon Valley Open Studios at SJSU
    • Midsummer Art Celebration at the Triton Museum, Santa Clara
    • Sausalito Art Festival
  •  2011-2012
    • Geyserville Public Art
    • Gilroy Art and Wine Stroll
  • 2011-2014
    • Ann and Mark’s Art Party, San Jose
  • 2011-present
    • Oakwilde Ranch Sculpture Show
    • Yountville Public Art
  • 2012
    • Midsummer Art Celebration at the Triton Museum, Santa Clara
  •  2012-2016
    • Cloverdale Public Art
    • City of Los Altos
  • 2013-2016
    • Orinda Public Arts Program
  • 2014
    • Filoli Gardens Sculpture Show
  • 2015-2018
    • Yountville Art, Sip & Stroll event
  • 2016-2018
    • Saratoga Art Festival
  • 2017-2018
    • Los Altos – Art in the Park
  • 2018
    • SEMA Las Vegas
  • 2019
    • Ruth Bancroft Gardens Sculpture show