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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Professor of 28 years retires after forging a change

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Emily Linegar, 22, senior of Hemingford, front, makes jewelry while Visual and Performing Arts professor Richard Bird watches April 15 during his Crafts class. — Photos by Teri Robinson
Emily Linegar, 22, senior of Hemingford, front, makes jewelry while Visual and Performing Arts professor Richard Bird watches April 15 during his Crafts class. — Photos by Teri Robinson

Professor of Visual and Performing Arts professor Richard Bird is retiring after 28 years with CSC.

The son of an Air Force Colonel, Bird grew up traveling the world. His father was originally from Kansas City, Kansas, which influenced his decision to attend the University of Kansas. His family was living in France at the time, so he made the trip back to the states alone.

Bird graduated with a BFA in design in 1971. He then joined ROTC and went into the Air Force. He was a 2nd Lieutenant and worked as a motion picture director for the space program. After three years, he returned to school and received his MFA in Ceramics and Glass.

After graduating, he applied for positions all over the U.S. Chadron State was one of the first offers he got, and he took it. In the fall of 1977, he came to teach at CSC, but stayed only one year. He then took an offer to teach at Hastings College, where he stayed until 1984.

Richard Bird, visual and performing arts professor, holds yarn April 15 during an interview. —Photo by Teri Robinson
Richard Bird, visual and performing arts professor, holds yarn April 15 during an interview. —Photo by Teri Robinson

He took a break from teaching and moved to Pueblo, Colorado, to manage a bronze-casting studio for a year. Then he moved to Sacramento, California, to run a drywall company. His first daughter was born there in 1986. However, he and his wife decided they didn’t want to raise their family in the city, so Bird returned as a professor at CSC in 1988. He has remained here ever since. His second daughter was born shortly after he returned.

Bird has taught various art classes over the years, from Art Education to Photography, and has been a huge factor in broadening the art department. “I am so lucky, because my job includes all of my hobbies,” Bird said.

When he returned in 1988, he built the glass studio himself and started glass blowing and teaching stained glass courses. He also redid the industrial arts building and hand-built several weaving looms for crafts class. Ceramics has also grown tremendously since he has been here. The students now do low fire ceramics, porcelain, and use eight different types of clay. Bird said that the administration has always been supportive of his propositions and allowed for the expansion of art program.

Bird has received several notable awards for his personal artwork. He won the Overall Outstanding Artist/Craftsmen Award in Colorado in the early 1980s for a glass piece. He has also won Best Display at the Cottonwood Festival in Hastings. Many of his art pieces have been displayed in galleries.

Bird said he plans to stay in Chadron for a couple more years, as his wife is the Chadron Middle and High School art teacher. However, they eventually want to move to the Black Hills. Their two daughters now live in Chicago, and Loveland, Colorado.