Jack Condous OAM, FRSASA
Bio
Honorary Life Member FRIENDS OF SASA
Honorary Life Member INSEA (affiliated with UNESCO)
Born 1940.
Jack Condous trained as an art teacher at Adelaide Teachers College in 1957 and began his career as an art teacher at Norwood Boys Technical High School (currently called Marryatville High School) in 1960. After one year teaching in Adelaide he applied and was appointed to Darwin Adult Education Centre where he taught at Darwin High School and Adult Education Centre. He became President of the newly formed Darwin Contemporary Art Society and exhibited with George Chaloupka both in Darwin and Adelaide. On returning to Adelaide in 1965 he taught at Thebarton and Adelaide Technical High School (now called Glenunga International High School) where he specialised in ceramics and developed a love of watercolours. He was Head of the Art Department and taught evening classes in general drawing and life drawing at the South Australian School of Art, as well as lecturing to Architecture students at the then School of Mines. In 1968 he applied for and was successful in gaining a Fulbright Scholarship to America. In 1969 he sought out a graduate school and won a scholarship to complete his Masters Degree at Alfred University, Upper New York State,USA. Two other Australians followed him - Gerry King and John Ellsegood to study there. Upon returning to Adelaide in July 1971 he was appointed Inspector of Art (replacing well known Allan Sierp, who retired from the Education Department). This was an exciting time when Government spent considerable money and where Jack was responsible for the appointment and employment of over 450 art teachers with a structure in art education that was the envy of many other States in Australia. In 1972 he became President of the Australian Society for Education Through Art. After attending several Australian and International Conferences he became President of the International Society for Education Through Art and was responsible for the major bid to hold the very successful 23 rd World Congress in Adelaide in 1978. He travelled extensively during his term as President and Vice President visiting 28 different countries where he presented a number of papers on art education, opening several art education conferences and exhibitions Jack was awarded the Sir Herbert Read Medal for his services to Art Education and was made Honorary Life Member of INSEA affiliated with UNESCO. He retired from the Education Department after 34 years of service, He took to travelling to Europe and principally Greece where he visited many Museums in Europe. He had in 2010 a solo exhibition on the Island of Kastellorizo, the home of his parents and Uncle. Jack has exhibited widely in SA and Australia. He became President of the RSASA and exhibited with the four exhibitions held biennially for the Friends SASA . He became inaugural President of Friends of SASA in 2008 and after eight years was made Honorary Life Member of the FSASA at the end of 2015. During the last few years Jack has donated many of his art works to a variety of charities and opened several colleagues' exhibitions in a number of different galleries in Australia. He has assisted in the development of the Scholarship Program for the Friends SASA and has remained as Board member of FSASA. Jack has art works in private collections and set up his own Gallery and Studio in his family home. Since his retirement he has been an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in the community, networking and mentoring young artists and art educators . His energy and enthusiasm for the arts in the community is an inspiration and keeps his mind, body and soul alive. He was awarded by the Australian Government, in the Queens Birthday Honours the Order of the Medal of Australia (OAM) for his services to art education and the arts in the Community.