Doug SPOWART
BIO
Photographer, Artist, Educator
Doug Spowart has an extensive involvement in Australian creative industries as an artist, educator, curator and reviewer. He founded and operated with his artist mother Ruby the specialist photographic gallery in South Brisbane known as ‘Imagery Gallery’.
Although Spowart sought to be an artist he found the only way to earn a living was doing other things so he engaged in a range of occupations including; teacher, lecturer, tutor, mentor, curator, tour leader, advocate, lobbyist, retailer of photographic goods and services, journal publisher, writer and critic, manager and/or chair of national subcommittees for peak industry bodies.
Spowart’s photographs, photobooks and artists books are held by national and international private in institutional collections. In 2012 Spowart completed a PhD at James Cook University and was awarded a Siganto Foundation Research Fellowship at the State Library of Queensland in 2014. His significant interest in indie publishing has involved him in many conferences, journal publishing and activities relating to this discipline.
Art Practice Keywords:
Photography, Artist Books, Photobooks
Artist Role Keywords:
Installation, Public Art, Collaboration
Collaboration/ Collaborator names Keywords:
Ruby Spowart
Collections
Various Private Collections
CV
Born Victoria, Numurkah, 1953
Cofounded With Ruby Spowart Imagery Gallery Which Operated From 1980 To 1995
Formed Business Partnership with Victoria Cooper – Photographers Of The Great Divide, 2000 & The Centre For Regional Art Practice, 2007.
QUALIFICATIONS
Academic
Doctor of Philosophy (2012) James Cook University, Townsville
Graduate Diploma OF Arts [Visual Art] (2003) Monash University, Churchill, Gippsland
Diploma OF VISUAL Arts [Applied Photography] — Northern Melbourne Institute Of TAFE (2002)
Associate Diploma OF Arts – Applied Photography (1995) — By RPL, Southern Queensland Institute Of TAFE
Certificate Course IN Photography (1973) — Queensland College Of Art
QUALIFICATIONS
Professional
2001 Honorary Fellowship — Australian Institute Of Professional Photography
2000 Master OF Photography (Re QUALIFICATION) — Australian Institute Of Professional Photography
1982-2004 Valuer OF “Photographs And Photographica” — Appointed By The Australian Government Department Of Arts & Tourism
1995 Fellowship — Australian Institute Of Professional Photography
1992 Master OF Photography — Australian Institute Of Professional Photography
EMPLOYMENT
2000 To Present Self-Employed Artist In Partnerships With Victoria Cooper
1995 – 2014 Teacher – Photoimaging: Southern Queensland Institute OF Tafe
1977-1993 Sessional Teacher: Queensland College OF Art
1980-1995 Self Employed AS A Director OF Imagery Gallery
1972-1980 Various POSITIONS Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd
Selected Workshops Presented
2004–2014 Australian Institute OF Professional Photography Qld State Convention
2010 Brisbane Topic: Own Arts Practice And The Artists’ Book/Photobook, Included Workshop
Australian NATIONAL University: NATIONAL Art School — 2002, 03, 04, 05, 06 & 07 Two Week Visiting Artist Workshop For Core Studies Program (With Victoria Cooper)
Barratt Galleries — 2009 Cyanotype Workshop (With Victoria Cooper)
Capricornia Printmakers — 2014, 2 Day – Cyanotype Workshop (With Victoria Cooper)
Flying Arts Queensland Tutor — 2004 & 2016 Multiple Venues Around Queensland Workshop Topics Included Digital Photography, Fine Art Digital Printmaking And Artists’ Books.
Nocturne Grafton — 2013, Artists’ Books With Visiting And Local Artists (With Victoria Cooper)
Nocturne Miles — 2014, Nocturnal Photography, Digital File Optimisation, Social Media And Zinemaking (With Victoria Cooper)
Nocturne Bundaberg — 2014, Nocturnal Photography, Digital File Optimisation And Social Media (With Victoria Cooper)
Queensland College OF Art (Gold COAST Campus) — 2014 Lecture And Workshop: Contemporary Photo Books
WANAKA Autumn Art School — 2012, Photo Books (With Victoria Cooper)
Selected Lectures Presented
2004–2015
Australia & New Zealand Antiquarian Booksellers — 2014 National Library Of Australia Presented Paper On Post-Doctoral Research. Topic: Australian Photobooks
AIPP NATIONAL Convention: Vivid — 2008 National Museum Of Australia, With Victoria Cooper – Topic: Own Arts Practice And The Artists’ Book/Photobook
Ballarat International FOTO Biennale — 2009 Ballarat Topic: Presentation On Own Practice & Floor Talk On Exhibition BOOK : Site With Victoria Cooper
Headon Event: The Future OF Photo BOOK Publishing — 2013 Museum Of Sydney Moderator Of The Forum With An Introductory Presentation
James COOK University: School OF Creative Arts — 2007 & 10 Townsville Topic: Presentation To Students On Own Arts Practice And Research
Massey University: Supporting Exhibition 50 Years OF WOOLF — 2010 Wellington, New Zealand – Topic: Presentation To Photomedia Students On Own Arts Practice And Research Topic: Presentation On The Judging And Assessment Of Photographs, Own Arts Practice And Research
Palimpsest #7 — 2009 Mildura Arts Centre With Victoria Cooper On The Exhibition Borderlines
Photographic Society OF New Zealand — 2004 Partaka Topic: Multiple Presentations, Some In Collaboration With Victoria Cooper
Queensland Festival OF Photography Regional Tour Panel — 2012 Toowoomba Topic: Everyone Is A Photographer – The Ubiquity Of Digital Photography