Robert Ebendorf
Encyclopedia
Robert Ebendorf, also known as Robert William Ebendorf, Robert W. Ebendorf, and Bob Ebendorf, is an American metalsmith and jeweler, considered by some to be a leader in the studio jewelry movement. He is well known for using found objects in his art jewelry
. His work has been published in many books, is in many galleries around the world, and he has even had his own retrospective art exhibition
at the Renwick Gallery
of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
in Washington, D.C.
He was one of the founding members of the Society of North American Goldsmiths
(SNAG) in 1970, is an inductee of the National Metalsmiths Hall of Fame, and is currently the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Art at East Carolina University
.
. His father, Harry Ebendorf, was a doctor, and his mother, Nomah Large, was a homemaker. He also had a sister. Around the time he was four or five years old his father would take him to his paternal grandmother and grandfather's tailor shop every Saturday. There he would watch them work together creating articles of clothing. He credits the time spent there and with his mother helping create his sensitivity to the world around him to helping him chose a career in art.
Ebendorf had trouble with academics because of a learning disability, dyslexia
. Because of this, he excelled at sports instead of academics. He was offered full scholarships for wrestling and football to attend the Air Force Academy, the University of Oklahoma
, and the University of Nebraska. He instead with the encouragement of his high school art teacher decided to pursue art and chose to attend the University of Kansas
to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree. He received his undergraduate degree in 1960 and continued on at the school to earn a Master of Fine Arts
degree in 1963.
After graduation, Ebendorf received a Fulbright Scholar Grant to study abroad at the State School of Applied Arts and Crafts in Oslo, Norway. He returned to Norway again in 1965 when he was awarded a Louis Comfort Tiffany
Foundation grant. He stayed there until 1966, working in Fredikstad at Norway Silver Designs.
Art jewelry
Art jewelry is created with a variety of materials, not just precious metals and gems. In the late 19th century, René Lalique revolutionized jewelry design through his emphasis on imagination and technical virtuosity over precious materials and the imitation of past styles. Additionally, he...
. His work has been published in many books, is in many galleries around the world, and he has even had his own retrospective art exhibition
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
at the Renwick Gallery
Renwick Gallery
The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, located in Washington, D.C., and focuses on American craft and decorative arts from the 19th century to the 21st century...
of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He was one of the founding members of the Society of North American Goldsmiths
Society of North American Goldsmiths
The Society of North American Goldsmiths was founded in 1969. It is an international nonprofit organization that serves as the primary organization of jewelers and metal artists in North America. Anyone interested in the related fields may become a member...
(SNAG) in 1970, is an inductee of the National Metalsmiths Hall of Fame, and is currently the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Art at East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
.
Life
Robert Ebendorf (1938- ) was born on September 30 in Topeka, KansasTopeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. His father, Harry Ebendorf, was a doctor, and his mother, Nomah Large, was a homemaker. He also had a sister. Around the time he was four or five years old his father would take him to his paternal grandmother and grandfather's tailor shop every Saturday. There he would watch them work together creating articles of clothing. He credits the time spent there and with his mother helping create his sensitivity to the world around him to helping him chose a career in art.
Ebendorf had trouble with academics because of a learning disability, dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
. Because of this, he excelled at sports instead of academics. He was offered full scholarships for wrestling and football to attend the Air Force Academy, the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and the University of Nebraska. He instead with the encouragement of his high school art teacher decided to pursue art and chose to attend the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
degree. He received his undergraduate degree in 1960 and continued on at the school to earn a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree in 1963.
After graduation, Ebendorf received a Fulbright Scholar Grant to study abroad at the State School of Applied Arts and Crafts in Oslo, Norway. He returned to Norway again in 1965 when he was awarded a Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
Foundation grant. He stayed there until 1966, working in Fredikstad at Norway Silver Designs.