Robert W. Ebendorf:The Work in Depth

Robert W. Ebendorf:

The Work in Depth

Caroline Gore,Lena Vigna, and Bruce W. Pepich

Racine Art Museum

(above)Figure 4

Robert W. EbendorfNecklace (Twig), 1994

Twigs, 18k-gold, pearls, and steel14 1/8 x 13 1/4 x 1/2 inchesThe Porter•Price Collection

Figure 3Robert W. EbendorfBring It Together, 2000Found jar lid, glass, turquoise, china shards, ivory,copper, and tile grout4 15/16 x 2 5/8 x 5/8 inchesRacine Art Museum, PromisedGift of The Porter•Price Collection

(right)Figure 5

Robert W. EbendorfNecklace (Twig) (detail), 1994

Twigs, 18k-gold, pearls, and steel14 1/8 x 13 1/4 x 1/2 inchesThe Porter•Price Collection

(previous pages)Figure 2Robert W. EbendorfNeckpiece, 1990Wood, found paper, gold string, graphite, and copper2 3/4 x 11 5/8 x 13 3/8 inchesRacine Art Museum, Gift of the Artist in Honor of Ron Porter and Joe Price

Contents

2 Robert W. Ebendorf as Mentor: A Personal ReflectionCaroline Gore

13 The Life and Times of Robert W. Ebendorf: Jeweler and MetalsmithLena Vigna

23 A Conversation with Robert W. Ebendorf Bruce W. Pepich

34 A Selected PortfolioWorks by Robert W. Ebendorf in RAM’s Collection

40 Works by Robert W. Ebendorf in RAM’s Collection

Racine Art Museum is grateful to the following sponsors:

Platinum Sponsors Karen Johnson Boyd and William B. BoydSC Johnson Windgate Charitable Foundation

Diamond Sponsor Sam and Gene Johnson Fund

Gold Sponsors East Carolina University – School of Art & DesignHerzfeld FoundationJohnson BankRacine United Arts Fund

Silver Sponsors Cotsen Foundation for Academic ResearchElwood CorporationHelen Bader FoundationOsborne and Scekic Family FoundationW.T. Walker Group, Inc.Wisconsin Arts Board

Bronze Sponsors 88NINE Radio MilwaukeeCNH IndustrialCraft in America PBS SeriesE.C. Styberg Foundation, Inc.Educators Credit UnionIn Sink EratorMiracle on Canal StreetThe Norbell FoundationPerimeter Gallery, ChicagoReal RacineRobert W. Baird FoundationRuud Family FoundationCarol C. Saunders

Donors of Robert W. Ebendorf Works to RAM’s CollectionDale and Doug AndersonMr. and Mrs. Brent BestTeri BlondKaren Johnson BoydGail M. BrownDavid and Jacqueline CharakRobert W. Ebendorf and Aleta BraunLisa Englander and Bruce W. PepichJohn J. GrantDorothy HaasCharlotte HeilArlene Mann in Memory of Robert L. MannThe Porter•Price CollectionVeronica D. Regas Endowment Fund

First Edition

Copyright ©2014 Racine Art Museum

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Convention. Except for legitimate excerpts customary in review or scholarly publications, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage or retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher.

Published in the United States by the Racine Art Museum (RAM), 441 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014938346

Proofreaders: Samantha Belles, Susan Buhler-Maki, Kelly Drumm, Lisa Englander, Elizabeth Frozena, Laura Gillespie, Laura Grayson, Casey Kniestedt, Lena Vigna, and Dave Zaleski, RAMDesigner: Jessica Z. Schafer, RAM Marketing and Publications Manager

Printed in Racine, Wisconsin by The Garvey Group

Robert W. Ebendorf: The Work in Depth is published on the occasion of the exhibition The Life and Times of Robert W. Ebendorf: Jeweler and Metalsmith organized by the Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI, and on view from July 13, 2014 through January 18, 2015.

All Photography by Tom Van Eynde, Chicago, Illinois, except where noted

Robert W.Ebendorf as

Mentor: A PersonalReflection

Caroline Gore

The Life and Timesof Robert W.

Ebendorf:Jeweler andMetalsmith

Lena Vigna

A Conversationwith Robert W.

Ebendorf

Bruce W. Pepich

Figure 27Ivy Ross and Robert W. EbendorfSelection of Neckpieces, 1991Various materials and dimensionsRacine Art MuseumSee page 43 for details

A Selected Portfolio

Works by Robert W.Ebendorf in

RAM’s Collection