EARL PARDON RETROSPECTIVE
"Palette Maestro"
November 7 - December 14, 2008
Curator: Rosanne Raab
Reception: Friday, November 7, 6:30-7:30 pm
Related Event:
2008 Rosanne Brody Raab Visiting Artist Lecture
with jeweler & metalsmith Sharon Church*
Monday, November 10, 6:00 pm, Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall
*Sponsored by Rosanne Brody Raab '55 and the Department of Art
Sharon Church is an alumna of the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Class of 1970 and a former student of Earl
Pardon
The jewelry of Earl Pardon is perhaps best understood in the context of his involvement in the field of art. Exhibiting widely, he received awards and commissions in jewelry, enameling, painting and sculpture. As a professor of art, he taught courses in enameling and jewelry in the Art Department at ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ College for more than 30 years. He began teaching at ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ in 1951, served as department chair for nine years (1968-1977), and retired in the spring of 1989. He devoted himself to studio work in jewelry, often producing a new piece a day, until his death in 1991. This exhibition demonstrates a selection of the late artist's works including objects (flatware, bowls, sculpture, wall pieces, etc.), and a large collection of jewelry, in sterling silver and a variety of metals and wood, ebony, enamel, semi-precious stones, and other materials.
Earl Pardon, Mosaic Panel Necklace, 1987, enamel, semi-precious stones, ebony, mother of pearl, sterling silver, 14K
gold,19 1/2" L x 1" W, Private collection, Photo by: Murray Riss, Memphis, TN
Earl Pardon, Cocktail Ring, 1960's,sterling silver, silver wire, pearls, amethyst, 1.5" x 1.5/8", Private collection
Earl Pardon, Brooch, ca.1983, ebony, 14k gold, sterling silver, semi-precious stones, 2" L, Private collection
Photos by: Murray Riss, Memphis, TN
Historical Background - from the Curator
Earl Pardon returned to Memphis upon completion of his tour of duty during World War
II and enrolled in the Memphis Academy of Arts under the GI Bill. He studied painting
and sculpture in a traditional program that focused on European art history and its
influence on art in America. As a student, Pardon was required to take a craft course
at Memphis. This was his initial exposure to jewelry making, an art form that immediately
fascinated him with its creative potential.
During the summers of 1948 and 1950, Pardon attended the National Silversmiths' Conference
sponsored by Handy and Harman. Swedish silversmith Erik Fleming and Reginald Hill
of the Central School of Art in London taught the workshops at The Rochester Institute
of Technology. They provided smithing techniques outside of an industrial setting,
enabling participants to integrate traditional technical skills of painting and sculpture
with the metal arts. more
Design by Earl Pardon, Elan 5 pc. setting for Old Newbury Crafters, Artisans: Bob Lapham and Geoffrey Blake, 1962, sterling silver, Collection Old Newbury
Crafters