New exhibition honors jeweler, metalsmith Earl Pardon

Skidmore?s retrospective exhibition of jeweler and metalsmith Earl Pardon opens Friday, Nov. 7, in Schick Art Gallery. A reception is planned from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, and the exhibition remains on view through Dec. 14. Titled ?Palette Maestro,? the exhibition was last on view at the Racine (Wisc.) Art Museum and is curated by Rosanne Raab, a 1955 Skidmore graduate and eminent art advisor whose firm specializes in the arts of craft and design.

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 Skidmore for more than 30 years. He began teaching at the College 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.

Pardon?s work is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; the Boston Museum of Fine Arts; the Yale Gallery of Art, New Haven, Conn.; the Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C.; and the Racine Art Museum, among others.

A related event, the 2008 Rosanne Brody Raab Visiting Artist Lecture, will be presented by jeweler and metalsmith Sharon Church at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, in Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall. This lecture is sponsored by Rosanne Brody Raab and the Skidmore Department of Art. Church is a 1970 graduate of Skidmore and a former student of Earl Pardon. The Pardon exhibition, reception and related lecture are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends 1 to 4:30 p.m. For details, visit the gallery website.