Endel Ruberg
Endel Ruberg | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 29 December 1989 | (aged 72)
Nationality | Estonian, Canadian |
Occupation(s) | Artist, Educator |
Endel Ruberg (21 May 1917 – 29 December 1989)[1] was an Estonian-Canadian artist, naturalist, and humanitarian. He is best known for his leather and watercolour artwork as well as his volunteer work with children.
Biography
Endel Ruberg was born in
Endel Ruberg's artwork won over 50 awards and prizes, among them the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Jubilee Medal (1978) for his contribution to Canadian art. Alar Kivilo's documentary film Ruberg (1977) profiles the artist's life and work.[4][5]
Leather art
Leather relief technique
Ruberg created leather artwork in low relief using traditional leather tooling methods and in high relief using a technique he developed himself. The high relief technique relies on applying a homemade paste to the reverse side of a leather piece for support, and then wrinkling, twisting, squeezing the front side to form three-dimensional shapes.
Direct contact with nature
Ruberg worked mostly in the
… the bird sounds, forest sights, rustic life, and devotion to nature create an atmosphere at one with the artist … we listen with openness to the simple unsophisticated beliefs of Ruberg as he speaks of the greater artistic value resulting from the simpler and more primitive handling of the work.[7]
Themes
Resilience in the face of adversity is a unifying theme in Ruberg's artwork. The objects of nature, such as trees and rocks, which must endure the harsh forces of weather are personified by Ruberg. He believed that "Every rock has its own face, its own attraction. Rocks are symbols of character. God has filled them with his teachings."[4] The narrator in the documentary Ruberg describes Ruberg's personification of trees:
Ruberg’s often reoccurring motif of a strong, windswept tree symbolizes the spiritual strength needed to confront the negative forces in life. The powerful roots planted firmly in the rocky soil remind us that our accomplishments relate to our cultural past, regardless of its modesty.[4]
In addition to landscapes, Ruberg created sentimental works that captured the mood felt by many in the Estonian exile community longing for their native land. In Omal Maal (1978) Ruberg depicts the skyline of Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. The reverse side of Omal Maal (1978) shows Ruberg's inscription, taken from the Estonian folk epic Kalevipoeg, the last few verses of canto XVI, expressing the joy one feels when returning home after a long journey.
Watercolours
Akvarelli külmutustehnika
In
Themes
The
Youth Education
Art Instruction
Endel Ruberg was very involved with youth. He worked with young people in camps and in scouting,[11] giving them opportunities to paint and work in leather under his guidance.[12] He also volunteered for three years to help blind and disabled children and guide teachers at the Mackay Centre School in Montreal. On art education, Ruberg said
I am there for guidance and assistance. Perhaps most important of all is encouragement. The young get discouraged easily. The finished [art] work is good incentive. Through early achievement comes patience and eventually maturity.[4]
Cultural Awareness
Endel Ruberg encouraged a greater sensitivity to nature and to our ancestral connections with the earth. He re-enacted old rituals associated with the pre-Christian Estonian deity
Endel Ruberg fervently supported an end to
References
- ^ "Endel Ruberg". Eesti Kunstimuuseum Digitaalkogu. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Alfred Kurlents fonds [textual record, sound recording]". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Soomepoisid tähistasid oma endise väeosa sünnipäeva" (in Estonian). Vaba Eestlane [newspaper] archived by Multicultural Canada. 17 February 1977. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ruberg". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Naelapea, Tõnu (2006). "Endel Ruberg's walks in beauty". Estonian World Review. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "E. Rubergi kunstinäitus Torontos" (in Estonian). Vaba Eestlane [newspaper] archived by Multicultural Canada. 1 March 1977. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Edwards, Natalie (November 1977). "Ruberg". Cinema Canada (42): 41–42. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Endel Ruberg Võitlus idatuulega". Eesti Kunstimuuseum Digitaalkogu. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Taevalaotuse värvitoonide temaatika – Endel Ruberg vestleb oma uuest loomingust" (in Estonian). Vaba Eestlane [newspaper] archived by Multicultural Canada. 13 March 1979. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Looja olgu valvel positiivse ellusuhtumise eest - Endel Ruberg vestleb oma loomissaladusist" (in Estonian). Meie Elu [newspaper] archived by Connecting Canadians: Canada’s Multicultural Newspapers. 9 March 1972. p. 7. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ Alfred Kurlents; Richard Antik; Jaan Olvet. Priit Aruvald (ed.). "The Estonians in Canada, Vol. 1". Translated by Oscar Mullerbeck. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Veenpere, Jaan (13 February 2002). "Kalevipoeg elab Jõekäärul" (in Estonian). Estonian World Review. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Foto: Kalev on jõudnud Killamängudele" (in Estonian). Vaba Eestlane [newspaper] archived by Multicultural Canada. 15 September 1981. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Üksikvõitleja vahipostil" (in Estonian). Vaba Eestlane [newspaper] archived by Multicultural Canada. 14 February 1985. Retrieved 23 August 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Scout troop banned from exhibiting at Expo". 5 September 1967. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2012.