Ed Hamilton

{{Short description|American sculptor (born 1947)}} {{for|the college football, basketball, and baseball player and coach|Ed Hamilton (American football)}} {{Infobox artist | name = Ed Hamilton | image = EdHamilton2009.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = Ed Hamilton at the June 2009 Abraham Lincoln Statue Dedication at Louisville Waterfront Park | birth_name = Edward Norton Hamilton, Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|2|14}} | birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio | death_date = | death_place = | field = Sculpture | training = Barney Bright | movement = | works = ''Spirit of Freedom'' | website = {{URL|https://www.edhamiltonstudios.com/|edhamiltonstudios.com}} }} '''Edward Norton Hamilton Jr.''' (born February 14, 1947)<ref>[http://kchr.ky.gov/about/gallergreatblack.htm?&pageOrder=2&selectedPic=26 Ky.gov Great Blacks Kentuckians] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331220319/http://kchr.ky.gov/about/gallergreatblack.htm?&pageOrder=2&selectedPic=26 |date=March 31, 2008 }}</ref> is an American sculptor living in Louisville, Kentucky, who specializes in public art. His most famous work is ''The Spirit of Freedom'', a memorial to black Civil War veterans, that stands in Washington, DC, in the Shaw neighborhood near Howard University.<ref name="fame">{{Cite web |url=http://www.louisvilleartists.com/directory/details.php/listing/10 |title=Louisville Artists.com - Ed Hamilton Famous Works |access-date=2008-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174311/http://www.louisvilleartists.com/directory/details.php/listing/10 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hamilton has also created monuments dedicated to Booker T. Washington, Joe Louis, York (William Clark's manservant on the Lewis and Clark Expedition), and the slaves who revolted on ''La Amistad''.<ref name="encyclopedia">{{cite book |last=Meadows |first=Lori |editor-first=John E. |editor-last=Kleber |year=2001 |title=The Encyclopedia of Louisville |chapter=Sculpture |page=794 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |location=Lexington, Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-2100-0 |oclc=247857447 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC}}</ref>

== Biography ==  Ed Hamilton was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Louisville by Amy Jane (Camp) and Edward Norton Hamilton Sr.<ref name="encyclopedia" /> He graduated from Shawnee High School (Kentucky) in 1965, then received a scholarship to Louisville's Art Center, where he studied sculpture and painting.<ref name="bio">{{Cite web |url=http://edhamiltonworks.com/biography.htm |title=Ed Hamilton Autobiography |access-date=2008-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306131526/http://edhamiltonworks.com/biography.htm |archive-date=2008-03-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He graduated from the Louisville School of Art in 1969 and also studied at Spalding University,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/1221|title = Hamilton, ed · Notable Kentucky African Americans Database}}</ref> then started his teaching career in 1973 at Iroquois High School.<ref name="encyclopedia" />

Hamilton, originally a painter, had a chance meeting with Barney Bright – the sculptor responsible for the Derby Clock and the ''River Horse'' statue – that changed Hamilton's life.<ref name="encyclopedia"/> Bright made Hamilton his apprentice, giving him a place to work and the opportunity to learn sculpting.<ref name="bio"/> Since learning under Barney Bright, Hamilton has taught sculpture at Jefferson Community College and is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

On December 16, 2004, Hamilton received a Doctor of Arts honorary Degree from the University of Louisville. Two days later, December 18, 2004, Hamilton received an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from Western Kentucky University.<ref name="bio"/>

In 2006, Hamilton self-published an autobiography, ''The Birth of An Artist: a journey of discovery'', in which he talked about his work and the creative process. The book was a popular feature of the Kentucky Book Fair in 2007. While working on the book, Hamilton, at age 57, discovered that he was adopted.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://edhamiltonworks.com/LEO_book_review.html |title=Leo Book Review - Birth of An Artist |access-date=2008-02-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515124632/http://www.edhamiltonworks.com/LEO_book_review.html |archive-date=2008-05-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In June 2009, Hamilton completed work on the memorial statue of Abraham Lincoln which is located near the base of the Big Four Bridge at the Waterfront Park in Louisville, Kentucky.<ref name="fame"/>

==Selected works== thumb|right|180px|Hamilton, standing by his Lincoln statue (2009), Louisville, Kentucky * ''Booker T. Washington'' (1983–84), Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithsgoodman/535397984/ Booker T. Washington] from Flickr.</ref> * ''Joe Louis'' (1984–87), Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/24150334@N08/4272444476/ Joe Louis] from Flickr.</ref> * ''La Amistad Memorial'' (1990–92), City Hall, New Haven, Connecticut.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/1244250373/ La Amistad] from Flickr.</ref> * ''The Spirit of Freedom'' (1992–98), African American Civil War Memorial, 10th & U Streets NW, Washington, DC.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/bootbearwdc/16069825/ The Spirit of Freedom] from Flickr.</ref> * ''York'' (2003), Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere, Louisville, Kentucky. * ''Abraham Lincoln'' (2009), Waterfront Park, Louisville, Kentucky.

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.edhamiltonstudios.com/}} * [https://dcphotoguide.com/african-american-civil-war-memorial/ Photos of The Spirit of Freedom, by Ed Hamilton] at DC Photo Guide.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Ed}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Spalding University alumni Category:Sculptors from Kentucky Category:Artists from Louisville, Kentucky Category:University of Louisville alumni