This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| Obituary for Robert Carl Bielenberg, Artist, July 7, 1924 – March 10, 2011
Robert Carl Bielenberg, 86, passed away at his home in Red Hook, NY, on Thursday, March 10, surrounded by family.
Robert was born on July 7, 1924, and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where he graduated from Cass Technical High School as an art major. He won a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art of Case Western Reserve University, and after graduation he received additional training in New York City at the National Academy and the Art Students League. During his student years, Robert’s drawings and watercolor paintings were exhibited widely, including shows at the Chicago Art Institute and other prestigious venues, for which he received many awards. His early work included street scenes from Detroit, Cleveland, New Orleans, and New York City, as well as images of the rural south and Monhegan Island. He also did group and individual portraits of circus performers.
A childhood injury prevented Robert from serving in the armed services during World War II so he worked for the United Service Organization (USO) Camp Shows (1943-1947), drawing portraits of wounded servicemen and women at Veterans Administration hospitals across the country. After the war, Robert worked many years as a commercial artist in New York City, primarily for the public relations firm Carl Byoir & Associates.
In 1951, Robert married Barbara Weil of Bronxville, New York. In 1955, they built a home overlooking the Hudson River in Garrison, New York. The Bielenbergs were well known for their civic activities in Garrison, having co-founded the Garrison Art Center and Hand-to-Mouth Players at the Depot Theater in the 1960s. In 1968, Robert, along with Pete Seeger and others, raised funds to build the Sloop Clearwater. One of Robert’s fondest memories was serving as a crew member on the Clearwater’s maiden voyage up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany. Many of Robert’s paintings from the mid-1950s to 1970s captured the beauty of the Hudson Highlands and street scenes in Garrison and Cold Spring, New York.
The Bielenbergs moved to Red Hook, New York in 1974 and joined the effort to acquire, restore, and furnish the historic Elmendorph Inn starting in 1977. The Inn serves today as
a community center for Red Hook.
Later works by Robert include paintings and drawings of Central Vermont, where the Bielenbergs enjoyed camp life, and also of people and places Robert encountered on his travels to the Bahamas and Cameroon.
Robert is survived by his wife of 60 years and three children, as well as four grandchildren.
A retrospective exhibit of Robert Bielenberg’s art work was held at the Elmendorph Inn on Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and was open to the public. A Celebration of Robert’s Life was held at 3:00 p.m., also at the Elmendorph Inn, on April 9, 2011.
Submitted by the artist's daughter Kristina L. Bielenberg.
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