Artist memorialized at Jawbone Park
The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes Marie Flor, widow of Upshur County wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor, and Mayor David McCauley unveil the sign that tells about the artist’s contributions to the art world.
The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes Left to right, Gene Frye, Marie Flor, Richard Sink, Bryson VanNostrand, Mayor David McCauley and grandson, Casen, pose with a new sign telling the story of renowned wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor in Jawbone Park.
The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes Marie Flor, widow of Upshur County wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor, and Mayor David McCauley unveil the sign that tells about the artist’s contributions to the art world.
The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes Left to right, Gene Frye, Marie Flor, Richard Sink, Bryson VanNostrand, Mayor David McCauley and grandson, Casen, pose with a new sign telling the story of renowned wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor in Jawbone Park.
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The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes
Marie Flor, widow of Upshur County wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor, and Mayor David McCauley unveil the sign that tells about the artist's contributions to the art world.
The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes
Left to right, Gene Frye, Marie Flor, Richard Sink, Bryson VanNostrand, Mayor David McCauley and grandson, Casen, pose with a new sign telling the story of renowned wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor in Jawbone Park.
BUCKHANNON -- His works adorn West Virginia Wesleyan College, Glenville State College and West Virginia University, University of Michigan-Flint and are in private collections around the world.
Now the late Upshur County wood sculptor Wolfgang Flor is memorialized at Jawbone Park with a sign sharing part of his life's story, with roots that began in Naumburg, Selesia, Germany but flourished outside Rock Cave, West Virginia.
On Friday, the City of Buckhannon dedicated a sign in Flor's memory, just down the sidewalk from a similar sign remembering another Upshur County artist, Ross Straight.
Outgoing mayor David McCauley said Flor was one of the most prolific and celebrated wood sculptors in West Virginia history. He and his wife Marie were married for over 59 years and moved to Upshur County full time in 1963 t fulfill their dream of building their own home, being self-sufficient and devoting their lives to the arts.
A self-taught wood sculptor, Flor carved his masterpieces from local chestnut, walnut and cherry trees.
"In 1968, West Virginia Wesleyan College commissioned Wolfgang to carve the College seal that is exhibited in Wesleyan's Benedum Center," McCauley said. "Mr. Flor further was engaged to sculpt Jesus Christ's 12 apostles, perhaps his most acclaimed work, that have long been featured and displayed along the back wall of Wesley Chapel since their 1969 dedication. These 12 magnificent & highly unique works of art were positioned in a manner whereby the Apostles seemingly look out upon the chapel's congregation."
"Family Tree," sculpted from a 150-year-old chestnut log, was installed shortly before Flor's death.
The college also has two works on loan, both installed after Flor died.
Other commissions can be seen at Glenville State College's library and the Towers residence hall at West Virginia University, the Culture Center in Charleston, Temple Israel in Charleston and University of Michigan-Flint.
"Additionally, Wolfgang Flor's works are featured in private collections throughout the United States and overseas in England, Germany and Belize," McCauley said.
Flor died in Dec. 2, 2017 and McCauley said, "Our Buckhannon-Upshur community shall always remember Wolfgang Flor while appreciating his artistic genius."
Richard Sink, Flor's first intern, shared how he met the Flors in 1974 when he was at WVWC. Later, he started an apprenticeship with Wolfgang Flor in 1978 through the West Virginia Arts and Humanities Council.
Marie Flor said, "Thank you very much for doing this for Wolf. I do believe he deserved it. He came to West Virginia to fulfill his life's dream – to make a living with the art and live with nature and live simply. I think he did succeed."
City architect Bryson VanNostrand said he was an architect in part because of Wolfgang Flor.
"It's hard to measure a person's contribution in this world, but it's real to me," he said. "I would like to thank we can do more to celebrate Wolfgang than what we are doing today. Thanks Mayor for making it happen."