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k r a l C Tom
Remembering
World-class sculptor and former Davidson College professor touched many people by Karel Bond Lucander| photography by Jon Beyerle
Those who knew Tom Clark of Davidson describe him like one of his magical sculpted wood spirits: A little mischievous, funny, intelligent, and incredibly gracious. Never one to wait for inspiration, this world-famous artist would head downstairs to his Cairn Studio, set his hands on clay, and bring a universe of beloved characters to life. With WDAV’s classical music playing, he would grab a cup of coffee, give his yellow lab, Spunky, a quick rub and sculpt away. And working alongside him for more than a decade was Tim Wolfe of Charlotte. Now a nationally renowned wildlife sculptor, Wolfe answered Clark’s 1990 Charlotte Observer ad for an assistant. “I was a carpenter taking classes in commercial art at CPCC,” he says. “My thing was pen and ink. I applied and when I realized it was Tom Clark, I was pretty excited.” Within a week, Wolfe was hired. “He taught me so much. He put me on a project to study art, from caveman time to those commissioned by the Catholic church and Renaissance. He was a wonderful mentor, teacher, and eventually an amazing friend.” 18
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Wolfe developed whimsical animals to accompany Clark’s gnomes. From 1993 to 2001, they traveled the country on weekends for signings at stores and galleries. “He was so smart and witty and would make me laugh constantly. It was such a blessing to work with him for all those years.” After leaving to start Tim Wolfe Sculptures, they remained good friends. “He was a huge part of my life and had a tremendous impact on my family,” he says. Davidson Mayor Rusty Knox has fond memories as a 10-year-old of Tom Clark occasionally taking him for a grilled cheese and Coke at the Davidson College Student Union while his mom finished work. In 1975, during the summer of his senior year, Mayor Knox remodeled the downstairs of Clark’s home on Grey Road into his studio. “Tommy came down and we would talk during lunch,” he says. “At the end of the summer, he gave me a gnome that included all the things we had talked about: A cap with a “P” because I was going to play baseball at Pfeiffer, a jersey with my number 15, skis and even my ’67 Mustang. For me, that gnome is priceless. Tommy was such a gentle soul. He was so soft-spoken, but you knew that anything he had to say was important.”
