Summit One Gallery ~ Highlands, North Carolina

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Wesley Wofford is a local figurative sculptor. He moved to Cashiers, NC with his wife and children three years ago to refocus his passion for sculpture. Prior to that he worked in the film industry as a Prosthetic Makeup Artist, a career which earned him both an Academy Award and an Emmy. His sculpture focuses on that “life spark” within every living thing, be it people or animals. His sculptural style emphasizes the sculptor’s presence, lending towards a refined impressionism.

In contemplating the current condition of our local bears, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for having robbed them of their habitat. The title “Secluded” is a double entendre. It refers to our own situation as humans living in the mountains, escaping the busy world and surrounding ourselves with nature. But it also refers to the state of our local bears, who were once free to wander this entire range, and have now become somewhat of an exile in their own land. “Living in seclusion”, the actual definition, gives a somewhat different, if not negative, view when applied to the bears. I wanted the composition to focus on the intelligence and soul of the bear, not just the familiar anatomy we are used to seeing. Perhaps the sculpture will remind people of the splendor of living in the mountains amongst these magnificent creatures, but also of what the impact of our presence can mean to the other inhabitants.