Peter Wolf Toth

Peter Wolf Toth (born December 1947) is a Hungarian-born sculptor, who immigrated to the United States and settled in Akron, Ohio. He later studied art at the University of Akron. He created a series of sculptures called Trail of the Whispering Giants to honor Native Americans. Overall, he has created more than 60 sculptures, including at least one in each state of the United States, and in several provinces of Canada.

Whispering Giant

This cedar statue was carved by Peter Wolf Toth to honor the Clatsop, Chinook, and all Northwest coastal Indians.

Trail of the Whispering Giants

Toth completed his first sculpture, of stone, in La Jolla, California in February 1972. The sculpture of a Native American head, measuring nearly 6 feet (1.8 m) in height from chin to forehead, was carved into a sandstone cliff located between Marine Street and Windansea Beach, and represented three months of work.[1]

Thereafter, he decided to embark upon a journey to create a sculpture in each state. His second sculpture was located in Sand Run Metropolitan Park in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Since then he has completed a statue in each of the 50 states, and in several provinces of Canada. Some states have more than one sculpture. Florida has three sculptures located in DeLand, Fort Lauderdale, and Punta Gorda. Other sculptures have been made to replace earlier ones. His second sculpture in Ohio was vandalized and destroyed. In response, Toth carved Rotaynah at Fairlawn Elementary School (now Judith A. Resnik Community Learning Center). Afterwards, he continued until his journey ended in May 1988, when he completed a sculpture in Hawaii.[2]

Whispering Giant

The largest sculptures stand over 20 feet (6.1 m) in height, with some exceeding 50 feet (15 m). When discussing his interpretation of what to sculpt for his Winslow, Arizona, project, Toth had this to say:

"I study the Indians of the area, then visualize an Indian within the log. It is a composite of all the native people of the state."[3]

After 1988

Toth continues to plan further sculptures in other countries, and also spends time making repairs and performing maintenance on the existing sculptures. He has created replacement sculptures where statues have been damaged.

References

1. ^ La Jolla Light, July 12, 1979, page C-9, and La Jolla Light, July 19, 1979, page A-1
2. ^ Geeslin, Ned and Cable Neuhaus (September 5, 1988). "Peter Toth has heads-up works in every state, so Canada is next.". People.
3. ^ "Sculpture by Peter Wolf Toth in Winslow, Arizona, Roadtrip America". http://www.roadtripamerica.com/roadside/Peter-Wolf-Toth.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
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