Thomas Wolfe Memorial Angel, Asheville
This statue, located in Asheville's main town center, is placed in memory of Thomas Wolfe. The monument depicts a bronze-draped angel wearing a wreath with its head bowed and its right hand outstretched. The monument stands approximately seven feet in height.
On bronze plaque on the monument's front, facing North Pack Square: THOMAS WOLFE / MEMORIAL ANGEL / "WHEREON THE PILLARS OF THIS / EARTH ARE FOUNDED, TOWARD / WHICH THE CONSCIENCE OF THE / WORLD IS TENDING - A WIND IS / RISING, AND THE RIVERS FLOW." / THOMAS WOLFE / YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN / PRESENTED BY / THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE / CONFEDERACY / CHAPTER 104
City of Asheville
October 3, 1983
35.594880 , -82.551220 View in Geobrowse
"Thomas Wolfe," NCpedia.org (accessed November 1, 2014) Link
Campbell, John, Jr. "Angel Unveiled in Pack Square," Asheville Citizen-Times, October 4, 1983.
Millspaugh, Dan. "Tom Wolfe Memorial Angel," Public Art Archive (accessed May 30, 2014) Link
Moore, Bill. "Area Sculptor Selected to Create New 'Wolfe Angel'," Asheville Citizen-Times, February 23, 1983.
Yes
Bronze, Granite
United Daughters of the Confederacy, Chapter 104
$6450
An unveiling took place on the occasion of what would have been Thomas Wolfe's 83rd birthday. Dr. Richard S. Kennedy, President of the Thomas Wolfe Society, spoke at the event. Dr. Carol Starnes McCanless, William H. Starnes, Jr. (children of the former UDC president, Helen Hale Starnes, who was the driving force behind the statue) and James W. Daniels of the North Carolina Transportation board official unveiled the statue. Following the unveiling was a luncheon in honor of the monument's sculptor.
Wolfe Angel
The monument stands in the former location of William Oliver Wolfe's monument shop. It was at that shop that W. O. Wolfe used a pre-made angel statue as advertisement. This monument is said to have been based on that original marble grave marker, which is referenced in Look Homeward, Angel. W.O. Wolfe sold the original angel in 1906 as a grave marker to the Johnson family of Hendersonville and still stands as the family's plot marker in Oakdale Cemetery.
Many believe that Wolfe's novel, Look Homeward, Angel portrayed Asheville and its people negatively. As a result, his works were banned from Asheville's public libraries and Wolfe did not feel safe returning home for several years following its initial publication.
The monument is located in front of the Asheville Art Museum (2 South Pack Square) and faces northwest towards North Pack Square.
The monument stands in a large courtyard made up of bricks and cement. On either side of the monument are two rows of trees and simple benches.