Adolph Wolter
Encyclopedia
Adolph Gustav Wolter van R Wolter (September 7, 1903 - October 15, 1980) German born American sculptor, educator and carver. Wolter was born in Reutlingen, Germany. His father was a stone carver and Wolter apprenticed with him before enrolling in the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart. In 1922 he immigrated to the United States moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota
. In 1933 he arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana
to carve the reliefs
(created by Leon Hermant
) on the state library building
and stayed in Indiana for the remainder of his life.
He graduated from the Herron School of Art
and later taught there. He also taught at the Indiana College of Mortuary Science as a professor of "restorative art, " "apparently using his understanding of anatomy to help morticians repair the faces of those who had been in accidents." The use of sculptors to aid in the facial reconstruction of war veterans had already been pioneered by sculptor and medical doctor R. Tait McKenzie
,author of the book Reclaiming the Maimed.
Wolter is remembered for creating both public monuments and architectural sculpture
.
Wolter was married to the late Evelyn Crostreet of Indianapolis. Step grandchildren include: Brian Grossman who resides in Washington DC and Anne (Grossman) Tillie and Keith Grossman who reside in Indiana.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. In 1933 he arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
to carve the reliefs
Carvings (Indiana State Library)
Carvings , is a series of bas-relief limestone panels decorating the facade of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The reliefs were designed by artist Leon Hermant and carved by German sculptor Adolph Wolter in 1934...
(created by Leon Hermant
Leon Hermant
Leon Hermant was a French-American sculptor best known for his architectural sculpture.Hermant was born in France, educated in Europe and came to America in 1904 to work on the French Pavilion at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri...
) on the state library building
Indiana State Library and Historical Building
The Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau is a public library building, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest public library in the state of Indiana housing over 60,000 manuscripts...
and stayed in Indiana for the remainder of his life.
He graduated from the Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
and later taught there. He also taught at the Indiana College of Mortuary Science as a professor of "restorative art, " "apparently using his understanding of anatomy to help morticians repair the faces of those who had been in accidents." The use of sculptors to aid in the facial reconstruction of war veterans had already been pioneered by sculptor and medical doctor R. Tait McKenzie
R. Tait McKenzie
Robert Tait McKenzie was an internationally renowned Canadian-born sculptor, doctor, soldier, physical educator, athlete and Scouter...
,author of the book Reclaiming the Maimed.
Wolter is remembered for creating both public monuments and architectural sculpture
Architectural sculpture
Architectural sculpture is the term for the use of sculpture by an architect and/or sculptor in the design of a building, bridge, mausoleum or other such project...
.
Wolter was married to the late Evelyn Crostreet of Indianapolis. Step grandchildren include: Brian Grossman who resides in Washington DC and Anne (Grossman) Tillie and Keith Grossman who reside in Indiana.
Selected works
- carved relief panelsCarvings (Indiana State Library)Carvings , is a series of bas-relief limestone panels decorating the facade of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The reliefs were designed by artist Leon Hermant and carved by German sculptor Adolph Wolter in 1934...
for the Indiana State Library BuildingIndiana State Library and Historical BuildingThe Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau is a public library building, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest public library in the state of Indiana housing over 60,000 manuscripts...
. 1933
- Four Freedoms MonumentFour FreedomsThe Four Freedoms were goals articulated by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941. In an address known as the Four Freedoms speech , he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy:# Freedom of speech and expression# Freedom of worship#...
, White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, MichiganTroy, MichiganTroy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
1948
- Syrinx, University Park, IndianapolisIndianapolisIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. 1973
- American Legion SoldierAmerican Legion SoldierAmerican Legion Soldier is a public artwork by German-born American artist Adolph Wolter, located at the American Legion building on K Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C., United States...
, American Legion Building, Washington D.C., 1951 - St. Mary of the Woods, St Mary of the Woods College, St Mary of the Woods, Indiana, 1965
- Louis Chevrolet Memorial, Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayThe Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
, 1975
Sources
- A Glimpse of White Chapel: Where Memory Lives in Beauty, White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, Troy MI, n.d.
- Goode, James M. The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington D.C., Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 1974
- Greiff, Glory June, Remembrance, Faith & Fancy: Outdoor Public Sculpture in Indiana, Indiana Historical Society Press, Indianapolis, 2005
- Hussey, Christopher, Tait McKenzie: A Sculptor of Youth, J.B.Lippencott Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1930
- Kvaran and Lockley, Guide to the Architectural Sculpture of America, http://www.archsculptbooks.com
- Exclusive Wikipedia interview with Wotler family member.