| The purpose of my research is to offer insight into the life and work of Thomas E. Wolfe, who exhibits self-determination both as an artist and as an art educator in an Appalachian region of Southeastern Ohio. By presenting Wolfe’s life story, I make connections to the influences of culture, social experiences, regional identity, and family traditions that play to his development as an artist and art educator. My research questions focused on how he perceives himself, how others perceive his presence in the community, how his artwork is valued by his community and how his teaching practices helped develop a greater sense of community. Specifically, I was interested in which historical moments and events in his life that were important to him in recollecting his life story. In my narrative analysis of Wolfe’s life stories collected through oral history from Wolfe and 26 of his friends, family members, former students and community members, I considered selectivity, slippage, silence, intertextuality, and subjectivity to analyze his life story (Casey, 1993; Casey 1995–1996).;Thomas Eugene Wolfe began making art as a child and evolved into an accomplished artist. As an art educator he had a prolific teaching career that spanned forty plus years. During this time, Wolfe developed his artistic style as a Regionalist watercolor artist, one whose work reflected a rural Appalachian landscape, architecture, and culture of the Perry County, Ohio community in which he lives and taught.;The primary objective of this study is to document Wolfe’s life and art depicting the Perry County, Ohio region; and consider how his work might have influenced his community. Wolfe’s background and life stories are explored across both the similarities and differences from other Regionalist artists in order to situate a broader understanding of the many ways in which he, as an Appalachian Regionalist artist interacts with his community.;The literature review for this study involved chronicling the historical background of Regionalist artists in America in order to provide an artistic and social context for Wolfe and his work as both a teacher and as an artist. It also included an examination of Wolfe’s life, based on the oral histories I collected from the artist, his family, friends, and community members.;This research recognizes that self-determination and community involvement are significant components in creating a personal identity and in helping to construct a community identity. In analyzing the oral histories collected, the value of Wolfe’s artwork and presence within his community emerged. Through his paintings he has captured images of a vanishing local landscape, architecture, and culture that the community deeply appreciates. The community testimonies evidence a valuing of Wolfe’s images and his work to preserve the local history. As a Regionalist artist, and through his teaching practices, he has helped others to come to know and understand the value of art to this community. |
