Joseph S. Wheelwright
Boston sculptor Joe Wheelwright died on the evening of September 28 after a determined but peaceful struggle with cancer. He was 68. He died in the candlelight at his home in Dorchester, attended by his wife and two daughters.
A longtime shaper of stone and wood, Joe co-founded the Boston Sculptors Gallery and the Humphreys Street Studios, two important collaboratives for local artists. His own work was daring in scale–his pieces could be monumental or miniature–and was wryly imaginative. His best-known public art is “Sleeping Moon” at Peabody Square, Dorchester. At the DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Joe carved a boulder into a great inquisitive head, one ear cocked to the ground, which he called “Listening Stone.”
Joe was a provocative and pithy man, fond of quoting his relative Henry Thoreau. Although he lived in the private world of the artist, he had an extraordinary number of friends, whose affection he gracefully returned. Apart from his unwavering love for his wife, Susan, Joe reserved his deepest feelings for New England’s rocks and trees and, above all, for the moon, which had fascinated him since childhood.
Joe will be buried privately in Vermont. There will be a memorial service in Boston later in the fall. Details will be posted at the website joewheelwright.com and at www.dolanchapman.com, where you may leave your thoughts about dear Joe.
Guestbook Entries
I am grateful to have known Joe Wheelwright through being part of the first artists to move into Humphreys Street studios – and through his beautiful work, inspiring presence and powerful studio practice. JB and I are so sorry for your great loss. Joe has certainly had a lasting impact which will carry on. He showed great kindness to others and to artists in particular. The communities he created attest to that. I fondly remember the generous studio visits he hosted long ago for my undergrads, some of whom went on to found a large group studio in New York, inspired by his example. I remember him lovingly talking about his family, and about the trees he was eyeing for new work. We will miss his presence. We will think of him and see him in his work.
My condolences to Joe’s family. I was fortunate to work with Joe at the Boston Sculptors Gallery while I was the Director there through 2015. One of my favorite stories he shared with me was when he installed his series of moons in the gallery and how he had misinterpreted his parents’ stories of going to the “moonvies.” It was to become a lifelong pursuit and personal passion. I also loved coming in on an opening day and finding him playing chess with an old friend, as if it were perfectly natural (every other artist is typically a whirling dervish on their opening days). But there was Joe, a rock in the storm….much like his work. A steady presence, a visionary artist, a dreamer and pragmatist, a community builder, and a gentle soul. I will miss him and seeing that twinkle in his eyes.
I am so sorry for your loss. I so enjoyed meeting and talking with Joe. He was a great artist and a wonderful person! RIP Janice
Dear Susan, Tess and May, I am sad to learn of Joe’s passing. I think of you all daily because of his wonderful rock outside the 5th grade building at SHS, and because of his John Eliassen sculpture that still hangs outside the Shop. I remember him fondly from those long ago days when we all shared the campus together. I will hold you all in my heart. Love, Jen
Susan, Tess and May,
Nick and I are so sorry to read of Joe’s untimely passing. It seems like yesterday that we were all part of the Shady Hill Community. I will never forget that wonderful afternoon in a private box at Fenway Park enjoying a Red Sox game with our daughters. One other time was tuning in to the Today show while vacationing up in Ogunquit and watching Joe being interviewed. Really happy and fond memories.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers,
Daria, Nick, Nadia and Serena
I discovered Joe’s sculptures in the Mills Gallery in the 1980’s when the company I worked for had an office at the BCA. I was smitten by the moons and from then on I followed Joe’s work – attending gallery openings, watching the ice sculptures being formed on First Night, visiting and re-visiting the Listening Stone at the DeCordova. I was looking forward to watching progress on the mountain top sculptures. The world has lost a brilliant artist.
Deep in the woods, just off a popular walking trail around the Lower School Pond here at St. Paul’s School, sits one of Joe’s Moonstones. It is has been a source of delight for all in our community. “Did you find the moonstone?” “you need to go look for the Moonstone” are common questions. To me this piece embodies all that is wonderful with Joe and his work. The piece and the setting convey a beautiful harmony of art and nature- both playful and insightful. Joe saw that connection and was able, through the grueling art of stone carving, to make that inspirational connection visible to all. I/We will miss Joe and his work. A few years back we hosted a hugely popular exhibit of his work in our Hargate Gallery and were lucky enough to display a few of his stone heads out in front of the building on the lawn for the entire year. They were a hit. It was not unusual to hear students tell others—“You know, there is another one out there.” Indeed there is and because of artists as inspirational as Joe, there always will be.
Please note that pictures and other tributes about Joe are posted at https://www.lastingmemories.com/memorial/joseph-storer-wheelwright?about
The Wheelwrights rented my in-law’s summer home in Hart Haven on Martha’s Vineyard for more than 30 years. Although I did not know Joe personally, I enjoyed his art. It seemed as though every year there was something new at “The Big House” to charm us all. The wide-variety of sculptures with varied themes will bring smiles and thought-provoking contemplation for years to come. My husband Chip and I send our deepest condolences to Joe’s family and friends.
I always admired the ease with which Joe Wheelwright conceived and implemented his sculptures. the ideas, elegance and implementations. Everything was easy and simple for him. He danced from stone, bronze, to wood. He could see the “spirit” of a stone or a tree. You turn it upside down and it is a visitor walking into your garden. We have much to remember with but I shall always miss him and his generous help.
I first saw Joe’s monumental stone sculptures on the cover of Sculpture Magazine. I immediately fell in love. Sometime thereafter I contacted Joe and flew to Boston to see his exhibition at The deCordova. WOW!!! I purchased my first stone head right there and then in the freezing cold of winter. Joe F traveled to Miami to supervise the installation. But far more meaningful is that I really connected with Joe in a personal meaningful way. I went on to purchase two more giant stone head sculptures over time. Also I organized an exhibition of Joes work in Miami in 2008. We kept in touch infrequently but meaningfully. Joe was a wonderful human being and Nory and I will miss him terribly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Susan, May and Tess.
Joe and I emailed each other in mid September when he told me the cancer had spread and maybe he had six months. Imagine how shocked we were to learn he only had two weeks remaining on this earth. R I P dear Joe.
A commemoration of Joe Wheelwright’s life and work will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, in the Sanctuary of the First Parish Church in Dorchester. The address is 10 Parish St, Dorchester, Mass. A link to directions can be found at: http://www.firstparishdorchester.org.
I reconnected with Joe at our 40th reunion. We both started out pre med and got into art, me as an art history major, so we had some classes together. I was amazed by his art, especially the trees which are eye opening for a woodworker and tree enthusiast like me.
I was looking forward to seeing Joe again at our 50th. I hope you and the rest of the family can find some peace after this great loss.