One of the most memorable landmarks in the Town of Bethany Beach has to be the towering sculpture known as Chief Little Owl. What is not so commonly known, is that artist Peter Wolf Toth has created over 70 statues in the US, Canada and Europe, all to honor the indigenous peoples of North America. Toth's project named "Trail of Whispering Giants" began in the 1970s, and at his studio in Edgewater, FL, he carves small wooden statues to support himself and to create more Whispering Giants that honor indigenous peoples that suffered injustice.
Whispering Giant Chief Little Owl of Bethany Beach, DE in the 70s
Each sculpture is made from a single piece of wood and is hand-chiseled, with no use of power tools. The only exception to this rule is the first statue that Toth carved, which was out of rock and sits in La Jolla, CA. Whispering Giants have soaring heights ranging from 20ft to 50ft, and Toth consults with local natives on the designs to ensure they resemble natives of the region in which they stand. Toth plans to construct further sculptures in others countries.
Whispering Giant Chief Little Owl of Bethany Beach today
Due to weather elements, not all of the statues still stand today. This is the case for our Chief Little Owl in Bethany Beach. Destroyed in 1992, the original statue remains at the Native American Museum in Millsboro. The statue was replaced first in the early 1990s and again in 2002. For those that are still standing, Toth spends time performing repairs and maintenance when necessary.
For more on this artist and the Trail of Whispering Giants, head to the following link.
Peter Wolf Toth Studio/Gallery
102 Arthur Ave,
Edgewater, Florida 32141
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