The Wolf. Ever Inspirational.
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Time to read 4 min
Inspiring
How Does the Wolf Inspire You?
Loyalty. Family. Intuition. Understanding. Guardianship. Freedom.
All attributes embodied by the Wolf.
Which do you find inspiring?
These loyal, family-oriented animals bring inspiration to several artists at Sorrel Sky Gallery. Whether on canvas or in a photograph, with bronze, gold, or silver, the almost mystic aura surrounding the wolf is captured and preserved for us to include in our homes and lives. Recognizing their important role in a thriving ecosystem, Wolf Awareness Week every October gives needed attention to these long-misunderstood creatures.
Enjoy paintings, jewelry, sculpture, and photography of the wolf, alongside a few fascinating facts. Let's give a howl for these enigmatic but vital quadrupeds ... the wolf.
Gray and Red
There are two widely recognized species of wolves living in the U.S. — Gray Wolves and Red Wolves
The gray wolf is often seen as the icon of the wilderness, captivating imaginations, and inspiring stories, legends, and folklore. The largest of the canine family, gray wolves can be white, black, tan, brown, or grizzled—a combination of tan, brown, and black. Aside from humans, the gray wolf has the largest natural range of any living terrestrial mammal.
The red wolf, a smaller, slimmer cousin of the gray wolf, is named for its distinctive reddish coat. While they once roamed as far west as Texas, into Florida and the Midwest, the red wolf now has only one small wild population in eastern North Carolina. Uniquely "All-American," the red wolf’s entire historical range has been confined to what is now the United States.
Facts
Wolf Communication
Each wolf has a unique, recognizable howl. When a pack is howling together, the harmony of their howls can make it sound like the pack is larger than it is. Wolves howl for many reasons, including communicating with other wolves, sounding an alarm, and locating other pack members. Wolves also communicate using scent marking, body language, and vocalizations.
Wolf Family Life
A wolf pack can range from 2 to over 30 wolves, but typically average 5 to 8. Packs are usually made up of a mated pair and their offspring. This dominant pair or power couple, often mate for life. These family groups, where every member has a defined role, can include parents, offspring, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and adoptees. Wolves are among the relatively few species where other group members, aside from parents, contribute to offspring care.
Wolf Housing
To protect the vulnerable pups, wolves dig dens under boulders, between rocks, among tree roots, or in the ground. Often with a narrow opening to discourage other predators, these tunnels widen into a more spacious cave area. Although a wolf pack may use the same dens year after year or look for new dens each year, they do not hibernate.
Wolf Performance and Lineage
Wolves can run up to 38 miles per hour and swim up to 8 miles. A wolf's acute hearing allows it to hear up to six miles away in the forest, and its howls can be heard up to 6 miles away. Dogs, Man’s Best Friend, are descendants of wolves and share 99.8% of their DNA.
David Yarrow talks about one of his wolf photographs
THE FOCUSED WOLF
by DAVID YARROW
"Jim Brandenburg’s iconic shot of half a wolf’s head peering out from behind a tree, arguably marked the moment that wildlife photography became art. All those that ply Jim’s trade have much to thank him for – after all that single image – which can never be repeated – elevated the business of taking top tier wildlife imagery to an art form that was collectable.
I often ask myself to articulate what was so special about his photograph. I tend to home in on the simplicity of the image as well as its menace and the rule-breaking incompleteness. It nails the character of the animal and the behavior that defines it.
Wolves may indeed have menace, but they are also unquestionably beautiful. I can’t compete with the Brandenburg shot and nor when I went to Montana, did I want to even try. There is no mileage on borrowing ideas, but I recognised the power of simplicity.
There are two aspects of my picture that make it quite special. Firstly, the limited depth of field brings every human eye to the wolf's eyes – this was mathematically necessary as the low early morning light required opening up the lens aperture, but it was also the way to play the idea. A nice coincidence.
The other aspect to me is that the wolf is such a smart and focused animal and therefore I wanted to be sure that he was portrayed with crystal clear focus too. There is no room for lack of sharpness – that would not do this alpha animal justice.
It was very cold, but I guess that is conveyed."
— David Yarrow
Star Liana York talks about one of her wolf sculptures
WOLF MOON TALISMAN
by STAR LIANA YORK
“Wolf Moon.
The Wolf Moon is the first full moon of the new year, so ushers in new beginnings….the end of winter’s sleep and the start of the world awakening. Combined with wolf energy (loyalty and guardianship of family), the wolf totem fetish is supported by the powerful energies of stones, feathers, and claws.
The Feathers: Hawk and Goldfinch.
The Hawk has acute vision and can see well beyond for a higher perspective and understanding….offering expanded foresight.
The Goldfinch symbolizes exuberance and joy of life….harmony, balance, and richness of living.
The Stones: Turquoise and Moss Agate and Chalcedony.
Turquoise draws healing energy in from the universe and is used in healing ceremonies. It manifests good fortune and enduring love.
Moss Agate enhances self-expression and development of one’s unique gifts…..nourishing and strengthening.
Chalcedony is a favored stone for the making of arrowheads. Being of such a hard density, it can be thinly shaped into arrowheads or tips for spears, so carries awesome power and strength even when it is the small size of arrowheads. Together with the claws, this fetish makes for very strong protection against adversity."
— Star Liana York
