Kuebler’s Horrors Come To Wheeling

Terrifying lifelike works on display

By SHELLEY HANSON
WHEELING — Seeing his creations, one may wonder what artist Tom Kuebler’s dreams are like.

Maybe they’re more like nightmares.

Either way, his monsters, characters — whatever one may want to describe them as — are on display at the Stifel Fine Arts Center, 1130 National Road, Wheeling through Halloween.

For many, the word lifelike may not even begin to describe the sculptures. At first, second and third glance, it’s as if they could move or speak at any moment. Each has a story of its own, some more gruesome than others.

Stifel Curator Brad Johnson said he wanted a great exhibit to help celebrate the Halloween season. He found Kuebler’s creations while doing some research on the Internet. After a few conversations, he was able to convince North Carolina-based Kuebler to display a group of his sculptures at Stifel. During these conversations he also learned Kuebler’s wife, Kara, is originally from Martins Ferry.

‘‘I like them all,’’ Johnson said of the creatures. ‘‘I think I have a different (favorite) every day. ... I think the biggest thing is that you have to see it to believe it. People will just be amazed to see it in person. They don’t want to miss these.’’

All of Stifel’s exhibits are free to view, including this one, Johnson noted. It is titled ‘‘Witches and Wisemen, Beggars and Freaks.’’ Stifel is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (304) 242-7700.

One of the sculptures, Zoga the Oracle, is on silent auction with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the center, Johnson said.