Show Notes: s3e103 with Dennis McNett (AKA Wolfbat)
Get ready to leave the white-cube gallery behind. In our latest episode, we’re stepping into the wild, mythic world of Dennis McNett (AKA Wolfbat).
For over 30 years, Dennis has been carving out a career that defies every "standard" artistic path. From the grit of New York City in the early 2000s to the quiet majesty of Luray, Virginia, Dennis doesn't just make art—he builds universes.
In this episode, we dive into:
- Art as Medicine: For Dennis, creativity isn't a luxury; it’s a lifeline. We talk about how he used art to navigate the trauma of 9/11 and why he views the act of making as a transformative "medicine" for life’s discomforts.
- The Power of the Procession: Forget quiet contemplation. Dennis is famous for massive, community-driven spectacles involving giant sculptures, Viking lore, and neighborhood-wide parades.
- Storytelling with High Stakes: From the tragic history of Big Mary the circus elephant to his deeply respectful collaborations with the Gullah community, Dennis explains how he honors cultural heritage through inquiry, permission, and radical collaboration.
- Creating Your Own Mythology: We explore the "Wolfbat" identity and how ancient lore can be reclaimed to fuel a modern creative practice.
Dennis is a modern-day storyteller who reminds us that when you combine woodcuts with community and a bit of "Wolfbat" energy, art has the power to transform entire towns.
Dennis McNett. Wolfbat. Woodcarving and acrylic.
Dennis McNett. The Chase of Skol and Hati. Woodcarving and acrylic. 48 x 48 in.
Dennis McNett with crew and Wolfbat puppets. Hallo Wolfbat, Chicago, 2022.
Dennis McNett. Big Mary. Woodcarving and acrylic. 48 x 35 in.
Dennis McNett. Wave Meditation. Woodcarving and acrylic. 35 x 35 in.
Dennis McNett. Winter Queen. Woodcarving and acrylic. 24 x 18 in.
Dennis McNett. Antihero skateboard series, 2010.
Vans designed by Dennis McNett, 2008.
Dennis McNett. The Serpent of Sheboygan, 2017. 24 x 8 x 16 feet. Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI.
Dennis McNett. March of Medusa, 2024. Wood, cloth, woodcuts, and screenprints. 24 x 8 x 16 feet.
Dennis McNett. Conjuring of the Red River, 2015. Installation at Shreveport Regional Art Center, Shreveport, LA.
Dennis McNett and participants from Eastern Tennessee State University during the Big Mary Memorial, Kingsport, TN, 2014.
Dennis McNett. Reaping Waves and Vital Vessels, 2010. Jeffrey Deitch Art Parade, New York.
The legendary rock band Gwar.
Dennis McNett. Gullah Community Day participants, Conway, SC, 2022.
Dennis McNett. Gullah Community Day procession, Conway, SC, 2022.
Dennis McNett. Gullah Community Day procession, Conway, SC, 2022.
Dennis McNett. Canyon of Wolfbat, 2022. Installation at Fort Wayne Museum of Art.
Dennis McNett. Canyon of Wolfbat, 2022. Installation at Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Wood and woodcuts with acrylic paint.
Dennis McNett. Reclamation of the Wolves, 2025. Group photo before ceremony in Norman, OK.
Curator / Podcaster / Blogger / Cyclist
Ann Shafer is an independent curator, art historian, writer, and a leading expert on intaglio printmaking by Stanley William Hayter and Atelier 17. Formerly Shafer was associate curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art. She has also held positions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Gallery of Art. Shafer has a BA from The College of Wooster and an MA from Williams College. (Photo credit: Becky Redett)
Show Notes: S3E102 with Sangmi Yoo
