Clark, who eventually became an associate professor, doesn't have time to dig his own clay anymore because his sculpture has led him from what was 'Nothing but a hobby' to what is now 'a big business,' he said.' -Connie McLean '80ĭr. In 1958 Clark had just come to Davidson as an assistant professor of religion. 'When Professor Tom Clark '49 began sculpturing more than 40 years ago, he dug clay from the creek in the middle of Patterson Fraternity Court on the north side of Davidson's campus. In 1989, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award at Davidson College, forty years after his father received the same award. His family has strong ties to Davidson College, where his father and other relatives attended.

Tom Clark's religious beliefs played a significant role in his artistic creations, including the gnomes he sculpted, which had a profound impact on the collectibles market. Before becoming a professor at Davidson College, he served briefly as a missionary in the Appalachian Mountains. Thomas also trained in sculpture at Roberts School of Art in Aberdeen, the Museum School of Art in Boston Massachusetts, and at City and Guilds of London School of Art. in Theology from University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He continued his education receiving a Bachelor's in Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. Thomas Fetzer Clark, or just Tom Clark, a native of Elizabethtown, North Carolina, graduated from Davidson College in 1949 with a degree in English. Clark added a personal touch to each gnome by giving it a name and a story, and also included a hidden coin somewhere on the statue.ĭr. These fans were known to collect multiples of the same gnomes, but with different paint schemes. The gnomes gained popularity among a wide range of people including former first lady Barbara Bush, actor Bob Newhart, and best-selling author Stephen King. They are no longer in production but are still available in the secondary market. Many of the gnomes are based on popular culture figures, such as sports stars and celebrities, while others are based on traditional gnome imagery. The first Tom Clark gnomes were created in the 1970s, and the line has since grown to include a wide variety of characters and themes. They are known for their detailed sculpting and hand-painted finishes, and have become popular among gnome collectors. Tom Clark gnomes are a line of collectible gnomes created by artist Tom Clark.

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