April 20th, 2010
Ocean City, Maryland, Event, Ward World Championship, Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival 4/23/10-4/25/10
If there is an event that really sets Spring in our beaches is the Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival. This is the 40th anniversary for this premier wildfowl carving competition for the most prestigious awards in wildfowl art.
Visitors from all over the world will enjoy the judging, auctions, seminars and demonstrations. Children activities are included. There will be about 100 exhibitor booths and supplies for this art craft.
The venue will be the Ocean City Convention Center located on 4001 Coastal Hwy. in Ocean City, Maryland. Tel. 410-742-4988. Friday 10 to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 to 4 p.m. There will be an admission fee.
The carved bird decoy is the only truly American folk art. Decoys have been an aid to hunters and were devised by the American Indian. They are floating lures that ride at anchor. The shorebird was called a “stickup” because they were mounted on sticks and set in the ground at the shore.
Of all the folk arts none is more strikingly American than the decoy. It is definitely, indigineous to this country, popular in use and created out of native woods.
Europe learned about decoys from America.
Two of our Eastern Shore most renowned carvers of their times were the Ward Brothers, Stephen and Lemuel of Chrisfield, Maryland. They created waterfowl decoys and decorative bird carvings that established and maintained a unique standard of realism and artistic impression.
The Ward Brothers made hunting decoys until about the 1950’s. Then the introduction of plastics surfaced and they switched to the production of miniature and life-sized decorative birds.
The Ward Museum is located at 909 South Schumaker Drive, Salisbury, Maryland, 21804. Tel 410-742-4988. Website is www.wardmuseum.org. This museum is dedicated to exibiting, collecting and promoting wildfowl art, and interpreting their significance through educational programs and publications. They preserve the legacy of the Ward Brothers.
Please check their website because they hold events and exhibits year-round.
When my kids were young, they had a teacher that instilled in them the love for birds. Her name was Mrs. Bunting. My kids and anyone that was fortunate to be in her class would walk around with a bird book. I have pictures of going to the Ward Museum to enjoy everything they offered. I even have a picture of my oldest son holding a real Screech Owl; I don’t think he would want the picture published; sorry, I will leave it in the album.
Talk to you later….Have a good one!! It is gorgeous outside.
Note: Information for this post was taken from www.laureldabbs.com.
Tags: Activities, Art Festival, Events, Maryland, Ocean City, Salisbury, Things to do at the beach, What to do at the beaches, Wildfowl Art Festival
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I am enquiring to see if you can help me.I am interested incompeting in the compitition.where would I enquire to receive an information package.