Ward carving event attracts world's best

By Lisa Capitelli
OC Today

More than 1,000 of the world’s top carvers will be showcasing more than 1,500 entries at the event considered the largest of its kind in the world. This event has attracted novice to advanced carvers from Japan, Korea, Sweden, England, South America and Canada.

Helen Rogan, of the special events department for the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, located in Salisbury, said this event is very popular

“It’s wonderful. The carvings are absolutely extraordinary. You almost think the birds will fly away,” Rogan said. “The show perpetuates the art form. We hope to have many exciting, new entries this year.”

Rogan said there are many local carvers participating in the competition including Salisbury resident Ernest Muehlmatt, who has won the world championship three times. Muehlmatt will also be spreading his knowledge with the children at this year’s event, as he will be teaching them how to carve a feather.

Another top U.S. carver, Bob Guge, from Sleepy Hollow, Ill., will have his work on display again this year. This self-taught carver has won Ward World Champion titles. Four-time world champion Todd Wohlt of Appleton, Wis., will also show his work this year.

Some world-class carvers from around the world that will be on hand include Barry Woodcraft, Larry Barth, Pat Godin, Tan Brunet, Floyd Scholz, Gary Eigenberger, Bob Comeau and Josh Brewer, one of the youngest professional carvers at age 20.

In addition to the world and master’s levels, there are three general levels of competition including advanced, intermediate and novice. These levels are made up of several subdivisions for different species of birds and for different carving styles.

Rogan said it is very competitive, with judging on technique/craftsmanship, accuracy, essence of the species, artistry and overall presentation.

Along with wildfowl carvings, competition categories at the show also include wildlife painting, sculpture and photography. There is also a fish carving competition for decorative and specialty fish.

One thing organizers tried last year and will continue this year is that the Best in Show winner’s carvings would no longer be purchased by the museum. Still receiving cash prizes for winning, these carvers can now sell their pieces to anyone who wants to buy them. The Ward Museum will display the winning pieces for one year. Many of the pieces that won last year and have been displayed in the museum have already been sold, Rogan said.

Awards will be given to winning carvers on Saturday evening. Those attending the show can also vote their favorite entry in the People’s Choice Competition.

There is also a youth competition for children ages 8-15. Children will compete in separate age groups.

Those looking to purchase some carving and painting tools and other supplies can do so from the vendors on hand. Vendors will also be selling fine art, jewelry, birdbaths, decoys, folk and sporting art, clothing and fudge.

On Saturday, showgoers can bid on art and carvings in a live auction.

There will also be various classes and workshops during the competition with professional carvers instructing. Some of the topics include habitat techniques, carving and detailing a screech owl head, painting a wood duck head and breast, clay sculpture of a Kestrel, feather carving and detailing techniques and painting a Lesser Scaup Drake Casting. Cost for these classes vary.

New to the event this year are hourly seminars, which will also be taught by professional carvers. These sessions are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. A special package will be offered for any five seminars at $40 for members and $65 for non-members.

Some of the seminar topics include personal carving techniques, the art of collecting wildfowl art, texturing feathers, setting and detailing eyes, developing styles in carving, airbrush demonstration-painting feathers and heads and creating songbird feet. There will also be a judges’ forum on how judges select winning carvings, and a review of the rules seminar for non-carvers.

For $25 each ($20 members) adults can participate in workshops such as painting a silhouette decoy, painting a Gourd birdhouse, building the “ultimate bird feeder,” “carving 101” for beginners, carving a duck head, building a wood duck house and painting a watercolor marsh scene.

This year there are also many more children and family events going on throughout the weekend including workshops to design and build a birdhouse and/or bird feeder and painting a silhouette decoy. Workshops cost $25 per family ($20 for members).

Children can also paint decoys, carve a duck head and body out of soap, learn how to call birds with the “Little Quackers” and get a free birdcall, learn how to carve from a professional carver and watch search and rescue dog demos.

Make sure to stop by the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition in room 209 on Saturday to see the finalists in this national children’s competition. This will be the 13th Federal Junior Duck Stamp sold. The stamps are available to the public through the United States Postal Service and Amplex Corp. They are sold for $5 per stamp with the proceeds benefiting environmental education efforts.