Birds of Feather:Wildfowl Carvung in Southeast Louisiana

Part I: Early Working Decoys, Oct. 23, 2007–Jan. 7, 2008
Part II: Contemporary Carvings, Jan. 15–April 20, 2008

Boyd Cruise Room
Williams Research Center
410 Chartres Street

Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 – 4:30
$6 for adults; THNOC members, children, and students are free

Join THNOC on March 9, 2008 at the Louisiana Decoy Rally at the New Orleans Airport Hilton from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Birds of a Feather: Wildfowl Carving in Southeast Louisiana, a two-part exhibition exploring the craftsmanship of hand-carved wildfowl decoys from southeast Louisiana, opens Tuesday, October 23 in the Boyd Cruise Room at the Williams Research Center.

Part I, Early Working Decoys, centers on decoys created for use in the field, and is open through January 7, 2008. While the tradition of decoy carving in America dates back to approximately 500 BC, the earliest extant examples from Louisiana are far more recent—dating only to the 1800s. Until the mid-20th century, the primary purpose of “working ducks,” or decoys carved to help hunters attract their prey, was functional, not aesthetic. No formal training existed for these early carvers in Louisiana.  Instead, community carving circles served as informal apprenticeships.

Part I presents examples of these “working ducks,” with pieces by dozens of artists, including Nicole Vidacovich, three generations of the Vizier family, Mitchel Lafrance, George Frederick Jr., Charles Numa Joefrau and Jim Mossmeier. Showcasing many species commonly found in Louisiana, the first segment features mallards, teals, canvasbacks, scaup (dos gris), coots (poules d’eau) and other waterfowl.


Mallard drake and hen by Nicole Vidacovich Sr. (1853–1945), courtesy of an anonymous lender

Green-winged drake, standing preener by Domingo Campo (1883–1953), courtesy of an anonymous lender

Gunning black hen and drake by Jimmy Vizier, 1989, courtesy of an anonymous lender

Part II, Contemporary Carvings, which traces the evolution of the carving tradition as a decorative and competitive art form, is on view January 15–April 20, 2008. After World War II, when the introduction of plastic decoys made their wooden counterparts less economically competitive, wildfowl carving began its transition from folk art to fine art. Contemporary carvers expanded the tradition to include species of wildfowl, other than those traditionally hunted. Today there is even a world championship for decoy carving.

Represented in part II are wildfowl decoys by Jimmie Vizier (continuing the tradition started by his family in the late 19th century), Tan and Jett Brunet (world-championship carvers influenced by the Vizier family) and other active carvers from southeast Louisiana.

 

Visitors to both parts of the exhibition will also find historical photographs of carvers and their decoys, nature morte paintings by George L. Viavant, and hunting paraphernalia.

 

Clovis “Cadice” Vizier, courtesy of the collection of Brian Cheramie and David Hall

Birds of a Feather: Wildfowl Carving in Southeast Louisiana will be on view through April 20, 2008 at the Williams Research Center. The WRC is open Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults; THNOC members, children, and students are free.