17th Annual Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo

From 17th Annual Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo Website:

The crisp, clear fall air and beautiful grounds of the museum will once again set the stage for a day of excitement, anticipation, and socialization among decoy collectors and carvers from across the country. Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo pays tribute to decoys from the past while encouraging the carving of new ones. Admission to the event and museum is free!

Exciting Marketplace

The front parking lot is transformed into a festive marketplace. More than thirty vendors will participate in the buying, selling and trading of an eclectic mix of fine antique decoys, folk art and collectible waterfowling and hunting items. The vendors are always eager to see what new treasures will be brought to the buy, sell or trade. Visitors are encouraged to bring their decoys in for identification and/or appraisal.

Weekend of Competition
The competition pays tribute to old working decoys while encouraging the carving of new ones. Displayed in the museum lobby are the decoys entered by collectors into the "Old Birds" Antique Decoy Competition. Also held in the lobby is the Contemporary Antique Competition which challenges carvers try to emulate the appearance of antique decoys. It is quite interesting to compare the two competitions. This year, the contemporary carvers will be competing with Canada Goose decoys. The Chesapeake Challenge, a competition for contemporary decoys, takes place in the backyard.

Backyard Activities
The backyard is full of activities. Chesapeake Challenge participants compete for prizes in floating, shorebird, and woodpecker decoy divisions. There is a Youth competition in all three divisions and they are the first to be judged. There are carving demos and a duck head carving contest in which the participants have 1 1/2 hours to carve a Common Eider duck head. There are also childrens activities at the Kid's Corner which include many make and take projects and educational nature activities.

Opening Reception, 3-5 pm: Lloyd J. Tyler: Folk Artist, Decoy Maker
Lloyd J. Tyler (1898-1971) carved his first decoy at the age of twelve using a spokeshave, pocketknife, and hatchet. Even as an adult with a formal art education and other tools at his disposal, Tyler continued, using just a hatchet, a rasp and a spokeshave to produce good-looking, functional decoys by the hundreds, made in a matter of minutes. Despite his simple approach, the decoys, decorative carvings, and paintings he produced are sometimes realistic, often stylized, and occasionally whimsical, made to fulfill a great demand by local hunters, gunning clubs, and tourists. The LaMay Gallery showcases the delightful variety of working decoys and works of folk art created by the versatile and prolific Coy Duck King.