Lower Shore Arts
Lower Shore Arts
Wildlife artists abound. The lower Eastern Shore has a high concentration of wildlife artists attracted by the bio-diversity and health of the natural ecosystems here. The area's history and natural habitat inspire them to practice their craft.
With a long waterfowl hunting history, decoy carvers are the center stage of the folk arts. Introduced by Native Americans, carving decoys are truly an American art form. Following the advent of the market hunting era (post Civil War through the early 1940s), decoys were carved by the thousands in this region. Many of those historic birds are now worth a small fortune if you can locate them. Today local decoy carvers carry on that tradition in woodshops located in small waterside villages. The famous Ward Brothers of Crisfield pioneered the decorative style decoy art form popular today.
Just outside of Crisfield, go "down the neck" and find the newly renovated Ward Brothers Homeplace. Part-time barbers and full-time carvers, Lem and Steve Ward became legends in the decoy art world. Visit one of the many small town wildlife art festivals found each Fall and Spring in the area.
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, in Salisbury, is a "must see." It is a world class museum dedicated to the decoy as an art form. They sponsor the prestigious World Champion Wildfowl Carving Competition each Spring in Ocean City.
Other Art Links:
Lower Shore Cultural Arts
Art Institute & Gallery
Art League of Ocean City
Wildlife artists abound. The lower Eastern Shore has a high concentration of wildlife artists attracted by the bio-diversity and health of the natural ecosystems here. The area's history and natural habitat inspire them to practice their craft.
With a long waterfowl hunting history, decoy carvers are the center stage of the folk arts. Introduced by Native Americans, carving decoys are truly an American art form. Following the advent of the market hunting era (post Civil War through the early 1940s), decoys were carved by the thousands in this region. Many of those historic birds are now worth a small fortune if you can locate them. Today local decoy carvers carry on that tradition in woodshops located in small waterside villages. The famous Ward Brothers of Crisfield pioneered the decorative style decoy art form popular today.
Just outside of Crisfield, go "down the neck" and find the newly renovated Ward Brothers Homeplace. Part-time barbers and full-time carvers, Lem and Steve Ward became legends in the decoy art world. Visit one of the many small town wildlife art festivals found each Fall and Spring in the area.
The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, in Salisbury, is a "must see." It is a world class museum dedicated to the decoy as an art form. They sponsor the prestigious World Champion Wildfowl Carving Competition each Spring in Ocean City.
Other Art Links:
Lower Shore Cultural Arts
Art Institute & Gallery
Art League of Ocean City
