Wildfowl Art

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By bringing their vision to life in colorful three dimensions, decorative wildfowl sculptors have raised this genre to the stratum of fine art, joining the generations of painters and sculptors who have captured nature's mystery and magic in their work. Celebrate the awakening of an artistic movement in Wildfowl Art, Ernie Sparks' photographic collection of the finest contemporary sculptures by the world's most-recognized wildlife carvers. Bird lovers and art collectors alike will appreciate the stunning images by this accomplished portrait photographer. Sparks has spent more than a decade chronicling the rich heritage of decorative decoy carving and now turns his discerning eye on the decorative life-size and miniature works featured at the Ward World Championship wildfowl art's single most important event-held each spring in Ocean City, Maryland. The elegant photographs are annotated by an insightful, descriptive text by award-winning writer Laurel Aziz.

Having grown up in the beautiful Thousand Islands region of Ontario, I have felt the irresistible lure of the natural world from an early age. As a life-long birder, I've spent my share of time in the wild, observing the fascinating behaviors of the dozens of species of songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and shorebirds that are so much a part of this landscape. More than a decade ago, my relationship with birds took on a dynamic new dimension when I was introduced to wildfowl art at the Ward World Championship. Since then, I've become a dedicated enthusiast of this art form; my passion culminated in the publication in 1994 of my first book, Decoys: A Celebration of Contemporary Wildfowl Carving.

Putting together the material for that book gave me privileged access to the creative energy of some of the continent's most talented sculptors. As a result, I am now able to present Wildfowl Art, a collection of my photographs of carvings from the Ward World Championship. Every spring, the best wildfowl carvers in the world bring their most ambitious works to Ocean City, Maryland, where they compete at the Ward Foundation's annual competition.. These artists have entrusted me to interpret their art using the tools of my trade. As I set my light and adjust my lens, the three-dimensional sculptures become real;their personalities speak, and I try to listen. These works, which flow from the hearts and intellects of the artists, provide me with new inspiration , and my own field observations have, as result, become more intense and meaningful. In turn, I hope that my treatment of these complex subjects enhances the appreciation of all those who browse through this collection.

I'd also like to express my gratitude to the Ward Foundation, which is so vitally involved in
supporting and encouraging this art form. By arranging access to its permanent collection,
housed at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Maryland, the foundation has
allowed us to make as complete a portfolio as possible of the work of the artists featured here.