Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship

      Each year, in early June, there is magic in the air across Waterloo Region as the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship is held here, at RIM Park. 

     This unique art form, still largely North American in origin and scope, significantly represents our cultural heritage, and many Canadians have left their mark as skilled, artistic practitioners of the genre. Indeed, some of the highest-rated carvers in the world are Canadian, they command universal respect and their work is cherished, admired and coveted by art collectors the world over.

     It has been one of the singular pleasures of my life, and an honour and a privilege, to have been selected as a judge in the competition four times - and I have already been asked to return next year.  Over this period I have come to know world champion carvers, and have interviewed some of them, and my eyes have been opened wide to art of exquisite beauty and originality.

     Consider this Ruffed Grouse created by Pat Godin, one of the greatest exponents of the genre, a world champion many times over.

     It is stunning in both conception and execution.

     Every detail is finished with accuracy and perfection, and at a quick glance you could be forgiven for thinking that the bird is flying through the air.

     Ponder for a moment, if you will, the time, the skill, the patience, the competence and the command of one's craft to complete a work of this nature.

     I hasten to point out that every component of this work of art is created by the artist, every twig, every leaf, every nodule on a branch, anchored in minimalist fashion, thereby not impeding fluidity of motion, to capture the grace and beauty of the bird in its natural habitat.

     I am in awe. I suspect you are too.

     Godin is competing at the highest level, of course, but there are many classes in the competition, from novice through master, with up and coming carvers vying to move higher in the ranks.

     My good friend, Uta Strelive, a formidable carver in her own right, has dedicated her energies of late to teaching young people, especially girls, and their results are impressive. 

     These young people represent the future and I hope that some of the champions will make it a point to offer them encouragement and support.

      It bears a reminder that each of these works begins life as a rectangular block of wood. From so pedestrian a beginning scintillating works of beauty are created.

     Let me offer a few more examples in no order, nor confined to one class in the competition.

     Ducks are floated in water to see whether they sit correctly, whether they are too high or too low, reflecting real life and capturing the conditions of a bird in nature.

     Beauty and perfection are displayed at every turn.

     An entire category is devoted to contemporary antiques, carvings produced in the fashion of original decoys when they were used by hunters to lure in birds.

      

     Waterfowl known as hunting rigs are taken onto a pond to test them in lifelike conditions, and to ensure that they rapidly and completely right themselves if driven underwater.

       I am sure you will agree that anyone passing by could easily be fooled into thinking that a remarkable mixed flock of waterfowl was present.

     The colour rendition is phenomenal.

     A little human help is required, of course.

     There is more that I could show you - much more, but you have the flavour of the event here, and no doubt you are rapidly becoming a fan. As soon as the date for next year's show is decided I will post it on my blog, and I am quite sure I will see many of you in attendance to marvel at the work on display. 

     I should apologize for the quality of the pictures taken inside, but perhaps because of the lighting, they all have a semblance of a golden glow to them, and I have been unable to get rid of it. The clutter you see in the background of many of the pictures is impossible to avoid.

     In closing I would be remiss if I did not express my appreciation to Anne Forler, who has shown me such kindness year after year, and runs the day with seamless efficiency, grace and good humour. It is always a pleasure to work with her.