IMMEDIATELY
Ward Museum- Great Backyard Bird Count
SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, will host a celebration for the Great Backyard Bird Count, on Monday, February 20th, from 10 am to noon. This event created by Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada provides a snapshot of the whereabouts of more than 600 bird species.
Bird watchers and lovers of all ages are invited to the Ward Museum for a fun filled morning of birding activities! Count birds for the 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count and enjoy birding activities and bird themed crafts.
The 2011 GBBC brought in more than 92,000 bird checklists submitted by participants from across the United States and Canada. Altogether, bird watchers identified 596 species with 11.4 million bird observations.
*Registration required by February 17 - Contact 410-742-4988 ext. 100 or jbeebe1@gulls.salisbury.edu

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Making Her Mark: A Showcase of Women Carvers

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University is showcasing an exhibit in honor of Women’s History Month featuring carvings by women from the early twentieth century to the present day. The exhibit, entitled Making Her Mark: A Showcase of Women Carvers, will be presented in the museum’s Welcome Gallery from February 10 to April 1, 2012.

Although birdcarving is associated strongly with men, women have been carving since at least the 1920s, when Helen Lay Strong, the daughter of an upstate New York waterfowl hunter, began selling her carvings of miniature waterfowl, songbirds, and dogs. From 1945 to 1960, Strong sold her carvings through a firm in New York City which distributed them throughout the United States. In addition to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Strong’s work is also displayed in the National Woodcarver’s Museum in Denver.

Since that time, women have participated consistently in exhibitions, festivals, and competitions nationwide. Gladys Black, “the bird lady of Iowa” and an avid conservationist, exhibited a carving in the very first Worlds exhibition by the Ward Foundation in 1968. More recently, Lynn Branson of Courtenay, British Columbia was the first female competitor to win a Ward World Championship in the Interpretive Division with her great horned owl.

The exhibit opening is February 10, 2012 from 5-7 p.m. Join us as we explore the legacy of women carvers past and present.

Image: Helen Lay Strong
Caption: Helen Lay Strong, c. 1960. 

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Ward Museum - Homeschool Days
SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Homeschool Days

Friday, February 3rd, from 1-2:30 p.m. for homeschool students between ages 5 and 12.
This low-cost, engaging educational program is designed to enhance homeschoolers’ study of art, science and history. The topic is "Making Her Mark (Women Carvers/Artists) ".
Are you an art-history fan? Or maybe you just love to do art yourself? Well if you do, then this is the week for you! Come to the museum and see all the amazing works of famous women carvers and artists throughout history as we learn about painting and drawing. The program takes place at the Ward Museum in Salisbury.
 

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Pre-registration deadline is Wednesday, February 1st. Cost is $5 per child for members, and $7 per child for non-members. For more information or to register, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.
 

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CONTACT:
Kim Check
410-742-4988
wardeducation@salisbury.edu

For Immediate Release

Ward Museum trains a new network of 30 facilitators in
Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children curriculum

Salisbury, MD – Salisbury University’s Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art was awarded a $17,300 grant from the PNC Foundation to launch the Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children program for early childhood educators throughout the eastern shore. PNC provided the funding in support of Grow Up Great, its bilingual program in early childhood education. This effort kicked off with a two-day retreat that trained a network of thirty facilitators who will implement trainings throughout their region.
Growing Up WILD is an interdisciplinary education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. This program was designed by the Council for Environmental Education and is a model for engaging young learners and improving school readiness. The Ward Museum joined the Growing Up WILD network in February 2011 that now includes 39 state sponsors and 28 training partners.
The Ward Museum hosted the Facilitator’s Retreat at the Marine Science Consortium at Wallops Island Virginia. Thirty individuals representing 16 federal, state and non-profit organizations from the tri-state area participated in what was referred to as “the best (hands-down) curriculum workshop I’ve been too.” This roster included organizations such as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center, Delmarva Discovery Center and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. During this two-day retreat, the facilitators were provided with the tools and resources necessary to conduct Growing Up WILD trainings in their regions including access the free educational material and awards to assist with the costs associated with conducting trainings.
Highlights from the retreat included a fieldtrip to Wallops Island and special presentations by Melissa Carey from the Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center and Dawn Malosh from Aesthetic Alternatives. “This was a very professional, interesting and delightful workshop that provided a wide variety of outstanding activities that will stimulate children’s interest and enthusiasm for outdoor adventure,” said Jan Bain, a new Ward Museum volunteer. She continued, “this workshop was outstanding. I am so enthusiastic about sharing this curriculum.”
As a result of the retreat and the newly trained facilitator network, the Ward Museum expects to train more than 400 educators in the Growing Up WILD curriculum which in return will reach more than 10,000 children. The program will be offered to early childhood educators in private child care organizations, Head Start programs, preschools, Montessori schools, home childcare providers, after-school leaders, MSDE Title 1 schools that serve at-risk youth and non-formal environmental education centers. For more information about Growing Up WILD or to find out where to receive training visit www.wardmuseum.org.

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 IMMEDIATELY

Ward Museum- Photography Workshop
SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts a workshop on the techniques of expert nature and wildlife photography at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, 1 p.m., Saturday, February 25. This workshop, led by photographer Bill Wallen, targets nature photography, and is for photographers of all skill levels who want to improve their methods. Throughout the day he will be demonstrating techniques for improving photography skills, and providing one on one help for those in attendance.
Participants are required to bring their own cameras, lenses and tripods. An assortment of Nikon lenses will be available for participants with compatible cameras. Cost for the workshop is $70 for members, $90 for non-members, $35 for youth, ages 14 - 17.
To register or for more information, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110, or e-mail wardeducation@salisbury.edu by Friday, February 17.

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IMMEDIATELY

Ward Museum- Drop-In Art Saturdays

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Drop-In Art Saturdays, a monthly family art program. Drop-In Art is held on the third Saturday of each month between 10 a.m. to noon.

January 21- Visitors will learn about the ancient art of Gyotaku, or fish printing. Return each month for a new project and theme!

There is no fee for the Drop-In Art program, but regular museum admission charges apply for entrance to the galleries. Funding provded by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. For more information call 410-742-4988 Ext. 100 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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Ward Museum- Glass Blowing Workshop

SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, and the SU Glass Program offer the opportunity for visitors to make their own glass art.
Participants receive a short orientation to the technique of glass blowing, as well as a discussion of its history, then work on their own glass piece at the SU hot glass facility. Workshops are scheduled 3-6 p.m. Fridays, February 24 and March 30. Registration is required. Cost is $40 for museum members, $45 for non members.
To register or for more information, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110, or e-mail wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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  IMMEDIATELY
Ward Museum- Youth Photography Club Field Outing to Blackwater NWR

SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts a field excursion to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, 10: 30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, January 28th. This outing, led by photographer Bill Wallen, targets nature photography and is for photographers of all skill levels between the ages 13- 20. Throughout the day he will be demonstrating techniques for improving photography skills, and providing one on one help for those in attendance.
Participants will meet at the Ward Museum at 10:30 a.m. and will bring their own cameras, lenses and tripods. An assortment of Nikon lenses will be available for students with compatible cameras. There is no cost for the workshop.
Registration and signed release forms on file are required.
To register or for more information, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110, or e-mail wardeducation@salisbury.edu by Wednesday, January 25.

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  SALISBURY, MD- Take time to discover a wildlife spectacle on the Delmarva Peninsula by joining author Tom Horton at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, in a discussion and field excursion about the natural history of theTundra Swan. On January 21st and February 4th, spend two hours learning about one of the world's largest and heaviest flighted birds.

In conjunction with a new edition of Horton's book Swanfall: Journey of the Tundra Swans, Horton will inform and lead the group in conversation about the Tundra Swans. After the talk, Horton will lead a short walk to Schumaker Pond to see Salisbury's own Arctic visitors make their swanfall.

The discussion and excursion are free for all to join, with a warm beverage being provided to avoid the winter chill. While at the Ward Msueum, be sure to vist the Swanfall exhibit in the Welcome Gallery to see how these beautiful creatures have been portrayed throughout history. To register for the exploration, call 410-742-4988 ext. 110 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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IMMEDIATELY

Ward Museum Galleries Closed Today

SALISBURY, MD---The galleries of the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, will be closed January 10, 2012 for repairs. The Museum Store and administrative offices remain open.
Contact the Ward Museum at 410-742-4988 with questions.

IMMEDIATELY

Youth Photo Club Meeting

SALISBURY, MD- Young photographers are invited to join the new Youth Photography Club at the Ward Museum, Salisbury University, on January 7th. The theme will be cameras and equipment; participants will discuss their personal preferences, and receive advice from a seasoned professional photographer.

            This is the first of the Youth Photography Club’s regular bimonthly meetings at the Ward Museum. The first meetings of the month will be dedicated towards lessons, discussions and critique; the second will be in the field, with trips planned to locations such as Assateague Island National Seashore, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and more.

            The meeting will begin at 3 p.m., participants will meet at the Ward Museum, 909 S. Schumaker Dr., Salisbury, MD, 21804. This meeting is free to attend and all those between the ages of 13-20 that have an interest in photography are invited.

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IMMEDIATELY

Ward Museum- Drop-In Art Saturdays

      SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Drop-In Art Saturdays, a monthly family art program. Drop-In Art is held on the third Saturday of each month between 10 a.m. and noon. Join museum educators as they help families create projects related to the museum’s collections and exhibits. Return each month for a new project and theme!

      On December 17^th, basket weaver Heidi Wetzel visits the Ward Museum to teach her craft. Wetzel will be instructing families how to make pencil holders, a great home-made gift just in time for Christmas.

      There is no fee for the Drop-In Art program, but regular museum admission charges apply for entrance to the galleries. For more information call 410-742-4988 Ext. 100 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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IMMEDIATELY

  SALISBURY, MD- Take time to discover a wildlife spectacle on the Delmarva Peninsula by joining author Tom Horton at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, in a discussion and field excursion about the natural history of theTundra Swan. On January 21st and February 4th, spend two hours learning about one of the world's largest and heaviest flighted birds.

In conjunction with a new edition of Horton's book Swanfall: Journey of the Tundra Swans, Horton will inform and lead the group in conversation about the Tundra Swans. After the talk, Horton will lead a short walk to Schumaker Pond to see Salisbury's own Arctic visitors make their swanfall.

The discussion and excursion are free for all to join, with a warm beverage being provided to avoid the winter chill. While at the Ward Msueum, be sure to vist the Swanfall exhibit in the Welcome Gallery to see how these beautiful creatures have been portrayed throughout history. To register for the exploration, call 410-742-4988 ext. 110 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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  IMMEDIATELY
Ward Museum- Nature Tales

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts the free reading program “Nature Tales for Tots” from 10 - 11 a.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month in the Ward Museum lobby. This program is designed for children of the preschool to first-grade age. Early learners hear lively stories pertaining to the environment. Following the reading, a craft activity is conducted.
For more information call 410-742-4988, ext. 104 or 110, or visit the museum’s website at www.wardmuseum.org.

Upcoming Topics and Dates
December 7th: Rivers
December 21st: Crabs

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  IMMEDIATELY
Ward Museum – Woodcarving Club
SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts a Woodcarving Club on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 4 to 7 p.m. The club meetings for the month of December will be on Tuesday, December 6th; and Tuesday, December 20th.
Woodcarving Club welcomes carvers of all skill levels. Carve, learn, share and socialize with other carvers. Club members must bring their own materials. The club is free, but participants must be current members of the museum. Club members may bring a guest with them.
For more information, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.
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 IMMEDIATELY

Ward Museum- Introduction to Backyard Bird Feeding

SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts a Backyard Bird Feeding workshop 4pm – 6pm, Thursday, December 15.

In this introduction to backyard bird feeding, sponsored by Rommels Ace Backyard Bird Center, participants learn about different feeder types and food options for birds, how to create bird-friendly backyard habitats, and how to provide safe bird-feeding environments. They learn about identification, distribution and food preferences of the top 20 birds that visit local feeders. All participants receive a bird feeder, bird seed, and tote bag.

To register contact the Ward Museum at 410-742-4988, ext. 110, or WardEducation@salisbury.edu

Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non members ; Youth (17 and under) are admitted free. For more information visit the Ward Museum Website at www.wardmuseum.org.

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The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University continues effort to raise funds through its partnership with ShopforMuseums.com.  Anyone who shops online can have a portion of their purchase donated to a museum of their choice at no extra cost.

Examples of merchants include Overstock.com, Ebay, Lands’ End, Staples, USA Today, Office Depot, Chef’s Catalog, ToysRUs, Sears, Hickory Farms, Amazon and so many more. Even major travel companies participate including Delta Airlines, Orbitz, Easy Click Travel and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.
 

Businesses can choose to contribute on-going support to a museum at no extra cost by ordering monthly office supplies, computers, cellular phones, furniture, corporate gifts and flowers, plus coordinating corporate travel through ShopforMuseums.com.
 

Participation is simple and secure. To designate a portion of an online purchase to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art shoppers simply go to www.ShopforMuseums.com and log in, then choose to support the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Shoppers click on the link of the store they would like to visit and go about their shopping. The percentage of each purchase gets tracked automatically as long as shopping begins each time at ShopforMuseums.com.
 

Please support the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art when you shop online this holiday season and year-round, by using ShopforMuseums.com. For further information, please contact The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art at wardinfo@salisbury.edu or visit www.ShopforMuseums.com.

IMMEDIATELY
Ward Museum- Photography Workshop
SALISBURY, MD--- The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts a workshop on the techniques of expert nature and wildlife photography at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, 10 a.m., Saturday, December 3. This workshop, led by photographer Bill Wallen, targets nature photography and is for photographers of all skill levels who want to improve their methods. Throughout the day he will be demonstrating techniques for improving photography skills, and providing one on one help for those in attendance.
Participants are required to bring their own cameras, lenses and tripods. An assortment of Nikon lenses will be available for students with compatible cameras. Cost for the workshop is $70 for members, $90 for non-members, $35 for youth, ages 14 - 17.
To register or for more information, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110, or e-mail wardeducation@salisbury.edu by Wednesday, November 30.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University Partners with Online Fundraising Program ShopforMuseums.com.

Salisbury, MD, November 21, 2011 - The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art continues effort to fund raise through its partnership with ShopforMuseums.com. Partnering with hundreds of museums, parks, zoos, aquariums and science centers across the country, ShopforMuseums.com serves as a means to raise much needed money to support operating costs at these facilities. Anyone who shops online can have a portion of their purchase donated to a museum of their choice with no extra cost to the consumer.

ShopforMuseums.com was developed by a former science museum director in Oregon, who recognized firsthand that adequate support for museum operations is the foundation upon which the future of any museum is built. In a time of ever increasing state and national budget cuts, museums are faced with raising larger amounts of money on their own.

Although major gifts are most often donated for capital projects or endowments, the fiscal health of museums depends on contributions for general operating support. This type of support is often overlooked and we seldom see major social events organized to raise money for museum operations. Yet it is this operating support that keeps museum doors open and their staffs paid. ShopforMuseums.com was developed to help raise undesignated funds that museums can put towards their operating costs or where ever their need is greatest.

Consumers can shop with hundreds of national retail merchants and at no extra cost, have a percentage of each online purchase donated to an organization of the shopper’s choice. Examples of merchants include Overstock.com, Ebay, Lands’ End, Staples, USA Today, Office Depot, Chef’s Catalog, Sears, Hickory Farms and Amazon. Even major travel companies participate including Delta Airlines, Orbitz, Easy Click Travel and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Businesses can choose to contribute on-going support to a museum at no extra cost by ordering monthly office supplies, computers, cellular phones, furniture, corporate gifts and flowers, plus coordinating corporate travel through ShopforMuseums.com.

Participation is simple and secure. To designate a portion of an online purchase to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art shoppers simply go to www.ShopforMuseums.com and log in, then choose to support the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Shoppers click on the link of the store they would like to visit and go about their shopping. The percentage of each purchase gets tracked automatically as long as shopping begins each time at ShopforMuseums.com.

Museums serve a vital role within our communities and country. Museums serve as stewards of culture and heritage, as educators of adults and children, as teachers of multiculturalism, as preservers of natural places, and as gathering places within our communities.

Please support the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art when you shop online by using ShopforMuseums.com. For further information, please contact The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art at wardinfo@salisbury.edu or visit www.ShopforMuseums.com.

 CONTACTS:
Lora Bottinelli
410-742-4988
wardinfo@salisbury.edu

For Immediate Release

Ward Museum Awarded $17,300 Grant from
PNC Foundation to launch Growing Up WILD for Preschoolers

Salisbury, MD – Salisbury University’s Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art has been awarded a $17,300 grant from the PNC Foundation to launch the Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children program for early learners enrolled in preschool programs and child care centers throughout the eastern shore. PNC provided the funding in support of Grow Up Great, its bilingual program in early childhood education.

Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about nature and lifelong social and academic skills. This program was designed by the Council for Environmental Education and is a model for engaging young learners and improving school readiness. The Ward Museum joined the Growing Up WILD network in February 2011 that now includes 39 state sponsors and 28 training partners.

“The Ward Museum is excited to promote the value of exploring nature with young children and provide educational tools to help build these experiences,” said Lora Bottinelli, executive director of the Ward Museum. She continued, “We are eager to expand our capacity to serve early childhood educators and offer a wider range of educational services to this younger audience.”

The grant from the PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), will provide Growing Up WILD program training to more than 400 educators starting in 2012. With an average classroom size of 25, these learning tools will reach more than 10,000 children. The program will be offered to early childhood educators in private child care organizations, Head Start programs, preschools, Montessori schools, home childcare providers, after-school leaders, MSDE Title 1 schools that serve at-risk youth and non-formal environmental education centers.

The PNC Foundation grant also allows the Ward Museum to offer new resources including the Growing Up WILD early childhood activity guide which includes an instructor resource kit and an activity guide for classrooms and service centers. Additional outreach activities at the Ward Museum will give families the opportunity to engage in activities and provide resources to parents.

“Providing opportunities for young children to explore, play and learn in nature is vital for their development and for encouraging their future as environmental stewards,” said Josetta Hawthorne, Council for Environmental Education’s executive director. “Nature is a wonderful tool for creating positive experiences outdoors and building skills that will prepare young learners to succeed in school.”

PNC recently announced the extension of Grow Up Great by $250 million over 10 years to strengthen existing programs in math, science and the arts and reach more children, families and teachers. Considered one of the most comprehensive school readiness programs of its kind, it has earned national recognition for programming through $40 million in grants to numerous non-profit organizations and other PNC funded initiatives.

“Extensive research indicates that the return on investment in high-quality early education and school readiness initiatives are significant and long-lasting -- impacting our children, our society and the health of our economy,” said Jennifer Joseph, PNC Market Executive. The Ward Museum’s program provides additional opportunities for young children in our region to connect with nature while building core academic skills.”

This program builds on previous Ward Museum initiatives and partnerships with the Council for Environmental Education’s Flying WILD program and the institutional partnerships with Maryland Coastal Bays Program and Assateague Island State Park.

About the Organizations
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. PNC has extended its signature cause, PNC Grow Up Great, by $250 million over 10 years to enhance early childhood education and school readiness. For more information, please visit www.pncgrowupgreat.com.

The Ward Museum is nestled next to Schumaker Pond in Salisbury, Maryland, surrounded by wildlife in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway. The museum was named in honor of Steven and Lemuel Ward, whose vision and artistry in carving decoys pioneered the transition in the role of the decoy from a working tool to an expressive wildfowl sculpture. The museum’s eight galleries and 4.5-acre waterfront campus bring art, nature and tradition within reach of visitors of all ages. The museum is open year-round with a diverse offering of nationally recognized special events, exhibitions and educational programs. The Ward Museum is an affiliated foundation of Salisbury University. To learn more about these programs, including membership and volunteer opportunities, visit www.wardmusuem.org

Photo Caption:

Robert Core, PNC Business Banker, Jennifer Joseph, PNC Market Executive and Ward Museum director Lora Bottinelli attend a Nature Tales for Tots reading program at the Ward Museum. The reading program will be one of many early childhood development educational services enhanced through a PNC Grow Up Great grant awarded to the Ward Museum.

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For Immediate Release

The Ward Museum November Sale

Salisbury, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, a 501(c)3 non-profit Maryland Corporation, is marking down seasonal items in the museum store. These items include birdhouses, hummingbird feeders and more. While here check out a great selection of Ward Museum logo merchandise, new selection of soaps,Woodwick candles and more. For the month of November purchase a wine kit or wine bag, and receive a free Ward Museum logo stemmed wine glass, or purchase a cookbook and receive a free logo stemmed wine glass.

Museum store hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m. for more information call 410-742-4988, ext. 120. All sales benefit the Museum.

IMMEDIATELY

Ward Museum – Woodcarving Club

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Woodcarving Club. The club meets at the Ward Museum on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 4 to 7 p.m. The next club meeting is Tuesday, October 18.

The Woodcarving Club welcomes carvers of all skill levels. Carve, learn, share and socialize with other carvers. Club members must bring their own materials. The club is free, but participants must be current members of the museum. Club members may bring a guest with them.

For more information, call 410-742-4988, ext. 110, or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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Ward Museum- Drop-In Art Saturdays

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Drop-In Art Saturdays, a monthly family art program. Drop-In Art is held on the third Saturday of each month between 10 a.m. to noon.

October 15- Artist Dawn Malosh will show visitors how to sculpt soft clay into bird shapes and fire it in our oven to make an endangered birds bead bracelet! This craft coincides with the Back from the Brink exhibit that will be in the LaMay gallery here at the Ward Museum.Return each month for a new project and theme!

There is no fee for the Drop-In Art program, but regular museum admission charges apply for entrance to the galleries. Funding provded by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. For more information call 410-742-4988 Ext. 100 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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Dear Members,

Thank you for all your support of this organization. We would like to see what we can do to improve the member services. Please take part is this short survey (12 questions) to let us know how we are doing.

For completing the survey we will enter your name into a drawing for a free Ward Museum memorabilia gift package.

To take the survey, please click on this clink to begin: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wardmuseummembersurvey

If you prefer, you can complete this survey which is included in your recent mailing of the Fall 2012 issue of Wildfowl Art, which you should will receive soon. Mail the completed survey in the envelope that is included in your packet.

Again thank you and any questions please let us know.
 

Immediately through October 8, 2011

Buy, Sell and Trade Vendors Wanted

Salisbury, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts the annual buy, sell and trade market 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 7-8 in the parking lot of the museum. The market features an eclectic mix of fine antique decoys, collectible hunting items, folk art, antique furniture, and contemporary hunting, fishing and kayaking supplies. The market is one of several events held in conjunction with the annual Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo. Food will be sold in the parking lot. For more information and an application, interested vendors may call 410-742-4988, ext. 114 or visit the Ward Museum web site at www.wardmuseum.org.

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Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, hosts its annual Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo Friday-Saturday, October 7-8.

The event pays tribute to old decoys and encourages the carving of new ones. The museum, located on Schumaker Pond, provides the setting for this annual celebration of waterfowling events, which are an important part of history on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Vendors for the buy, sell and trade convert the front parking lot into a festive marketplace on Friday and Saturday, offering an eclectic mix of fine antique decoys, collectible hunting items, folk art, and antique furniture. Vendors and collectors are traditionally excited to see what new gems will be brought to the sale. Many visitors bring their antique decoys for free identification and appraisals.

Friday evening from 4:30-6:30 pm is an Eastern Shore Pig Roast, held under the pond-side pavilion. Tickets are $13 and may be purchased at the museum’s gift shop. A drawing for a 50/50 raffle also takes place during the dinner.

Saturday is a day for competition and family fun. Decoy competitions have been occurring for more than 100 years and are part of the American culture. In carrying on these traditions, the museum holds the Chesapeake Challenge on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the backyard. During the challenge, working decoys are judged in the water so their qualities and usefulness for hunting may be evaluated. There are also competitions for shorebirds, woodpeckers and contemporary antique decoys. The youth competition (ages 16 and under) for floating decoys is judged prior to the regular decoys. Competitors come from around the country to compete for ribbons and prize money.

Again this year, the Chesapeake Challenge is enhanced by the National Endowment for the Arts project, “Carving Out Future Decoy Makers.” Sixteen master carvers, representing each of the four flyways of the United States, teach six students each how to carve a traditional working decoy and will bring the finished decoys to the challenge. There is a master carvers’ forum on Saturday morning, at which the public may hear the carvers discuss their experiences during the project. Students range from youth to grandfathers.

The “Old Birds” Antique Decoy Competition is also held on Saturday. Collectors throughout the region enter their decoys made prior to 1950 for evaluation. This contest differs from the Shootin’ Stool Competition in that the importance of the decoy is no longer its usefulness as a hunting tool, but as a collectable decoy with historical value. This year there are 10 competition categories of canvasback, offering the public a unique opportunity to compare various collectible styles of one species from around the country.

Other Saturday activities include a duck head-carving contest and a power- versus hand-carving demonstration. Children may participate in a variety of free activities and crafts including painting a chickadee silhouette and making pinecone birdfeeders, gourd houses and paper ducks.. Concessions include a chicken barbecue and bake sale.

The exhibit “Back from the Brink: Stories of Wildfowl Conservation” is in the LaMay Gallery during the expo. On the Eastern Shore of Maryland and throughout the United States, several species of birds have neared extinction as gunning practices and habitat loss have taken a toll on wildfowl populations. Over the last century, the efforts of lawmakers, birdwatchers, environmentalists, hunters, and everyday citizens have helped bring some species back from the brink. This exhibit shares stories of successful conservation efforts, attempts that came too late and what the future might hold for currently threatened species and habitats.

The museum’s Welcome Gallery showcases the “Regional Carving Series: Carroll Carvers.” Part of the ongoing Regional Carver Series, this exhibit features the works of Carroll Carvers, an active group of woodcarvers based in Westminster, MD. From items designed for practical use to imaginative flights of fancy, this exhibition allows the viewer to examine the diversity of works from a community of artists who regularly meet to share their knowledge and techniques.

Admission to the museum and event are free. For more information visit the Ward Museum Web site, www.wardmuseum.org, or call 410-742-4988, ext. 106.

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Dear Members of the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art,

We are pleased to partner with artist Valerie Lloyd. Her Chesapeake Collection is now available from her online store at http://www.cafepress.com/chesapeakebaycollection or by printing the order form and mailing to the Art Studio of Valerie Lloyd to be processed.

This collection includes pictures of the Ward Brother’s swan and goose printed on t-shirts, hoodies, tank top and more.

The Ward Museum will receive proceeds from each sale from this collection.

As always, thank you for your support.

            For over 20 years, Project FeederWatch has been teaming with bird watchers across North America to provide long-term data on birds in the winter. Watchers of various ages and skill levels document birds at feeders to follow population numbers and migratory patterns of over 100 different species.

            The Ward Museum has joined with FeederWatch as an educational group to contribute to the counting of feeder birds on the Eastern Shore. To join and become a FeederWatcher, enroll through the museum and receive the special educational group rate of $10. Participants will receive a FeederWatch handbook with feeder bird information and a Southern States discount card for seeds, supplies and more.

            Discover the world outside and become a scientist in your own backyard by helping Project FeederWatch use the data collected to help preserve and identify species at risk. With you and other FeederWatchers across the continent, scientists will learn about changes in feeder bird abundance, winter ranges, diseases, habitats and foods that attract feeder birds.

            To enroll through the Ward Museum Educational Group discount, visit the museum’s website at www.wardmuseum.org, call 410-742-4988 or eMail wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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Ward Museum- Drop-In Art Saturdays

SALISBURY, MD---The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Drop-In Art Saturdays, a monthly family art program. Drop-In Art is held on the third Saturday of each month between 10 a.m. to noon.
This Saturday, Join museum educators and artist Martha Graham to create a handmade book. Create your own diary or nature journal with us! A great keepsake to remember a wonderful summer. Return each month for a new project and theme!
There is no fee for the Drop-In Art program, but regular museum admission charges apply for entrance to the galleries. Funding provded by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. For more information call 410-742-4988 Ext. 100 or email wardeducation@salisbury.edu.

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Back from the Brink: Stories of Wildfowl Conservation

Salisbury, MD. The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, presents Back from the Brink: Stories of Wildfowl Conservation, on display in the LaMay Gallery from September 30, 2011 – January 12, 2011. On the Eastern Shore of Maryland and throughout the United States, several species of birds have neared extinction as gunning practices and habitat loss have taken a toll on wildfowl populations. Over the last century, the efforts of lawmakers, birdwatchers, environmentalists, hunters, and everyday citizens have helped to bring some species back from the brink. This rare selection of artworks, photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia shares stories of successful conservation efforts, attempts that came too late, and what the future might hold for currently threatened species and habitats. Market Hunting, a lecture by collector Henry Stansbury on Friday, October 7, is presented in conjunction with the exhibit, followed immediately by the Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo Pig Roast from 4:30-6:30. Admission to the exhibit and lecture during the Expo are free. Pig Roast tickets are $13.00, available in advance.

A native of Baltimore, Henry Stansbury is an avid collector and authority on hunting decoys and other Maryland artifacts. He is the author of Lloyd J. Tyler: Folk Artist and Decoy Maker, and the newly published Ira D. Hudson and Family: Chincoteague Carvers. He served as Committee Chairman for the Maryland Historical Society’s 1991 exhibition, Chesapeake Wildfowl Hunting, which presented some of the finest decoy collections in America. Stansbury curated the Fall 2000 Objects of the Chesapeake exhibit at Government House in Annapolis. He is former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Historical Society and a member of the Society’s Maritime and Library Committees. In his lecture, he will discuss market hunting for the street markets of Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City in terms of what was legal and what was not. The legal and illegal practices of supplying the east coast street markets with Chesapeake wildfowl and game led to the decimation of wildfowl to the point where conservation became necessary. Using images and field notes as well as decoys and artifacts, Stansbury will describe practices and early conservation efforts to halt the devastation of our native wildfowl and game.

In conjunction with this exhibit, the Ward Museum also hosts the Birders' Exchange program, an equipment drive that promotes bird conservation and education by providing binoculars, spotting scopes, and tripods to researchers in Latin America. Many researchers work without the most basic equipment. Your donations will be matched with researchers and educators who work on science and public awareness in the neotropical regions. The Ward Museum will be accepting equipment and financial donations for Birders’ Exchange, a program of the American Birding Association, throughout the duration of the Back from the Brink exhibition. Donations are tax-deductible.
For more information call 410-742-4988 ext. 120 or visit the Ward Museum web site at www.wardmuseum.org.

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