Feature
January
13
Hand Carved Wildlife Display
by Katie LeCompte
Wooden ducks and songbirds, carved by Gerald Armand, are on display as a rotating exhibit at Southdown Plantation.
The 36 hand carved birds on display include decorative decoys, contemporary antiques, mantle pieces, songbirds and miniatures. Most of the carvings are for sale, with prices ranging from $50-$1,600. Tools, materials and an explanation of the carving process are also included in the exhibit.
Armand has been carving songbirds and duck decoys for over 10 years. Unlike many carvers who practice the crafts because their fathers were carvers, Armand says he began carving because his son Matthew carved ducks and he thought it would be a good way to keep busy after retirement.
Armand is a member of the South Louisiana Wildlife Carvers in Houma, the Louisiana Wildlife Carvers and Collectors Guild in New Orleans and the Ward Museum World Championships in Ocean City, Maryland. He also participates in the Cajun Heritage Festival in Larose.
The exhibit will be on display until May. Admission to see just the decoy exhibit is $2. To tour the entire museum, including the decoy exhibit, is $6.
Southdown Plantation is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tours begin at the beginning of every hour. The plantation is located at 1208 Museum Drive in Houma. Please call 985-851-0154 for more information.
