Jersey Shore Magazine

J e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 2 1 42 JERSEY SHORE PEOPLE CARVING A LEGACY, continued from page 40 modest in appearance. Set back from the sidewalk, the weathered red letters on its sign read: "Lovelandtown Wood Shop - Arthur Birdsall." That inscrip- tion is flanked by black capital letters stating: "Decoys," "Antiques," and, at the bottom, almost as an after- thought, "Cabinets." Inside is a warren of decoys, books, stacks of a variety of woods, "duplica- tors" for up to twelve decoys, a band saw, drill press, sanders, and Zac, a fourteen-plus year old black Labrador with a bark that shakes the walls and rattles the windows. It is in this workshop that Art Birdsall has produced an estimated 3,000 decoys since he opened in 1984. I first met Art—"Artie" to his friends—years ago while writing a book about Island Beach State Park. I was stumped on a question about Sedge House, an island hunting lodge in Barnegat Bay frequented by some well-known names like Babe Ruth, John D. Rockefeller, and supposedly one or two presidents. Almost imme- diately, Art pulled a book from a shelf in his shop and showed me a photo of a rotund figure in distinctive hunting gear that resembled Grover Cleveland. It was clear that Art had a wide field of knowledge, history, and resources. Perhaps that is because his family's known history goes back to the 1600s in Salem, Massachusetts. I asked Art about his work and if the value of his creations had increased. He said a swan he had carved was sold for $300. and put up at a fundraising auction: the winning bid was for $2,000. In 1981, Art was part of the nucleus of enthusiasts to form the New Jersey Decoy Collectors Association and was appointed its first treasurer. Recently, Art has been receiving recognition. As the fourth generation of Birdsall decoy carvers, Art received the 2018 Hurley Conklin Award presented for those who have lived in the Barnegat Bay tradition. He was also recently hon- ored by the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission with the Ocean County Lifetime Achievement In The Arts Award. He is the first decoy carver to receive the prestigious award. His nomination for this honor was by well-known decoy collector and historian Jim Allen. Allen marvels at Art's passion for his work and said of him, "His integrity is second-to- none." Fellow decoy historian Grove Conrad described Art as "one of America's finest folk artists." "Art really is selfless," his sister Peggy notes. "He will talk about the contributions my parents and sister, Lee, made to the community, but he never talks about everything he has done. Art has always been the first one to donate a decoy to be auctioned off for a good community cause. He lit- erally would give you the shirt off his back and expect nothing in return." Art has a positive view of life, not- ing the many laughs, good times, and great people he has met, many at decoy shows. He doesn't stand on formality and notes, "There are no rules in making a decoy, as long as it turns out to be…well, a decoy." As for the community in which he has been immersed throughout his life, he says "Life is so interesting, and all us carv- ers are characters." u Art's Birdsall's Lovelandtown Wood Shop is located at 723 Howe Street in Point Pleasant. To make a donation to his medical fund, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/art- birdsall-lovelandtown039s-decoy-king. Art and his faithful dog, Zac. Art displays a Whistler Swan he carved in his shop. About five years ago, another swan he sold for $300. was bid on at a fundraiser for the Bay Head Historical Society and Museum. It fetched a final bid of $2,000. John Tawgin/Gordon Hesse

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