Decoy Artist, The: America's Last Hunter-Carver
"Every waterfowler wishes his passion were a lifestyle. The great carvers lived that dream. The Decoy Artist provides an intimate look into the life and times of a renowned carver from one of the people who knows him best." -Jay Strangis, editor and publisher, American Waterfowler magazine "The Decoy Artist does with words what I have always tried to do with paint: bring to life the beauty of waterfowl and the spirit of the men who pursue them. It tells the true story of these legendary men through the life of one of today's finest decoy carvers." -Rob Leslie, eighteen-time state duck stamp artist and 1996 Ducks Unlimited's International Artist of the Year "The Decoy Artist reveals the intimate connection between a man and the river that wove its way through his life and artwork. It's a tribute to a forgotten heritage that is uniquely American." -Jaclyn Stewart, director, Jersey Shore Folklife Center at Tuckerton Seaport In a story of true Americana, world-class decoy carver Vincent Giannetto III comes of age at a critical time in the history of the Delaware region. Vincent's boyhood dream is to become a river rat, living off the land, pursuing waterfowl, and surviving by his own skills. Spending time on the river, he watches the hunter-carvers, learning the role of the decoy while struggling to make his own without guidance from these secretive men. Through them, he realizes the relationship that exists between man, wildlife, and the environment. As Vincent matures from boy to man, he yearns for a life on the river and the freedom that it brings, but living outside the norms of society has its costs.  Recognized as one of the country's most skilled artisans, Vincent has been a guest of the White House, where his work was displayed on the White House Christmas tree and subsequently placed in the Smithsonian Institute. His story is that of a man who lived his dream despite the odds. An elegy for a time now forgotten, it captures the true beauty of a vanishing way of life.