A modern master of bird carving, Mark McNair, and his son Ian McNair who is also a professional carver, will share insights and observations at the Gilley during a live demonstration of their art on Wednesday, June 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. This is a rare opportunity in Maine to connect with top U.S. carvers. No fee and no registration required.

Mark McNair specializes in waterfowl and shorebird decoys, weathervanes, and related folk art. His work is held in numerous prominent decoy collections both public and private, including the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, the deWitt Cottage in Virginia Beach, and The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Maryland.

He has been carving and making decoys for more than half a century. After leaving his alma mater, Rhode Island School of Design, in the 1970s, he worked with antiques and carved wooden signs in his native Connecticut. During this time he was introduced to antique decoys by the Voorhees family and quickly took to the craft. He and his wife, Martha, now live and carve on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, between the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

Of their three children, sons Ian and Colin are also active carvers. Ian carves in Exmore, Virginia and is a partner in High ‘N Dry, a company specializing in industrial grade chest waders. Colin also works for Copley Fine Art Auctions, in Boston.

This special event is part of the McNairs' visit to the Gilley as part of the free monthly People-Nature-Art series in 2023 sponsored by our friends at Bar Harbor Bank and Trust.