THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN DECOYS
The wooden decoy, a truly American innovation, is symbolic of the American experience and humanity’s constantly evolving relationship with nature, particularly American waterfowl. Today, decoys are a recognized and appreciated form of folk art, sought out by collectors and museums across the world.
The Center for American Decoys is dedicated to preserving the traditions of American waterfowl history through the art of the decoy. Located in the Illinois River Valley, among some of the greatest waterfowl hunting habitats in history, the Center for American Decoys aims to showcase many of the most notable decoy carvers from across the country, with a particular emphasis on carvers from the Illinois River Valley.
Left to Right: Curator for the Center for American Decoys, Zac Zetterberg, Donor Christine Bonati Bollwinkle, Chief Craig Harper of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, and Chief Curator Bill Conger.
From the moment Peoria Riverfront Museum’s American Decoys: The Invention opened, scholars and collectors declared the display of more than 200 all-star birds to be the greatest decoy exhibition ever assembled under one roof. It was the first museum exhibition of its kind to showcase world-class decoys from a number of the most respected collections and institutions from across the country.
Today, we are proud to present Masterworks. This current exhibition includes many of the greatest examples of Illinois River decoys in existence and it also includes six beautiful hanging game scenes from modern master Cameron McIntyre. With over 50 of the finest museum-quality decoys, leant to us by the American Folk Art Museum, as well as several exceptional pieces on loan from the Thomas K. Figge Collection, and the museum's own permanent collection, this exhibition embodies the importance of a truly American folk art.
In their beginning, decoys were viewed strictly as a hunting tool. Then decoys began to be displayed and appreciated as an art form. Today, decoys are helping museums like ours tell inspiring stories teaching new generations the culture of self-reliance, creative competition and American freedom in which they were conceived.
Connect with Us
We invite you to connect with us and decoy enthusiasts from around the world in celebrating this distinctly American art form. Like us on Facebook and Instagram or sign up below for our regular newsletter from Zac Zetterberg, curator of art and the Center for American Decoys. The newsletter is absolutely free and contains insightful information on our work here at the Center for American Decoys as well as all things waterfowl and folk art related.
See an example essay HERE
The Center for American Decoys exhibition cases are sponsored by the Ronald P. Bonati Fund in partnership with the Peoria Tribe Of Indians of Oklahoma.
Masterworks featuring American Folk Art Museum, Thomas K. Figge Collection, and Peoria Riverfront Museum Collection is sponsored by Art Bridges Foundation, the Taylor French Decoy Fund, David Vaughan Investments, Ducks Unlimited, the Visionary Society, and the Center for American Decoys Club.
