Steven A. Weaver has been carving for over forty years. During this time, his creations have consistently won top awards bringing him national recognition. He opened Wakeby Wildlife Studio in Sandwich to enable him to pursue his art full time.

 

The Governor of Massachusetts selected Mr. Weaver to portray the State Bird - the Black-capped Chickadee. His carving was displayed in a 50 state exhibition at the Ward Foundation Museum for an entire summer. Steve was chosen to exhibit his carvings in “Floating Sculpture; Traditional and Contemporary New England Decoys”. This was held at The Duxbury Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA. The Cahoon Museum of American Art in Cotuit, MA included his work in their exhibit, “In Fine Feather: Excellence in Contemporary Bird Carving and Avian Art. Most recently, The Thornton Burgess Society held a one person show highlighting his carvings and paintings for three months at the Greenbriar Nature Center in Sandwich, MA. His belief in the Thornton Burgess Society’s Mission Statement, “To inspire reverence for wildlife and concern for the natural environment” has resulted in a commitment to help advance those goals.

 

Steve has been invited to give lectures and demonstrations throughout New England. These presentations focus on the history of traditional carving and the development of contemporary techniques in the art of bird carving. He takes pride in attention to detail, whether it is a representation of an antique gunning bird or a realistic contemporary carving.

 

In order to share his knowledge of carving, Steve has offered workshops through The Cahoon Museum of American Art, Heritage Museums and Gardens, The Nantucket Historical Society, The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History as well as The Thornton Burgess Society. He gives instruction to meet the needs of both novice and experienced carvers in the ever-changing art of bird carving.

 

Steve is an accomplished professional restorer of early decoys, miniatures and decorative bird carvings. He has restored carvings of most of the early New England master carvers including Elmer Crowell, Joe Lincoln, Lothrop Holmes and Luther Nickerson, to name just a few. This hands-on association with these carving legends has played a significant role in the evolution of Steve’s work. Many of his recent carvings and paintings have been inspired by these turn of the century carvers.

***

​

A note from Steve:

​

"In addition to my artistic output through Wakeby Wildlife Studio, I am a devoted advocate of nature preservation and education, both as an outdoorsman and through my work with the Thornton W. Burgess Society. Please take a minute to read our mission statement below, and next time you’re on the Cape, stop by the Thornton W. Burgess Museum and the Green Briar Nature Center. Thank you for your consideration."

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

Thornton W. Burgess Society

 “to inspire reverence for wildlife and concern for the natural environment”

​

The Thornton W. Burgess Society is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1976 to carry on the pioneering conservation work of author/naturalist Thornton Burgess [1874-1965].  Mr. Burgess, who was born and grew up in Sandwich, MA, went on to achieve national and international recognition for his children’s stories that teach lessons of conservation and love of wildlife. The Society operates two facilities: the Thornton W. Burgess Museum in Sandwich and the Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen in East Sandwich. It also manages the 133 acre East Sandwich Game Farm under a lease agreement with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. The Game Farm property offers wonderful walking trails open to the public.

​

The Society offers programs for children, families and adults at its nature center as well as jam making workshops in the historic 1903 Jam Kitchen. Visitors enjoy seeing the working kitchen, viewing the gallery exhibits, browsing in the unique gift shop and learning about the resident live animals.

​

Membership in the Thornton W. Burgess Society is open to all. For further information, call the Society office at 1(508)888-6870 or visit the website at www.thorntonburgess.org