Rich Smoker honored as Living Legend by Ward Museum
On the coast of the Big Annemessex River sits Rich Smoker’s carving workshop, overlooking the waterfowl he’s studied his entire life.
“I apologize for the mess,” said Smoker, motioning to his eclectic work space. “We’re getting ready for tomorrow morning.”
Smoker was packing for a decoy carving competition in Ocean City the next day. As Smoker surveyed his work table for contest supplies, his brother Ross Smoker leaned on the shop’s staircase railing. He watched his brother’s movements with a familiar, easy gaze -- the sight was not new to him. The brothers have been carving decoys together since they were kids.
“I needed a decoy rig to go hunting with,” Rich Smoker said of his first experience carving decoys at sixteen years old. “My dad being an industrial arts teacher, that meant wood shop for us.”
He picked up his first carving tools with his father at his home in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and it was as if a "big lightbulb" lit up over his head. Today, Smoker’s own “woodshop” in Marion Station, Maryland is home to decoys and carvings in various states of completion; some vibrant and lifelike, others bare and in pieces, ready for their transformation. From a teenage enthusiast to an industry expert, Smoker has turned a youthful passion into his life's work.
On Friday, April 22, Smoker will receive the ultimate Eastern Shore honor from the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Alongside Del Herbert of Chula Vista, California, and Todd Wohlt of Appleton, Wisconsin, Smoker will be honored with the Ward Foundation 2016 Living Legends Award.
"It's frankly very humbling being noted on such a high prestigious award," Smoker said.
The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City.
An artist and a teacher
Smoker's work table was covered in books, scraps, tools and a garden gnome, whose sign said "Go Away!" Though cheerful and friendly, Smoker occasionally mirror’s his gnome’s more private nature. When he heard of his Living Legend award, an honor bestowed upon Smoker by the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, he was most excited to be recognized for his less public contributions to decoy carving. He's more interested in "furthering the art form," as he and his brother put it, than having his name in the history books.
"I do a lot of teaching, a lot of work behind the scenes," Smoker said. "To be recognized for that while I'm still here is a great thing."
Mentoring the next generation of wildfowl carvers is one of Smoker's favorite parts of the job. He's taken on countless apprentices and volunteered with numerous Maryland arts programs, the National Endowment of the Arts and Carving Out With Future Carvers.
At this point in his career, everyone knows where Smoker's workshop is by word of mouth -- "I don't advertise." In that way, Smoker is similar to his father. Ross Smoker said that growing up, their family lived in a "very small, rural town" where "everyone knows everyone and everyone knew us because our father taught there."
Despite his local renown, he only lets a select few into his workshop. The reason is less about exclusivity, though, and more about wanting closer relationships to those he teaches.
"I don't let everyone through the door," Smoker said. "I really have to get to know them first."
When he does accept students and visitors, though, they are taken under Smoker's wing. He currently teaches a Wednesday night group of carvers in the making, as well as a father and son duo. Former apprentices frequently return to the workshop and Smoker sees them as equals, "challenging them" as he would other competitors.
Being honored for his contributions
The Ward Museum is one of many wildfowl organizations that have honored Smoker's work. His induction to the hall of fame of sorts -- a "living legend" in wildfowl art -- is a new experience entirely, though. Ross Smoker felt that turning this hobby into a job was hard enough, but earning the title of living legend was something their community never saw coming.
"People back home don't really believe he was able to make this a full time job," Ross Smoker said. "For him to get this award is a big time honor."
Rich Smoker is fully aware of the people that helped him achieve this feat. Always looking forward to the next trip to the next competition, Smoker is more than grateful for the support system that allows him to do those things.
"It means a lot to my family." Smoker said. "My wife and my daughter have put a lot of sacrifices ahead for my time. They've let me go off and do my thing where I'm able to help other people."
It's not all sacrifice, though, as his father and three siblings carved decoys and his mother painted them. Wildfowl art has continued to bridge generational gaps, capturing the attention of Smoker's daughter, niece and nephew. His passion has become common ground for the entire family.
More adventures on the horizon
While Smoker has gained the recognition he deserves, he doesn't feel that other area artists have fared as well.
"We have a great group of people and artists here that are really underrated," Smoker said.
To further wildfowl art and support fellow artists, Smoker hopes to continue to work with the Ward museum, holding workshops and mentoring the next wave of decoy carvers. He's currently the vice chairman of the museum board, as well as chairman of the curatorial committee.
A constant theme with Smoker is “the next one.” The next trip, the next bird, the next book -- those are always his favorites. He’s been lucky enough to turn a passion into a livelihood and, at 64 years old, doesn’t seem too keen to give up his adventures or his “next ones” just yet.
He's traveled to Maine, Alaska, Coasta Rica, Panama and Canada, just to name a few, seeking new ideas in nature. Even more than his workshop, said Smoker, nature is where he feels most at home and finds his best inspiration.
"I need to listen to wood thrushes and turkeys in the spring, and geese and swans in the winter," Smoker said. "That to me is reality. The rest of this stuff is superficial."