Harkers Island, North Carolina, circa 2000, carved and painted wood, DAVID COREY LAWRENCE / NORA LAWRENCE.

Length 10.75 in.

David Lawrence was one of the original seven men who formed the Core Sound Decoy Carver Guild in Harkers Island, North Carolina. Carvers Wayne Davis and David Lawrence had traveled to the decoy shows in Virginia Beach, Chincoteague, VA, and Currituck, NC, among others, and wondered if there would be enough interest to get together with other local carvers regularly to swap techniques, carving tips, and have a decoy show each year. The group of seven men gathered at Wayne’s house on August 11, 1987.

From there, a group of about 30 Carteret County decoy carvers and collectors gathered at that first Guild meeting. Decoy shows filled nearly every weekend from August to December throughout North Carolina and surrounding states, and the group decided to set the first Core Sound Decoy Festival in December 1988. Lawrence was instrumental in forming the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum. He is a favorite son of Carteret County and his influence today is immeasurable.

Original paint.