Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Meet Adirondack artisan Bob Jones and learn about his work

bob jones
Adirondack artisan Bob Jones, Cranberry Lake, has been carving for more than 50 years and making decoys professionally for decades. At the end of 2021, Tom French, a contributor to Adirondack Explorer, interviewed Bob and his wife, Linda and wrote this story about them.

Soon after, Tom and his daughter, Emma, returned to the Jones’ home and studio to record him at work and learn more about the processes that go into his decoy making.
The resulting short documentary film, produced by Adirondack Explorer, gives a glimpse behind the scenes of Bob’s Cranberry Lake studio and shows the artistry that goes into carving and creating iconic wooden decoys.

YouTube video

On Saturday, June 4, from 1-3 p.m., TAUNY (Traditional Arts in Upstate New York) will host a live-streamed screening of the documentary, followed by a Q&A with Bob and filmmaker Emma French, led by TAUNY Executive Director Jill Breit. The event will also be the opening reception for an exhibit of Bob’s decoys in the upper level gallery of The TAUNY Center, 53 Main St., Canton.
Join us at TAUNY in Canton for this event,  and we look forward to showcasing this Adirondack artisan and his work.
Photo at top: Adirondack decoy maker and carver Bob Jones at his Cranberry Lake studio. Tom French photo

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Melissa is a journalist with experience as a reporter and editor with the Burlington Free Press, Ithaca Journal and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. She worked as a communications specialist for the Adirondack North Country Association and is currently digital editor for Adirondack Explorer, overseeing both the Explorer's website and its community forum the Adirondack Almanack. She enjoys hiking, camping and other outdoors activities, and spending time with her husband, their twin daughters, and rescue animals -- two dogs and two cats.


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4 Responses

  1. Linda Ramirez says:

    Just great! I really enjoyed seeing the process and machine used in making them. And learning how he became a full time artist. The video well done!

  2. Eric Hancock says:

    This was fantastic. Thanks for posting.

  3. Christine Mason says:

    I was looking for you at Christmas in the Country in Hamburg today. I purchased two ducks last year. Interested in buying more.

  4. Marge Roberts says:

    I own 2 of Bob’s large blue herons plus many smaller duck carvings. I love them all! One of the herons went through Hurricane Ian on Sanibel Island. She must have floated from the family room to the kitchen and hid under the table as 7-1/2’ of water flowed throughout the house. She survived a little worse for wear but our hero. She could use a touch up of the grey coat on her body and I would love to know what product is used for that.

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