About Tan Brunet
Education:
First Brunet to graduate in the South Lafourche area 1957-58
Graduated President of Senior Class 1957-58, Larose Cut Off
Partial List of Exhibitions:
Has one third of decoy pairs in World Museum
Is installed in the Archives at Nichols State University and North American Wildfowl Museum
His 1981 Decoy Pair from “Best of World” exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum in the
spring of 1987 along with his son, Jett’s pair of 1985 Ruddy Ducks
Teaching Experience:
1983- Did seminar at World Contest in Salisbury, MD
1984- Did seminar at Waterfowl Show in Easton, MD
Honors and Awards:
Winner of 10 head whittling championships at Louisiana Show
Has had commendation from 2 governors in the State of Louisiana
Through the efforts of Republican L.G. LaPlante, Tan Brunet was applauded
and recognized by Congress for his favorable appreciation to the State of Louisiana
Was elected to the Advisory Board of the World Foundation’s World Championship Organization
Served as auctioneer and judge at World Contest since 1977
1977- Won “Best in World” with Pintail pair
Won “South Lafourche Commerce Special Award’
Only southerner to win any world championship in waterfowl carving
1978-Won Best in World with Mallard pair
Voted one of the Top 10 “Master Carvers of the World” by the International Wood Carvers
First man to be offered “Carver of the year” by D.U. International
Won “South Lafourche Commerce Special Award”
1980- First man to present limited edition prints to collectors in South Lafourche area
Awarded one of eleven gold medallions by Ward Foundation
1981- Won “Best in World” with Canvasback pair (Tan is the only man who has won
this contest more than twice) Won South Lafource Commerce Special Award
Received Honorary Citizen of New Orleans Award by Mayor Ernest “Dutch” Moral
1982- Won “Best in World” with Green Wing pair
First and only man to win “Decoy Head Contest of Chairman’s Challenge”
1983- Won “Best in World” with Redhead pair
1984- Won “Best of Show” with Mallard drake at World Contest
1985- Won “Best of Show” with Bluebill hen at World Contest
1989 – First Masters Class Champion, Saint Paul, Minnesota
2005- Received an Artist Fellowship in Folk life from the Louisiana Division of the Arts in recognition
of his duck decoy carving.
In the Press:
1977- Featured on the cover of “Museum” magazine
1978- Featured on the cover of the telephone book (Latelco)
Featured on World Contest poster with “Best in World” Pintail pair
1979- Featured on World Contest poster with “Best in World” Mallard pair
1981- First Louisianan to appear in the “World Book Atlas”
Served as “Artist of the Year” D.U. - Lake Charles Chapter
1982- Featured on Ward Foundation booklet cover, winning “Best in World “Green Wing pair
Featured on World Poster with Canvasback pair
1984- Cajun Heritage Festival was dedicated to him
Represents the United States in a National Geographic International film
First who carved a single cypress log into a dugout at the Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans
In the Newspapers:
1. Comet
2. Clarion Herald
3. Lafourche Gazette
4. Morning Advocate
5. Star Diplomat of Washington, D.C.
6. Times Picayune-States Item
Featured on nationally publicized books as:
1. Chesapeake Bay Museum
2. Country Gentlemen Spring ‘82
3. Decoy Hunter
4. Ducks Unlimited
5. Dynamic Years Sept-Oct ‘82
6. Eastern Waterfowl Festival Gold Room Booklet
7. Exxon Magazine, Second Quarter ‘81
8. Fleur de Lys (Spanish and English) ‘81
9. Longest Street
10. Louisiana Duck Decoys
11. Louisiana Outdoors
12. Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors Guild
13. Master Carvers of the World
14. Museum Sept-Oct ‘81
15. North American Decoys
16. North American Duck Geese and Swans- Winter ‘78
17. Pioneer Decoy Carvers
18. Sky Magazine- Sept ‘81
19. Southern Living ‘80
20. Toups Cookbook
21. Ward Foundation News, Summer ‘82
22. Waterfowl World Decoy Magazine, June-July ‘82
23. World Book Atlas of U.S. and Canada ’81
24. Yankees ‘81
25. Graced the cover of Delightful Cooking Cookbook
26. An Education Legacy (Raceland Waterfowl Festival Book)