I currently reside in Clifton Park,
NY with my Wife and three
children. Born in 1967 in the
small City of Cohoes in Upstate
NY I have had a lifelong interest
in art. I can remember drawing
primarily birds and other wildlife
at a very young age. But like
most kids in a small city art was
fun but not a career. It was not
until years later that I
discovered that for me, art
provides balance in my life.
The primary focus of my art comes from my love of nature and wildlife.
Living close to and spending time in the Adirondack Park in Upstate NY I
find a never ending source of inspiration. I find nature demonstrates the
daily struggle of life in its most primitive form, basic survival, food, water,
shelter, etc. At the same time nature displays peace and serenity equal to
none, a true expression of balance. When I discovered antler as a medium
I found I had a real passion for it. Antler has strength, beauty, and
uniqueness brought to it by the powerful yet graceful animals that carry
them.  Unlike clay, marble, wood or other traditional sculpture materials,
antler confines me to the natural characteristics of the shape created by
nature. I find this quality fascinating as it challenges my artistic vision to
find the art in the antler. I offer a unique style not common among antler
artists, a sort of contemporary rustic nature. Many of my pieces would be
equally pleasing in many settings from the home or office to the camp or
country home. Antlers are grown and shed each year producing one of a
kind canvasses to create with, no animals are harmed.
My goal as an artist is two fold. First to share my love of wildlife and nature
with others with the hope protecting animals and their habitat for the
future. Second is to allow one to escape, if only for a moment, to a place
they may have been or hope to be. To experience emotions of peace,
serenity, solitude or perhaps anticipation or excitement that one can only
experience in nature.
                                                              Wilfred F. Charbonneau Jr.

EXHIBITIONS:

May 3- June 14, 2008-Sculpture on Main- Catskill Gallery, Catskill, NY-
"Reaching Within"

May 23-June 15th, 2008- Shapes of Emotion- The Bryan Gallery-
Gloucester, MA- "Sorrow"

June 21- August 2, 2008- Gardens and Trees- Catskill Gallery, Catskill, NY-
"Changing Seasons"

August 21-September 1, 2008- NYS Wildlife Art Sculpture Exhibition- NYS
Fair Syracuse, NY- "Adirondack Winter"

September 27 October 23, 2008- Antler Odyssey Exhibition, Widlund
Gallery, North Creek, NY

Natural Occurrences Exhibition- Lapham Gallery, Glens Falls, NY- March
9th through April 14th, 2007

LARAC Members Exhibition- Lapham Gallery, Glens Falls, NY- April 27th
through June 10th, 2007

New York State Fair Wildlife Art Exhibit- Sculpture "FALCON" on display.
August 23rd thru September 3rd, 2007

LARAC Members Exhibition- Lapham Gallery, Glens Falls, NY- March 2006

New Works of Year Exhibition- "Free Spirit"- Lapham Gallery, Glens Falls,
NY- January 2006

Lapham Gallery Artist of the Month- January 2006

Adirondack State of Mind Exhibition- "The Visitor" -Lapham Gallery- Glens
Falls, NY- June 2005


JURIED SHOWS:

Rustic Furniture Fair- Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
September 2009

LARAC-Lower Adirondack Arts Council- Arts and Crafts Festival- Glens
Falls, NY- June 2009

Northeast Great Outdoor Show- Albany, NY- March 2009

LARAC Members Exhibition- Lapham Gallery, Glens Falls, NY- April 2007

Wildlife Artisans Association- 14th Annual Wildlife Art Show and Carving
Show, Topsfield, Mass- November 2006

Mohawk Valley Art and Woodcarving Association- Woodcarving
Exhibition and Show, Amsterdam, NY- October 2006

Southern Vermont Art and Craft Fall Festival Hildene Meadows
Manchester, Vermont- August 2006

LARAC 35th Annual Fall Arts Festival- Glens Falls, NY- June 2006

Adirondack Living Show- Lake George, NY- August 2005

Mayfest- Bennington Vermont- May 2005


AWARDS:

Scrollsaw Association of the World "SAW"- 2004 SAW EXPO Sponsored by
Creative Woodworks and Crafts and Scrollsaw Workshop Magazine- Best
in Show, Best in Complex, 1st Place Open Complex, Award of Merit-
Lebanon, Pennsylvania- June 2004

Creative Woodworks and Crafts Magazine- 9/11 Relief Scrollsaw
Competition- 1st Place- January 2003
As a Captain in a career Fire Department and a past Rescue Squad Officer
on the New York State Urban Technical Search and Rescue Team I have
experienced, in close proximity, how fragile life is. My participation in the
rescue efforts at the World Trade Center on 9/11 was a profound life
changing experience, increasing my focus on my art and my search for
balance in my life
MEMBERSHIPS:

Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council- Current member of the Lapham
Gallery Committee

Northeastern Woodworkers Association