Birds in Wood: The Carvings of Andrew Zergenyi (Folk Art and Artist Series)

This volume features the collection of carved birds created by Andrew Zergenyi, a Hungarian immigrant to the United States. When Russia advanced into his native country in 1945, Zergenyi and his family fled to Austria, where he began carving as a means of supplementing his income. He also used his wood carving skills to alleviate the terrible depression he experienced at the loss of his home and homeland.
From Austria he traveled to England and finally in 1952 immigrated to the United States, where he was employed as a greenhouse laborer. After his retirement in 1967 he invested his energies full time in carving and created what he called a study collection of birds from around the world. The result is more than six hundred carvings, with many pieces set in naturalistic environments.
Zergenyi has created a fascinating folk art that draws together pieces of time and experience into a coherent and meaningful whole.