The Traveling Gourd

Last year the California Gourd Society (CGS) devised a brilliant plan for bringing gourd artists together and raising funds for the chapter: the creation of one spectacular "community" gourd, which would include artwork contributed by members of each of the 22+ Gourd Patches (the regional groups that comprise the California Gourd Society).

The giant gourd, donated by the Welburn Gourd Farm, has been traveling from artist to artist, patch to patch, since August of 2002, and has been nicknamed "The Traveling Gourd." The gourd travels with a special journal, and each artist who contributes to the gourd also includes a personal entry in the accompanying journal.

To allow everyone to see the gourd as it progresses, photos displaying each new artist's addition and journal entry are featured in The Gourdzette newsletter. Be sure to keep reading the Gourdzette - you'll get all the latest information and photos on the Traveling Gourd just as soon as they become available! Sign up now!

October 29, 2003

Kingsburg River Patch

Gourd Artist Pat Wescott

Our patch is the Kingsburg River Patch. Our members are as diverse as our surroundings. We have a National Park Interpretive Ranger, teachers, farmers, gourd growers and full time artists. Our surrounds also encompass the most diverse land use from watershed and farming to recreational use and scenic natural beauty.

We wanted to represent our areas natural history by our depiction of our National Christmas tree, the General Grant Giant Sequoia tree, the Kings River, Sierra Nevada Mountains, our State animal the black bear, our state bird the Valley Quail and our state flower the poppy. All of these are found in our patch area.

Our special artist is Noi Thomas, who has been our mentor, teacher, dear friend and a charter member of CGS. Our patch adopted her and asked her to help us create our gourd piece because of her incredible creative artistic talent. Cathie Keith is a founding member of our patch and a natural wood burning artist. I, Pat Wescott am the patch leader, organizer and designer of our piece. We had a blast driving to Paso Robles to meet the Santa Cruz patch to receive the gourd and then jointly designing and creating our collaborative piece.

Gourd Artists Noi Thomas & Cathie Keith

This gourd seems to bring out the best of our human spirit. It inspires authentic artistic empowerment and seems to be wrapped in an aurora of good will and beauty. When human hands touch something with goodness and the best that one can do, only awe inspiring creations can come of it. It has been our sincere pleasure to have been part of this journey and creative wonder.

Kingsburg River Patch

October 02, 2003

Gourd Artist Toni Best

As with all the other artists who have worked on the gourd, I experienced a great feeling of awe at the work which had already been done, intimidation, and utter terror. Several people had suggestions on how to proceed with the coiling - from cutting the gourd, weaving a row and gluing the cut out back in, to making holes and using a crochet needle to get the waxed linen in and out of the holes. As panic was setting in, my friend, M.E. Hue Graham, suggested putting in holes for bamboo or wire to act as fence posts on which a Fimo armature could be built. That same day, Leigh Adams and Carol Rookstool came by and suggested a similar idea by making holes in the gourd and gluing reed loops into these holes as a “fence” on which the pine needles could be woven. Leigh put the holes into the gourd, gave me the reed, and said, “Go for it.”

The area that I had chosen was on the top of the gourd so that black pine needles could be seen above Pat Boyd’s woman. As in most plans, things do not always proceed as visualized in the mind. Sue Winters-Brown, my fellow patch rep, suggested that I add color to the black. I first used processed yucca which made too stark a contrast to the black. My sister suggested picking up other colors on the gourd, so I selected oxblood dyed needles. Weaving on the closed surface was a definite challenge and forced me to use curved needles which I kept breaking. The teneriffe is in tribute to Don Weeke, Judy Mallow, and everyone who creates these fantastic “webs.” Thank you for letting me be a part of this tremendous project and for representing all the other wonderful weavers throughout the state. Toni Best Tulare Sequoia Patch

Gourd Art by Toni Best

September 04, 2003

Gourd Art by Ginny Matheson

I was honored that the Sonoma Gourd Patch asked me to work on the State “Big Gourd” (as we fondly refer to it). We had little time to decide what our contribution would be, but consensus was that it should include grape leaves as Sonoma County’s reputation definitely includes our world-renowned wines, beautiful wineries and countryside.

It was awesome taking charge (for a few days) of this precious and special piece which represents so much to California gourd artists.

Gourd Art by Ginny Matheson

Just SEEING and TOUCHING the work on the gourd and knowing who the previous artists were who had put their creative talent on it was powerful and a little scary. I kept thinking, what if something happens to it?

But, everything went well, and the grape vines were lovingly applied one Sunday morning and now my work, and our patch is a part of this wonderful endeavor.

Ginny Matheson
Sonoma Gourd Patch

August 07, 2003

Gourd Artist Kemper Stone

The recently formed East Bay patch has completed their artwork on the Traveling Gourd. We discussed what we would do to our portion of the gourd months before our turn came. I was chosen to select and embellish our section of the gourd.

Gourd Art by Kemper Stone

The design was inspired by archaelogical discoveries of jade masks and beads, oxidized bronze and copper ornaments and armor, gold, shell, ochre, etc. A "Mycenaen gourd clown" theme emerged. It was carved from California soapstone and embellished with hammered copper and brass pins.

Kemper Stone
East Bay Patch

June 26, 2003

Gold County Gourders' mini- gourd pottery on the Big Gourd.

Gold County Gourders is the newest gourd patch in California. Our founding members also belong to the Foothill Gourders. We recently organized in order to start a patch closer to our homes in Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Lena Stiward and Colleen Platt both feel so special to be representing our Gold County Gourd Patch. The Big Gourd was so perfect and beautiful but also intimidating. We loved all the work that had been previously completed. Both Lena and Colleen are used to starting with a design concept and then searching for the gourd. But now we had the perfect gourd, and we needed a perfect design! Not to worry – the Big Gourd inspired us!

Immediately Lena saw the shape of a woman shrouded in a blanket holding a pottery gourd, with more gourds at her feet. Colleen could see the vision, including swirls and patterns. We were off and running!

Lena Stiward and Colleen Platt display their work on the Traveling Gourd.

Excitement was in the air as we faxed, e-mailed, scanned, and called each other on the phone. Lena made the initial sketch and Colleen improved and fine tuned it. Colors, patterns, and movement from the surrounding gourd sections were incorporated. Colleen burned, sanded and dyed on the big gourd while Lena made pottery out of the tiniest gourds we could find. Due to the heavy texture of the gourd’s surface, sanding was important to give the face a smooth complexion. Sanding of the blanket was an added benefit because it gave the much desired look of the doeskin we were after. Paint pens, acrylics and leather dyes were flowing while Colleen made the final strokes on the blanket and Lena painted the pottery. The Gourd Goddess was coming to life.

Colleen is a camerawoman extraordinare and chronicled each and every step along the way. Big thanks to Don Rideau for his expertise in attaching our gourds, adding the crowning touch…voila The Gourd Goddess!

Lena and Colleen are now new friends and admire each other’s talents and artistic instincts. We love the way the Gourd Goddess emerged in front of us. We hope you do, too!

Lena and Colleen
Gold County Gourders

June 12, 2003

Gourd art by Tahoe Truckee Gourd Patch and beadwork by Pat Boyd

It Came! It was Admired! It was an Honor and a Challenge!

When we received the gourd, we made the decision to wait until the whole group was able to meet before we opened the box. That was a very big temptation. When this unique and astonishing gourd came out of the box the expression on everyone’s face was wonderstruck. The excitement mounted as the gourd was turned around and around to see every area that had been completed. A lively discussion was triggered to determine which space to choose and what we wanted to put in it.

After lots of ideas from the group we made the decision to focus on representing the natural beauty of our surroundings and to create a peek of Lake Tahoe with its beautiful array of turquoise to blue water and pine trees.

Bev David and Gabrielle Bryant display their work on the Big Gourd.

A talented artist, Bev David, drew several sketches of different views of the lake, shoreline boulders, and pine trees. Once we thought of the concept of a vignette, we were off and going.

Gay completed the daunting task of woodburning the sketch and then Bev worked to meet the big challenge of creating the beautiful, ever-changing blues of Lake Tahoe. The other challenge was to protect the lovely beaded headdress of Pat Boyd’s sculpted figure which was right next to our area……saran wrap and holding our mouths just right helped a lot!

Working on this gourd was a collaborative effort by all of the members of our gourd patch. Even though only two of us worked directly on it, everyone in our patch was working in spirit. We are proud to be part of this project.

The Tahoe Truckee Gourd Patch

September 04, 2003

Ann Mitchell adds to the Traveling Gourd

When I was asked to represent Z-Gourd Miners when the Traveling Gourd reached Folsom, I felt greatly honored and a little bit queasy. It was humbling for me to realize the confidence and trust my fellow members had in me. The Z-Gourd Miners are a great bunch of people and very supportive. When the meeting ended, we had to open both doors so I could get my head through. WOW, I had just been asked to work on the "Big Guy". I knew how Charlie Brown felt while waiting for the "Great Pumpkin", except I was expecting the "Great Gourd" in its stead.

I first saw the Great Gourd on the 30th of April, where I attended a "play day" at the home of a friend and fellow gourder, Carol Krause. There were five of us there that day, to work on our gourds and deepen friendships. Ann Mitchell came late for the first time and Carol helped her carry Great Gourd's box inside.

Charlotte Vincent works on a feather design and adds beadwork.

"It's going to be huge," I thought, as it was carefully unpacked. Any fear or anxiety I may have felt totally disappeared the moment I saw it. I didn't have time to feel queasy as I reached for my camera. The five of us were awestruck (Ann had already seen it). It was turned this way and that and I nearly filled up the new disk in my digital camera. We finally narrowed our choices down to two areas, then one, and I was already drawing a picture in my head that would go there. When our "play day" drew to an end that afternoon, we loaded Great Gourd into the back of my Blazer and off I went.

When I got home a short time later, my husband Bruce brought Great Gourd into the house, anxious to see it himself. I unpacked it and placed it on my desk in my living room workspace and I just stared at it. Had it grown since we left Carol's? It certainly looked like it had!

That same afternoon I made my sketch in the 'chosen space' and it didn't come close to what I had imagined, or planned. Ann said that would happen. I chose the thing I do best, 'Horses.' I figured they were the one thing I wouldn't mess up on something this important. I had it nearly finished that same evening.

I had ideas that required Ann's approval and help. The small space to the right needed a feather to complete it. After Judy Cunningham approved, Ann and I finished the rest of the artwork; and it was Ann who came up with the beads idea, which was the perfect finishing touch. We decreed, on May 7, 2003, the Art Work was indeed...finished.

I want to applaud Judy Cunningham for all the beautiful work she did on Great Gourd, it is truly awesome. It was a wise, thoughtful man who put legs on it that would raise it high enough to see the work 'Down Under'! I feel I have been blessed with a God-given talent and I finally figured out what to do with it. I am honored to be in this book between pages filled with exceptionally talented artists.

- Charlotte Vincent and Ann Mitchell for Z-Gourd Miners

June 12, 2003

Gourd art by Tahoe Truckee Gourd Patch and beadwork by Pat Boyd

It Came! It was Admired! It was an Honor and a Challenge!

When we received the gourd, we made the decision to wait until the whole group was able to meet before we opened the box. That was a very big temptation. When this unique and astonishing gourd came out of the box the expression on everyone’s face was wonderstruck. The excitement mounted as the gourd was turned around and around to see every area that had been completed. A lively discussion was triggered to determine which space to choose and what we wanted to put in it.

After lots of ideas from the group we made the decision to focus on representing the natural beauty of our surroundings and to create a peek of Lake Tahoe with its beautiful array of turquoise to blue water and pine trees.

Bev David and Gabrielle Bryant display their work on the Big Gourd.

A talented artist, Bev David, drew several sketches of different views of the lake, shoreline boulders, and pine trees. Once we thought of the concept of a vignette, we were off and going.

Gay completed the daunting task of woodburning the sketch and then Bev worked to meet the big challenge of creating the beautiful, ever-changing blues of Lake Tahoe. The other challenge was to protect the lovely beaded headdress of Pat Boyd’s sculpted figure which was right next to our area……saran wrap and holding our mouths just right helped a lot!

Working on this gourd was a collaborative effort by all of the members of our gourd patch. Even though only two of us worked directly on it, everyone in our patch was working in spirit. We are proud to be part of this project.

The Tahoe Truckee Gourd Patch

May 22, 2003

Colleen Platt, Don Rideau, and Carol Cherry, Foothill Gourders from the El Dorado County Patch

We were honored to have been selected by our gourd patch to represent them with our artistic endeavors.

Our theme, setting and subject matter were chosen to reflect the Foothill Gourders name, geographical location and history of the gold discovery that resulted in the greatest movement of people ever.

The woman's braid is made from Don's hair and the gold was mined in the vicinity of Coloma.

A gold miner panning for gold.

The project was a collaboration between Carol Cherry, Colleen Platt and Don Rideau. The days spent working together created new friendships and were a wonderful experience.

May harmony and good spirits accompany this Traveling Gourd on its journey.

Foothill Gourders

April 24, 2003

Thanks to Rebecca Cileo, I am a total Gourd Addict! About 5 years a go I decided this was one way to spend time with my best friend of thirty-plus years and learn something new. It wasn't long before I had my own power tools, rolling toolbox and hordes of gourds!

When the "Big Gourd" was headed this way, my patch, The Northern Sierra Gourd Patch, picked me to work on the gourd. I had a design in mind and was anticipating the gourd's arrival. When Rebecca and Norma delivered it and unpacked it from its traveling box, my preconceived plan turned to mush in my head! Oh no, the idea will not work!

Sharon Parker, another gourdist, offered to donate one of her locally mined Gold Nuggets to the project. After the design was complete, I asked Marcia Holmes, yet another gourdist, to inlay the nugget with her air powered carving tool. What a cool tool!

I'm really glad the "Big Gourd" is on its way to its new adventure. It has been an honor to be a part of this unique work.

Your friend in gourds,

Jackie Berg
Forbestown, CA

March 20, 2003

Seven years ago we planted gourd seeds found in a vegetable seed catalog. We got 4 gourds that first year and wondered, what the heck do you do with these things?

Thanks to CGS (California Gourd Society) and the many friends I have made through these years, I got a clue!

I must admit that I felt rather intimidated by this gourd. Seriously, look at the work that was already on it. But, the gourd group voted for me to do it!

I wound up throwing away all my pre-conceived ideas and let the "gourd talk to me". It made this a very pleasurable adventure and I now feel quite privileged to be a part of this!

Rebecca Cileo,
Olinda, CA
Shasta Tehema Gourd Patch

March 06, 2003

I'm Kris Mangliers of Boulder Creek, California, representing the Calabash Club of Silicon Valley. I am extremely honored to put my hand to this fabulous gourd and I would like to thank the Friday work group for their words of encouragement and support in helping to decide upon the final design.

My design involves lots of layering of color - mostly dyes - to achieve a sort of "mossy" look. Little touches of metallic paint gives it a bit of a punch.

These words gave me the push I needed to get started on this exquisite gourd: Be Courageous, Have Faith, Go Forward.

Kris Mangliers

Janurary 22, 2003

Jonah 4:6
"And the Lord God prepared a gourd and made it to come up over Jonah, and that it might be a shadow over his head to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceedingly glad of the gourd."

I thank God that He prepared a gourd for me! When I saw the gourds in the fields in California, I was exceedingly glad. Wow! What a journey. 24 years and 3 great kids later, the gourds become a part of you. I give a lot of my success to my lovely wife Linda, who's been with me all the steps of the way. The Lord is great and worthy to be praised! I've learned to give my whole life to the Lord. A lot of people everywhere ask me, "How do you come up with all those designs?", I always tell them the Lord is good and worthy to be praised. Thanks to Larry and Judy for all their support. To tell you the truth, the journey's just begun.

Robert Rivera

"The Traveling Gourd"
by Phoebe Welburn

Last year California Gourd Society (CGS), our local California chapter of the American Gourd Society, devised a brilliant plan for bringing gourd artists together and raising funds for the chapter -- the creation of one spectacular "Community" gourd, which would include artwork contributed by members of each of the 22+ Gourd Patches (the regional groups that comprise the California Gourd Society).

Doug Welburn with the CGS Community Gourd

The CGS came to the Welburn Gourd Farm to ask if we would donate a gourd suitable for the project, and we were honored to do so. Doug Welburn searched through all the fields until he finally found it -- a giant bushel basket gourd, beautifully symmetrical with an extra thick shell! The coordination and completion of such an elaborate gourd required the dedication of one or more CGS members who would head up the project. Enter Larry and Judy Cunningham and the "Steering Committee" - Leigh Adams, Judy Cunningham, Carol Morrison, Pat Boyd, and Don Weeke, CGS members who all generously volunteered to donate their time to the endeavor.

Larry and Judy Cunningham stopped by the Welburn Gourd Farm last month and were kind enough to bring out the Community Gourd to show Welburn customers and staff members. The gourd had already been crafted with beautiful additions by Judy Cunningham, Leigh Adams, Carol Morrison, Don Weeke, and Pat Boyd, and was on its way to the studio of famous gourd artist Robert Rivera for its next addition! Judy and Larry stayed for hours answering questions and displaying the gourd for photographs!

Once we saw the gourd and heard the stories about it, we knew we had to create a special column in The Gourdzette so the entire gourd community could follow the gourd on its travels and be continuously updated with each new edition. This week's feature article gives you all the information on the Community Gourd (affectionately called the "Traveling Gourd") and brings you up to date with what has been contributed so far and what is yet to come!

Judy Cunningham answers questions about the "Traveling Gourd" at the Welburn Gourd Farm

Judy Cunningham was kind enough to bring us up to date on the project (taken with permission from "The Golden Gourd"):

The purpose of the project is to bring all the groups within the California Gourd Society together to work on a joint project of adding art work to one "Community Gourd." The BIG GOURD will be raffled off and a winner chosen during the 2004 Asilomar Conference to benefit the California Gourd Society. ANYONE may purchase tickets and you may win even if you are not present at the conference.

The Community Gourd

Editor's note: Raffle tickets are not yet available for purchase, but we will be announcing all the details on how you can purchase tickets in future editions of The Gourdzette. The Committee members began the work on the gourd, and it will journey from one Gourd Patch to the next, ending up in Southern California in time for the conference at Asilomar in Monterey, California. One or more members from each Patch will be chosen to represent their Patch by donating their artwork on one area of the gourd. The individual (or individuals) are to be chosen by vote at a regularly held meeting, or by asking interested members to be part of a drawing in determining the artist (or artists).

A special journal and disposable camera will accompany the gourd so that each Patch can add comments and a photo about working on this project. Artists are also asked to write a brief bio about themselves and include information about their Patch.

Judy also informed me that they will be picking up the gourd next weekend from Robert Rivera, who is scheduled to have his art donation completed on the gourd at that time. Be sure to check out the "Traveling Gourd" section in the next Gourdzette for the first chance to see photos and of Robert Rivera's addition to the Community Gourd! Here are photos and all the journal entrees from artists who have contributed to the Community Gourd so far:

Judy told me she was going to put her work on the bottom. Well, that has to be seen. So I woke up one morning thinking that the gourd has to be up on legs so that all the wonderful works can readily be seen. Hopefully the legs will help present the work that's done by all the other gourd artists. -Don Weeke

Lines drawn & woodburned by Judy Cunningham

Crate Designed and Built by Larry Cunningham

On the last day of Asilomar, April 14, 2002, Kathy Riker announced that Welburn had just donated this beautiful gourd, and she then handed it to me to be the head of a project where gourd patches from all over California would put their artwork on the gourd...I was both surprised and very pleased! -Judy Cunningham

"Have you seen IT yet?" Judy Cunningham asked. I was escorted to .... the perfect gourd. Upon three Don Weeke legs and a blissful wave of etched spaced perched THE GOURD, looking for all the world like a visitor from another planet. Underneath was a Chinese wood carving, no! That's Judy's work. Oh my! And I was expected to add something? Well, I couldn't. It took almost forever to come to grips with my anxieties and realize that waiting until my skill level grew might take a tad too long. At last I jumped in and did my piece. And now this collaborative work will go to Pat Boyd, carrying a piece of my heart. I am honored and proud to be a part of the joy of this gourd. -Leigh Adams 8-13-02

"It is the most incredible gourdeous gourd I've ever seen", were the first words out of my lips. And with all of the stunning work that was already done on it, I was delighted to be asked to participate in its journey around the California gourd patches. I'm Pat Boyd, and I do figurative gourd art. After seeing the "Big Gourd" I thought there must be a place for a head and a pair of hands. As I was admiring the work of Leigh Adams, the idea came to me. "I will put a person embracing & surrounding Liegh's beautiful bird". The challenge was on! Completing this project was an honor and an opportunity to be a part of "Gourd History" as it is becoming an accepted art category in the 21st century. -Pat Boyd 9/14/02

	Pat Boyd, Leigh Adams, Judy Cunningham with Robert Rivera and his wife Linda.
When Robert Rivera saw the Community Gourd at the L.A. Gourd Fair in September, 2002. He said he would like to be a part of our project. The photo to the left shows what inspired him to join us.....

I'm delighted to add my lines to "Big Gourd". My unique style of geometric design is known as tessellatious and refers to the fact that each part of the design also fits into a complementary design that borders it. The challenge is to make rigorous geometric shapes fit the gentle curves of an earthy gourd. All the burning is done with a hot tool - and yes - it takes a long time to do. Thats why I'm called "Slow Burn". -Carol Morrison 11-20-2002

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