About ten years ago,
my friend David told me that he knew "just the thing" for me. He
knew of an artistic medium that would fit my bill. Off he took me
to a dusty little gourd farm 70 miles north of my house, and I was
hooked. These intriguing cousins to pumpkins called to me in all
their smooth-shelled, unique diversity. They called to be
painted, drawn upon, woven onto, carved, inlaid and
pyroengraved. In short, they called to be touched. And I
answered the call--if not with the expertise and talent of those known
worldwide for such work--at least with delight and enthusiasm.
What is a Gourd, Anyway?
The brief answer is that they are
hard-shelled cousins to pumpkins, zucchini, and squash. They have
been used for thousands of years by many world cultures as containers
or vessels for cooking and eating; musical instruments; birdhouses;
religious artifacts; and art pieces. In short, they were one of
God's best ideas!
A Few of Mine
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