Southwest Gourd Fine Art Show

If like most folks your experience with carving gourds is limited to the annual Halloween pumpkin-carving ritual, the imaginative creations achieved by the Gourd artists on display at Kerr Arts & Cultural Center during May/June will be awe-inspiring. Using a wide variety of techniques including painting, carving, engraving, dying, and burning, they somehow manage to turn gourds of every possible shape and size into awesome works of art.

Deriving from a folk tradition that extends far back into history “Gourding” has grown hugely popular, with the Texas Gourd Society now numbering close to 300 active members. According to Judy Richie, artist/owner of Red Cloud Originals gallery in Arizona, “Gourd art is the fastest-growing form of art. Museums the world over have wonderful examples of gourd art with many of the gourds as old as 7000 years. My love and appreciation of the ancient art of the Native Americans along with contemporary designs inspires my artwork.”