O B Gourdworks
Conway Lundquist, Artist
GOURD FACTS
WHAT IS A GOURD?
Gourds are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family (same as melons and squash) and grow very much like a pumpkin. Their sprawling vines can reach 25 to 50 feet in length. Gourds are categorized by shape. However, there is quite a bit of variation within each shape.
I reccomend gourds from the Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook, CA. These gourds are known for their super-thick shells and are easy to clean. Because the gourds are grown organically, they are much safer to work with when cutting and sanding for art projects.
Timeline for Gourd Growing:
March: Gourds are planted after the previous year's crop has been harvested. Seeds germinate in 8-10 days.
Mid-May: Plants start to set fruit. If pollinated, the fruit will grow into a full-sized gourd.
May to November: This is the main growing period for the Plants and Gourds.
Mid-November: First winter frost kills gourd vines. In frost-free areas like Ocean Beach, the plant will naturally begin to die around this time. Gourds are fully mature and now begin to dry (cure). Gourds may be cut from the vine once the plant has died or the stem has turned brown. They are then hung on a fence or other structure and allowed to dry for several months.
UNIQUE OBJECTS OF ART
Gourds are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family (same as melons and squash) and grow very much like a pumpkin. Their sprawling vines can reach 25 to 50 feet in length. Gourds are categorized by shape. However, there is quite a bit of variation within each shape.
I reccomend gourds from the Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook, CA. These gourds are known for their super-thick shells and are easy to clean. Because the gourds are grown organically, they are much safer to work with when cutting and sanding for art projects.
Timeline for Gourd Growing:
March: Gourds are planted after the previous year's crop has been harvested. Seeds germinate in 8-10 days.
Mid-May: Plants start to set fruit. If pollinated, the fruit will grow into a full-sized gourd.
May to November: This is the main growing period for the Plants and Gourds.
Mid-November: First winter frost kills gourd vines. In frost-free areas like Ocean Beach, the plant will naturally begin to die around this time. Gourds are fully mature and now begin to dry (cure). Gourds may be cut from the vine once the plant has died or the stem has turned brown. They are then hung on a fence or other structure and allowed to dry for several months.
UNIQUE OBJECTS OF ART
- Gourds have been used since the dawn of humanity as storage, water-bearing and cooking vessels.
- Examples of gourd enhanced with artistic designs have been found that date to 5,000 B.C.
- Gourds must be dried for several months. The outside of the gourd must then be cleaned.
- It is common for the gourd to then be cut open and the outside cleaned of the dried pulp and seeds.
- The gourd may then be drawn upon, carved, wood-burned (pyrography), engraved, painted, inlaid with gemstones - whatever the artist chooses for that gourd.
- Many functional objects may be crafted from gourds, then artistically enhanced.
- There are state, national and regional gourd organizations dedicated to increasing awareness of gourds as an artistic medium. Their purpose is to support the artists who choose to express their art through gourds.
- Please support your local artists, whatever their media !
