Drums Of All Sorts

Mark Sawasky, a percussionist located in Corktown, (Detroit, MI) is featured here (Model D Media). He is an avid collector of drums of all kinds and origins, including a good many gourd-based instruments from around the world.

The story (linked here) includes a number of photos, including some of the gourd instruments.

Ottawa Folk Festival

Currently underway (though Sunday) is the Ottawa Folk Festiva, Ottawa, Canada. Headline acts include Kris Kristofferson.

One of the featured musicians is Mali-born Jah Youssouf, who plays a large gourd-based instrument called a n'goni (shown here).

More information on the festival can be obtained at www.ottawafolk.org.

Halls of Gourds

Gourd artists Joanne and Albert Hall of Duval, Florida, are featured in an article in the Daily Sun Online Edition.

The Halls have been gourd artists for 13 years, and have made hundreds of finished items over the years.

It's pleasing, once again, to see gourd artists highlighted in the local press.

Gourd Birdhouse Class, Cookeville TN

Cookeville, Tennessee:

The Putnam County Master Gardeners are hosting a Gourd Birdhouse painting event, September 4, from 6-9 p.m. The class will be held in the Master Gardener's Fairgrounds building.

For information on this class (and other events), contact Donna Jasitt at (931) 432-2113.

Gourd and Basketry, Kentucky

A basketry and gourd event will take place in Berea, Kentucky, August 17-18. The event will be held at the Kentucky Artisan Center, 975 Walnut Meadow Rd., Berea.

For information, call the Center at (859) 985-5448.

Berea is located 40 miles south of Lexington, KY.

Gourd Art, Alabama

Dothan, Alabama recently had their "Taylor-Made" show, featuring many home-made items. Included among the exhibits was the work of local artist Harold Barron. Barron has been a gourd artist for about a year.

Here's the writeup on Barron and other show interests in the local paper-site, Dothan Eagle.

Dothan is located in the southern corner of Alabama, near the borders of Georgia and Florida, midway between Montgomery, AL and Tallahassee, FL.

Oklahoma City Pow Wow

The Oklahoma City Indian Clinic is holding its 3rd annual Pow Wow at the Cox Pavilion, Oklahoma City, this coming Saturday (August 18th).

The event will begin with Gourd Dancing at 2pm. Dozens of vendors will be displaying and selling their wares (an excellent source of fiber arts and materials).

The Cox Pavilion is located at 1 Myriad Gardens, Oklahoma City (downtown). For information on the Pow Wow, contact Steve Barse at (405) 948-4900, ext. 161.

Gourd Day in Raleigh, NC

This Saturday (August 11) is "Gourd Day" at the State Farmer's Market, Raleigh, NC. Lots of gourd crafts, gourds, gourd seeds and more... 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The State Farmer's Market is located at 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh, NC. Call (919) 733-7417 for more information.

Source: IndyWeek

When a Gourd isn't a Gourd...

Just recently came across this link for Carroll Industries, a company in Missouri that manufactures birdhouses. Among their products are Gourd Birdhouses. But these birdhouses are not gourds as we know them... they're gourd-shaped aluminum or plastic (not certain) products. Definitely not organic gourds.

The things that make you go "hmmm..."

Gourd Music Gathering, New Mexico

Calling All Gourd Musicians! Cathryne and Tom Richards are rounding up all Gourd Society Members (New Mexico) who have gourd musical instruments to come and play at the first Rehearsal of the Gourd Band on Sunday, August 19th (1-5 p.m.) at Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE, Alburquerque, NM. (just west of Eubank in Los Altos Park). (details here)

In October, Native American dancers will come and join us at the Celebration of Gourds. Bring your instrument on August 19th and plan on playing with a group of about 20 people.

Call Cathryne or Tom Richards at (505) 771-3638 to sign up and find out more information about this opportunity!

Where's the Link to....?

The Gourdblog is still new by most standards... it's still in its first month since inception. On average, I've been able to add two or three items a day, with that number surely to go up.

It's an evolving site, with new stuff added regularly, and new links added as well. You'll see on the one side a list of farms, for example... it's not a complete list because (a) not all farms have been located, or (b) some locations don't have web access or email (e.g. the Smucker farm in Amish country, Pennsylvania).

So, if you come across this list and see that you're not on it, or know someone who's not on it, it's not because you or they are being ignored... I just haven't found you or added you yet! Of course, you can always stir the fire under this mass and send in an email requesting to be added. (Stirring of the the fire is encouraged and welcomed!)

The email address is gourdblog@gmail.com

More links will be added in various categories... Gourd Artists, Suppliers, Galleries, and much more.

South Carolina Wood Carver's Show

The 7th Annual Wood Carver's Show in Orangeburg, SC, includes (for the second year running) a Gourd Category.

The Show is held September 29 - October 7, at the Orangeburg Fine Arts Center.

For information on the show, including rules and entry form, click here.

Orangeburg is located between Augusta and Charleston, SC (80 miles east of Augusta, 80 miles northwest of Charleston).

Texas Gourd Show... Mark your calendars!

From Rebecca Wise, Texas Gourd Society Advertising Manager:

The Texas Gourd Society presents its 12th Annual Lone Star Gourd Festival at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington St., Waco, TX, October 27th and 28th, 2007. There you will find gourd artists & crafters, demonstrations & seminars, a judged competition & raffle, plus cleaned & dried gourds, tools, equipment & accessories. Visit our Kids Kraft Korner & Bookstore. Adults $5.00, Children under 12, FREE.

Call (806) 523-9092 or (817) 726-6653for more information, or visit www.TexasGourdSociety.org. Waco is located in the "Heart of Texas" on I-35 two hours south of Dallas.

August 17-18: Gourd Gala, Cookeville, TN

Cookeville, TN -- The Upper Cumberland Arts Alliance (UCAA) is holding its Gourd Gala August 17 (12:30-6 p.m.) and August 18 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) A reception will be held Friday, August 17 (4-6 p.m.).

The Gourd Gala will show, sell and present demonstrations by Gourd artists. There will also be photography, paintings, weavings and other media using gourds as a theme.

Artists interested in participating may call Alice Maiwald at (931) 265-0338 or e-mail uppercumberlandartsalliance@yahoo.com for more information or space reservations.

Cookeville is located on the Interstate 40 in eastern Tennessee, about 80 miles east of Nashville.

Gourd Appearance in Santa Ana, CA

The Santa Ana Zoo is holding its final summer event this Sunday, August 5. There will be treats, and also crafts and collectibles presented by the Orange County Gourd Society (OC Chapter of the California Gourd Society). Admission for Zoo members is $5, non-members $10.

Full article from the Orange County Register. For more information, contact the Zoo at www.santaanazoo.org, or call (714) 704-3777.

Visit the OC Gourd Society Chapter for more information on Chapter membership and meetings.

Santa Ana is located just south of Los Angeles in the heart of Orange County.

A Griot and his Kora

Duke University in North Carolina is hosting a variety of lectures at the campus this fall, open to the general public.

In November, the University will host a presentation by Mamadou Diabate, a Mali storyteller (griot) and his Gourd instrument, a kora.

A Kora is an African 21-string instrument resembling a guitar or bass, with the main body made from a large gourd.

For more information on the presentation, contact Duke at (919) 684-2823.

Artists Join Forces to Start a Gallery

If you're having trouble getting a gallery to display your work, perhaps the solution is to create your own gallery. Just as the saying goes, if you can't join 'em, beat 'em at their own game. Or something like that.

Basketweaver and Gourd Artist Joyce Causey combined with other artists to create their own co-op in Bainbridge, Georgia. Read more on this story here (including a video) (WALB.com)

The Co-op Gallery is hosted by the Firehouse Gallery, located at 119 W. Water St., Bainbridge, GA 31717.

Bainbridge is located in southern Georgia near the Georgia/Florida border, 40 miles north of Tallahassee, FL. For information, contact the Gallery at (912) 243-1010.

Following the Banjo trail

Musician Jayme Stone, a banjo enthusiast, did a little research to uncover the origins of the twangy instrument, and discovered that they began as Gourd Banjos, originating in West Africa.

Read the full story here... (Canada.com)

The Gourd... A Cure for Asthma?

The Nigerian Tribune reports on interesting natural methods of dealing with asthma, even suggesting that the affliction can be cured.

One of the methods involves gourd juice: "A cupful of fresh bitter gourd juice mixed with a table spoonful of pure honey taken once daily for three to four months depending on severity of asthma, according to natural medicine practitioners would cure asthma and chronic bronchitis."

It's hard to say if this works. There is a great deal of promise in natural methods that may or may not work, depending on the person. As an asthma and severe allergy sufferer myself, I'd look to any possibility with hope, mixed with a certain degree of skepticism.

Stay tuned...

Art Exhibit featuring Gourd Artist, Escondido, CA

"Cultural Fusion" and "Weaving Connections" is the title of an exhibit held now through September 30 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA. Escondido is located in northern San Diego County, about 33 miles north of San Diego.

Gourd artist Keely Berry-LeBlanc will have pieces on exhibit.

The California Center for the Arts is located in the Escondido Museum, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA. Entry is $5. For more information, click here, or call (760) 839-4120. 

Jack's Grains & Gourds -- Going Out of Business Sale

Jack's Grains & Gourds are selling off supplies and going out of business. They're done as soon as everything is sold.

Jack has about 10,000 packets of Gourd seeds available for $1 ea. plus postage. Purchase 1-10 packets for $2; 11-25 for $3; 26-50 for $4; and 50+ packets for $5. 

Jack also has about 3,000 dry gourds available for $1 apiece; these, however, will have to be bought directly from his farm (no shipping of gourds available).

The farm is located in far northern Illinois, 3 miles below Wisconsin, 20 miles northwest of Rockford, IL. The address is:

 Jack's Grains & Gourds

 14105 Rowley Rd.

Durand, IL 61024-9689

Email: JacksGrainsAndGourds@Stateline-ISP.com

The farm is shown by the green arrow near Durand, upper left corner. Chicago is in the bottom right.