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Virginia Gourd Festival offers art, workshops, lots of fun
By Bobbie Whitehead
Updated Thursday, November 4, 2010
When Gail Ratliffe planted a few gourd seeds several years ago, she didn’t know what she’d do with the gourds once they grew.
Now, Ratliffe creates a variety of artwork using raw gourds – from lighted snowmen to decorative gourd vessels.
“You buy a pack of seeds and plant them, and the next thing you know, you’ve got this huge vine like Jack and the Beanstalk with gourds growing on it,” Ratliffe said. “Not long after I began growing gourds, I ran across this notice that there was going to be a gourd festival. So I decided to go.”
Since attending her first Virginia Gourd Festival four years ago, Ratliffe said she’s been a gourd artist ever since.
Updated Thursday, November 4, 2010
When Gail Ratliffe planted a few gourd seeds several years ago, she didn’t know what she’d do with the gourds once they grew.
Now, Ratliffe creates a variety of artwork using raw gourds – from lighted snowmen to decorative gourd vessels.
“You buy a pack of seeds and plant them, and the next thing you know, you’ve got this huge vine like Jack and the Beanstalk with gourds growing on it,” Ratliffe said. “Not long after I began growing gourds, I ran across this notice that there was going to be a gourd festival. So I decided to go.”
Since attending her first Virginia Gourd Festival four years ago, Ratliffe said she’s been a gourd artist ever since.
Held by the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society, a chapter of the American Gourd Society, the festival features gourd artists at work.
In addition, artists sell their finished works and offer workshops. Some raw gourd vendors and gourd tool vendors sell items such as mini jigsaw drills, food vendors and much more.
At the festival, typically lasting two days, visitors can take gourd craft classes. For example, participants can learn how to make a swordfish out of a gourd, learn textured leaf techniques, how to do inlaid resins as well as carve filigree and inlay stone. Participants can also learn how to make a gourd drum, among many other projects. Click here for the class topics and schedule.
“The neat thing about gourds is you can use stains on them,” Ratliffe said. “There are many different ways to paint a gourd – you can use any type of medium that you can use on wood. Some artists use oils, acrylics, pencils and pastels. We have all the vendors with different mediums to use on gourds.”
Ratliffe said the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society is a noncompetitive group with creative and encouraging members, many who have years of experience with gourd crafts.
“Some members travel to other festivals to learn new ideas to share with everyone else,” Ratliffe said. “The festival is like a reunion for the members.”
In addition to selling artwork at the festival, some VLGS members operate their own craft shops as well as travel the crafts circuit.
Based in Stephens City, Va., Ratliffe said the VLGS wants to expand its membership.
“We’re really interested as a society in growing statewide,” said Ratliffe, who added that becoming a member of the society artist has been a “good learning experience.”
In addition, artists sell their finished works and offer workshops. Some raw gourd vendors and gourd tool vendors sell items such as mini jigsaw drills, food vendors and much more.
At the festival, typically lasting two days, visitors can take gourd craft classes. For example, participants can learn how to make a swordfish out of a gourd, learn textured leaf techniques, how to do inlaid resins as well as carve filigree and inlay stone. Participants can also learn how to make a gourd drum, among many other projects. Click here for the class topics and schedule.
“The neat thing about gourds is you can use stains on them,” Ratliffe said. “There are many different ways to paint a gourd – you can use any type of medium that you can use on wood. Some artists use oils, acrylics, pencils and pastels. We have all the vendors with different mediums to use on gourds.”
Ratliffe said the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society is a noncompetitive group with creative and encouraging members, many who have years of experience with gourd crafts.
“Some members travel to other festivals to learn new ideas to share with everyone else,” Ratliffe said. “The festival is like a reunion for the members.”
In addition to selling artwork at the festival, some VLGS members operate their own craft shops as well as travel the crafts circuit.
Based in Stephens City, Va., Ratliffe said the VLGS wants to expand its membership.
“We’re really interested as a society in growing statewide,” said Ratliffe, who added that becoming a member of the society artist has been a “good learning experience.”
The Virginia Gourd Festival features vendors, gourd art, gourds, tools and more. (Photos courtesy of the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society.)
Cultures all over the world have used gourds for centuries for religious ceremonies and rituals, for carrying water and for utensils, she said.
Gourds have a long growing period, and Ratliffe said growers must wait until the stems turn brown before picking them, so the gourds don’t rot. Then, the gourds must dry or cure.
Gourds varieties include the hard shell and soft shell types. Both need to be cleaned or prepared for usage. This step involves removing the thin gourd skin. Underneath, though, the gourd body feels hard. To remove the skin, artists soak the skin in a little water and scrub the membrane.
But one part of becoming a gourd grower and artist, Ratliffe said, is that gourd artists like to decide what to do with a gourd by turning it into a 3-dimensional art piece.
The gourd farmers bring different types of gourds each year, and gourds grow in a variety of shapes and sizes, she said.
“The gourds are little individuals, which is the fun part of growing them,” Ratliffe said.
For more information on the Virginia Gourd Festival, visit the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society web site, http://americangourdsociety.org/virginia/festival.html,
Gourds have a long growing period, and Ratliffe said growers must wait until the stems turn brown before picking them, so the gourds don’t rot. Then, the gourds must dry or cure.
Gourds varieties include the hard shell and soft shell types. Both need to be cleaned or prepared for usage. This step involves removing the thin gourd skin. Underneath, though, the gourd body feels hard. To remove the skin, artists soak the skin in a little water and scrub the membrane.
But one part of becoming a gourd grower and artist, Ratliffe said, is that gourd artists like to decide what to do with a gourd by turning it into a 3-dimensional art piece.
The gourd farmers bring different types of gourds each year, and gourds grow in a variety of shapes and sizes, she said.
“The gourds are little individuals, which is the fun part of growing them,” Ratliffe said.
For more information on the Virginia Gourd Festival, visit the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society web site, http://americangourdsociety.org/virginia/festival.html,
Before using, a thin skin must be removed from the gourd. (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society.)
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