GOURD NEWS ITEMS
Manatee Arts Festival, Apollo Beach, Florida
February 10 & 11, 2007
Our First Art Show in Florida was a rousing success.
Sales were good and several photographers and writers
were getting info for articles. The result were articles in
The South Shore News, The Waterfront News and
The Tampa Tribune. Fine Gourd Art is a new experience
for many people in this area so educating people to the
beauty of Gourd Art is a priority.
Our Booth At Apollo Beach Show
The event was well attended, great music & food
RELOCATING TO FLORIDA , September 2006
After being in Vista CA. for many years we are
relocating to Ruskin Florida in the Tampa Bay area.
I will have a studio in my new home and plan on
continuing my gourd art and doing some workshops
and art shows. I will stay in touch with all my gourd
artist friends and my loyal customers and collectors.
We will maintain the web site and add new work
as it is completed.
International Gourd Art Festival 2006
We had our best show yet at the Welburn Farm this
year but it was bittersweet since it may have been
our last show in the San Diego area.
I am so excited, a while back I got a call from New Jersey
asking me to do an interview for Crafts Report Magazine.
I was very honored and humbled by the request.
The magazine can be purchased at Barnes & Noble
or Borders Books.
Mandolina
Our entry in the 3 Dimensional Fine Art Division
of The 2005 San Diego County Fair won a
"People's Choice Award" and found a new
home with Peter & Barbara Jones of Olivenhein
We will miss her.
Fallbrook Art and Cultural Center 2005
This years show was the best ever and featured many of
the worlds greatest Gourd Artists.
Our exhibit at the Art & Cultural Center 2005
2005 International Gourd Festival
What a wonderful time we have every year at the
Welburn Gourd Farm in DeLuz, CA. In addition to
dozens of gourd artisans and suppliers there is also
great food and entertainment. The California Gourd
Society sponsors a competition for advanced and
novice artists. This year our "Fire Goddess" won
a ribbon in the advanced Doll division'
Fire Goddess
International Relations
At the 2004 International Gourd Festival held at the Welburn
Gourd Farm in Fallbrook, CA, The California Gourd Society and
president Leigh Adams hosted a delegation from China who
had a demonstration and presentation detailing their method
of growing gourds in a mold to create different designs. On
Saturday one of the delegates stopped by our booth. Her name
was You Qi, former Director- General of The Bureau For External
Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture, China, and currently the
President of the Chinese Association of Oriental Cultural Studies.
Despite the language barrier Diane was quite taken with this lovely
Chinese woman and presented her with one of her gourd pins.
The next day You Qi returned and presented Diane with a hand
painted and woven good luck token and a silk scarf. It really added an
"International" flair to the festival. The day was made even better
when Diane's Zebra Lady piece won first place in the competition and
was sold to a collector, Thanks Isabel.
Diane presenting You Qi with a pin
You Qi presenting Diane with a good luck token
and a silk scarf.
Zebrina Wins Blue Ribbon
ASILOMAR
In April 2004 Diane attended the Asilomar Center in
Monterey CA. Known as "The Gourd College" and
hosted by The California Gourd Society, the beautiful
facility on the Pacific Ocean welcomed gourd artists
from all over the world and was a wonderful opportunity
for artists to share their love of gourds with other
like-minded people.The weekend program included
speakers,demonstrations and classes given by world
renown Gourd Artists as well as an auction, gourd mask
making competition, dinner parties and great camaraderie.
Everyone had a fabulous and informative weekend.
Rhonda Epstein, Diane, Donna Meyer, & Donna Frider
off to "Gourd College"
Some of the Gourd masks in the competition
Taking a class from Angela Briggs and Kathy Riker
Diane's Butterfly mask Friendship Gourd
The International Gourd Art Festival 2003
The International Gourd Art Festival at
The Welburn Farm, June, 2003, was the best
one yet and our Masai Warrior won first place
in the African Heritage Advanced Class.
Our exhibit at the Fallbrook Art and Cultural Center.
June 7. to June 29, 2003
GOURD WORKSHOPS
Here are some photos taken at
the workshops in July & August, 2003.
If you are interested in participating in one of
Diane's fun and informative workshops fill out
the form on the GOURD WORKSHOP page
and let us know when you would be available
for a class
At a recent Art Faire a customer was admiring
Diane's work and after purchasing two pieces
was taken with a parrot pin and a large Gourd
with a figure on it. He asked if it would be possible
to put a parrot on a large gourd and this custom
piece was the result. Thanks Anthony.
Diane with her signature gourd dolls at the
Fallbrook Art and Cultural Center, June 2002
VISIT TO FLORIDA GOURD SHOW
Gourd News: On a recent cross country motor trip from California to Florida,
visiting relatives and exploring this great country we decided to visit the
Florida Gourd Show in Bellview. As Diane, Bill and daughter Jina were
exploring the main tent, suddenly there was a loud yell "DIANE PICCOLA"
which startled us because we didn't know anyone. A woman came running
up to us and said "I recognized your pin from your web site" referring to the
gourd pins Diane and Jina were wearing. After Diane recovered from her
embarrassment she discovered that her new friend D. J. Lorenz was president
of the Florida Gourd Society. D.J. who was sporting a great gourd shirt, then
corralled Diane and set about introducing her to many of the artists who were
exhibiting their work including Lynette Asselta (who won best of show),
Gail Beveridge (magnificent artist) and many more. Diane also met
Mr. & Mrs. John Sturgeon from Indiana who is president of the
American Gourd Society. There was also a local newsperson from
The Voice Of Marion newspaper who took pictures that were included in the article
about the show. It was all a little overwhelming but so nice to know that our
web site is getting out there and showcasing Diane's work.
Gourd people are so warm and wonderful.
D.J. Lorenz and Diane Lynnette Gail Diane D.J.
The Crew at the International Gourd Festival 2001
Billy Diane Jina Pat Bob
GOURDS are members of the squash family and when
harvested dry to hard, thick, woody shells. Known as the
pottery of the plant world they can be fashioned into useful
and decorative objects. Gourds have been used and decorated
for centuries with ancient gourd cultivation reported in Africa,
Egypt, China, Mexico and South America. Specimens have been
found in an Egyptian tomb of the 5th dynasty and have
been associated with human use as early as 7000 B.C.
Given minimal care, a cured gourd will last indefinitely.
Your gourd, selected for its shape and durability, has been colored
with dyes, and inks. They can be safely used for the storage of food,
dried flowers and other goods or simply enjoyed for their esthetic value.
Care for these gourds by keeping them out of DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
Even a strong indirectsunlight may effect the fine inks and dyes
used in processing the gourds.
