All About Gourds�An Open Gourd Competition
September 8-October 10, 2009
Quality craftsmanship and creative abandon abound at the 2009 All About Gourds exhibit currently on display at the Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild�s Ice House Gallery. Now in its eighth year, the show features 76 pieces by 28 artists from 11 different states as well as an artist from India. Five theme categories challenged this year�s artists to explore the functional and artistic possibilities of the humble gourd in competition for cash prizes and awards.
The 2009 $500 Best of Show award was presented to Lois Platt of Taylorsville, Kentucky, for �Sir George,� a large blue painted dragon with clawed feet and a long winding tail.
First place in the Real and Imaginary category was awarded to Sherry Benedict of Plymouth, Indiana, for a small sculpture �The Gourd Father,� while Honorable Mention went to Farmington, Kentucky, artist Fred Merida�s �First Date.� Merida�s large standing figure has the head of a donkey and holds a bouquet of flowers.
Kenneth Tyler of Wingo, Kentucky, created the winning entry in the For the Birds category. Tyler�s whimsical gourd assemblage �Bird Motel� is extremely bird-friendly offering feeding, bathing and sleeping accommodations. An Honorable Mention was awarded to Christine Manno from Brussels, Wisconsin, for her Japanese Wren House.
Wonders of the West first place was awarded to Kathleen Sherman of Denver, Colorado, for a gourd mask titled �Shall We Dance.� Constructed from an oval shaped gourd piece placed inside a snake gourd, the mask is painted in black, white, and earthy tones and embellished with seeds and tiny mirror pieces. Virginia Geiger of Dade City, Florida, won an Honorable Mention for her woodburned bowl with a pine needle rim titled �Southwestern Indian.�
| Jackie Feissle of St. Louis, Missouri, won first place in the Gourdeous Garb category with �Earth Spirit,� a wood-burned, stained and painted mask adorned with feathers. Christine Manno�s tiny gourd pin won an Honorable Mention.
Pam Johnson from Waynesville, Missouri, claimed first place in the Beautiful Bowl division with �Persian Container, � an intricately wood burned, dyed and painted bowl with metal leafing and yarn-wrapped cord rim. An Honorable Mention went to Karen Fetterman of Bowling Green, Kentucky, for her wood burned and ink dyed canteen gourd bowl �It�s Tropical.�
All About Gourds, on display until October 10th, is the focal point of Mayfield�s annual Gourd Patch Festival to be held Saturday, September 19th. The event, located in and around the Ice House Gallery, is sponsored in cooperation with the City of Mayfield, the Mayfield Tourism Commission, and the Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild. Besides the international gourd art exhibition, the celebration will include gourd vendors, artists, and crafters, activities for children, a gourd racecar derby, concessions, and live entertainment including a gourd band.
The Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild is a certified non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1990. Located in Mayfield�s historical icehouse, the Guild supports and promotes the arts through educational programs, events and art exhibitions. It is located at 120 North Eighth Street in Mayfield. For more information, please contact the Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild by telephone at 270-247-6971, or by e-mail at [email protected], or visit the website at www.icehousearts.org.
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