Art education focus of Gourd Festival

The Ninth Annual International Gourd Art Festival, happening June 25 and 26 at the Welburn Gourd Farm in north San Diego County, is bringing in master gourd art teachers from around the world to teach gourd art classes June 23 and 24, the two days preceding the big annual festival.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in the demand for gourd art classes,” says Phoebe Welburn, assistant festival director and marketing manager for the event. “What amazes festival visitors the most is seeing raw gourds in the bins selling from $1 to $12, and 10 feet away there is an artist selling decorated gourds for $500-$5,000. It really inspires them to try their own hand at crafting gourds.”

Teaching talent from as far away as Peru and eastern Canada will be sharing their artistic secrets, and enrollments are going on now for over 20 gourd classes, ranging from the more natural styles of gourd basketry and wood burning to more contemporary techniques with gourd carving and stone inlay.

Both the classes and the festival will take place under the trees at the scenic Welburn Gourd Farm in the valley of DeLuz, just 11 miles from Fallbrook and 15 miles from Temecula, and organizers expect over 11,000 people to turn out for the exciting event. Go to http://www.gourdfestival.com or call (760) 728-4271 for ticket information.