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 $50...