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  Gourd-eous Art to be Displayed at FestivalBy Lori Rypka If Virginia is for lovers, than the Gourd Festival is certainly for folk art lovers. In its seventh year, the Virginia Lovers' Gourd Society's annual festival is Nov. 1 and 2 at Richards' Fruit Market in Middletown, Va. Those who appreciate gourd art - and those who are intrigued by the concept - can peruse rows of gourd artists' work, vendors who sell tools for the craft, and others who promote this art form. Sanding tools, drills and more tools that are typically found in a hardware store are available in miniature size for gourd artists. "Anything you can do with wood, you can do with a gourd," said Gail Ratliffe, gourd society member. The 30-plus members of the society have a love for art. Some, said Ratliffe, lean toward gourd art because it is not as intimidating as fine art. "We are definitely folksy. I think we put the 'folk' back in folk art," she said. The festival is more than a come-and-see experience. If offers attendees to come and do, with a range of classes for the beginner gourd artist to the more advanced. Gourd art is different from other forms, as the gourd offers a 360-degree canvas. Gourds are most notably used to make birdhouses, but there are many more options for decorating, said Ratliffe. Because of their unique shapes, each gourd should be evaluated to assess its best use, she said. Class instructor Janice Kiehl joined the society three years ago, but has had an interest in gourds for nearly 25 years. She started growing gourds so she could make purple martin birdhouses. She had a large number of small gourds and was looking for ideas on what to do with them. Kiehl began decorating the gourds and giving them away as gifts. She was encouraged by her friends to begin selling her art. Three years ago she stumbled upon information about the society and this festival online, at which point she attended and joined. Kiehl and others will be teaching classes on a variety of gourd art forms on both days of the festival. Among the classes are From Vine to Devine, a class that details how to start a gourd from seed, grow, harvest, then dry it in preparation for artwork. There will also be a basic birdfeeder class and others, including gourd ornament mechanics. Many who attend the festival already have a love of gourds, and many attend the classes to learn something new in their craft, said Kiehl. Others happen upon Richards' Fruit Market because the festival looks like fun, she said. Since the festival is held at a fruit market, there will be plenty of fresh fruit and fruit pies, as well as pork barbecue. Children and pets are welcome, and the venue is handicap accessible, said Ratliffe. In addition to promoting gourd art, the society hopes to expand its presence throughout the state, said Ratliffe. Becoming a member costs no more than a donation of a book of stamps, said Ratliffe.
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