Educational
Gourds have been used in many cultures for thousands of years as containers and utensils. The gourd or Hard Shell Gourd that you see here are actually a fruit, once dry you can do just about anything with them.
Today gourds are used as art, purses, lamps, musical instruments and more. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination of the person that is working with the gourd. Gourds can be painted, carved, cut, wood burned, dyed and used in weaving.
The process
What came first the gourd or the seed?
In this information it is the seed. Once the seeds are planted a long vine is produced and the plants can grow along the ground or trellised.
Most hard shell gourds are green in color and the vine will produce white flowers that are both male and female. The female blossoms have a small bulb at the base that will become the gourd. The blossoms open at night and are pollinated buy night time insects. Once the blossoms are pollinated the gourd starts to form.
Once the gourds are taken from the field it will be several months before they are dry enough to work with. During this drying process the surface of the gourd will mold as the moisture evaporates out the shell and skin of the gourd. As the gourd continues to dry, it will get lighter in weight as the moisture evaporates from the inside.
Once completely dry the skin needs to be removed from the gourd preparing the surface for the artist.
The gourd artist will work with this natural pattern in mind when creating the design for the gourd. Once in the hands of the gourd artist anything is possible.
Dried gourds ready to be cleaned.
Gourd Blossom.
Gourd Plant.
Articles on Gourds
Michigan Gourd Artist, Crafter’s, Grower’s Guild
The files below are flyers you can print to handout at shows and events.
