A creative competition that challenges entrants to use their ingenuity to create an instrument from a hard shell gourd.
Submitting Entries:
Judging:
Three winners will be chosen by a team of judges from the gourd festival. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, musicality, use of gourd and visual appeal. A panel of judges will choose one Grand-prize winner and one first and second place winner.
Judges names to be announced soon!
Contest prizes:
Eligibility:
Contest is open to anyone. All instruments must be an original work by the entrant.
Media:
Entrants are encouraged to make a video or photo document of their work process. These documentations will be presented along with the instrument at the festival. The festival committee reserves the rite to use photo’s and videos for future advertising.
Click here to download the entry form
Click here to download the flyer
An exciting addition to the Michigan Festival of Gourds scheduled to take place at the Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds in Imlay city August 26-28, is a local foods showcase called Grow Michigan. Sponsored by the Lapeer County Master Gardeners, Grow Michigan will feature a number of local growers and producers of food. Visitors to the Michigan Festival of Gourds will be able to buy locally produced foods both for consumption on the grounds and to take home. Everything from hot sandwiches to intriguing desserts and artisan breads, home grown produce, herbal mixes and more will be available.
This is also a great opportunity for those who have a local food product produced under the Michigan Cottage Industry Law or who have locally grown fruits and vegetables to sell their product. Vending booths are available for a very reasonable fee, electricity and water hook ups are available.
Some of the vendors at this year's festival include:
If you are interested in being a vendor, please download this application
Once again the Michigan Festival of Gourds is hosting a competition for gourds. Just like our first show last year, gourd enthusiasts in Michigan will be given a chance to show their best, from beginner to advanced artists in their own class level. The judges for this year’s competition are being supplied by the Michigourders Gourd Guild, who have several AGS Master Judges in their membership. And there may be visiting judges from out of state to round things out. This is a chance for all of us who love gourds in Michigan to make this festival better than last year. Take a look at the new competition rules, easy entry sheet and tags on this site for more information and enter your gourds soon. Come join us for the weekend, it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Competition Rules Part 1
Competition Rules Part 2
Competition Registration Form
Competition Entry Tags
all files are in PDF format and will open in a new window.
Through John Stacy's e-mail list 'The Gourd Artist’s Guild', 112 gourd artists from 3 countries; United States, Australia, and Canada have united to create the The World's First Gourd Quilt. Each of the artists applied their particular artistic style to a flat 4" gourd tile. Lynette Dawson and daughter Margaret Schroeder have stitched it together, framing the beautiful artwork with their design. These gourd artists with their use of numerous art mediums are showing the world that a gourd is the perfect canvas. Almost everything can be done on a gourd!
This one-of-a-kind quilt was created to promote the awareness of gourd art and increase its status in the art world. It is the collaborative effort of an international group of gourd artists on the Gourdpatch e-group, the Gourd Artists Guild, where they freely exchange ideas to advance the field of gourd art.
The quilt has been traveling across the country to several gourd shows, museums and quilt shows. It also has been featured in magazines and gourd craft books. We are proud to host the quilt's next exhibition at our 2nd Annual Michigan Festival of Gourds, August 26th thru the 28th, 2011.
There are 5 artists on the quilt from Michigan: Bev Langchwager, Joyce Earle, Lynette Dawson, Margaret Schroeder and Karen Stevens.
Here are a few of our donated items. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the festival and drawing will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are $2:00 each or 3 for $5:00. If you want to donate an item for our fundraiser raffle and want it pictured here, please email Deb a photo and a description.
designed and donated by Chris Pawlik
quilted by Louise Horesovsky and Dorothy Dawson
donated by Jim Widess, Caning Shop
donated by Gourdology
It’s almost time for the NASGOURD races with Jeff Gourdon. Let’s see who can build and decorate the fastest fruit on wheels! Everything you need comes in an easy-to-assemble kit. It’s just like a Pinewood Derby race—but with gourds! Our Nasgourd race features mini race cars designed by you, using regulation Pinewood Derby car kits and gourds!
Divisions: Youngster Gourdsters (up to 10 yrs old) | Junior Gourdsters (11 to 17 yrs old) | Geezer Gourdsters (18 and up)
Friends and Neighbors,
I would like to take a moment to invite you all to join us at The Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds on August 27th for a very special culinary tribute to our community, its farmers, and all the wonderful products our region produces each and every year! I will be hosting a Harvest Dinner on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. using as many local ingredients as I can forage. Although it is not required to attend the festival, I would encourage you to stop by and enjoy the art and fun! All the proceeds from this event will benefit the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation! The festival runs from August 26th-28th and will feature demonstrations, raw gourds, gourd art, live entertainment, as well as children’s games and crafts.
Seating is limited for this Harvest Dinner, so please make sure you reserve your spot as soon as possible! This will be an experience you will not want to miss! If you have any questions, or have a unique product you would like to be featured in this event, feel free to email me at mromine@att.net.
Tickets are $16.00 each and are available by calling 810-724-6135
I hope to see you there!
Michael Romine
Join musician Guy Louis as he presents a special program "Music, Gourds and Community", designed just for the festival. You will hear and learn about various instruments that are made from gourds, such as the Sitar and Tamboura (from India), the Balaphon (from Africa) and many more instruments. The 30 minute show will culminate in a musical celebration with hands-on music making for all ages.
Guy Louis is a professional musician now celebrating 25 years of presenting his Chautauqua Express Musical Programs for educational, family and community audiences.
Performing on Saturday, August 27th at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Stories told, lessons learned and wisdom gained. Stories of gourds!
Performing on Sunday, August 28th at 2:00 p.m.
Performance will include dances from Hawaii, Tahiti and the Maori people. There will be a special dance featuring ipu's (gourds).
Tropical Wahines
Showcase Productions
35805 Stream View Dr.
New Boston, Mi 48164
313-706-3310