cyndeenewick.etsy.com



@ Contact Cyndee


2012 Art Shows

• Spring Garden Market
   History San Jose, Kelly Park
    1650 Senter Rd., San Jose
    Saturday, March 31
• Silicon Valley Open Studios
    Dry Creek Artisans
    876 Dry Creek Rd. in Campbell
    May 12 and 13
• Leiser Gourd Festival
   May 19 & 20 In Knights Landing
• Davis Ranch Gourd Show
   September in Sloughhouse, Ca.
• Calabash Gourd Festival
   October in Morgan Hill
•  Montalvo Art Center
   Yuletide Marketplace
    November
    Villa Montalvo in Saratoga
• Artifactory Holiday Show
   December
   Hoover House (Girl Scout House)
   1120 Hopkins, Palo Alto, Ca.

Why Gourds?

I have explored many art mediums over the years, but found most of them too limiting. I tried painting but quickly grew bored with the rectangular, flat surface.  I wanted texture.  I wanted to cut up the canvas into shapes.  I wanted the canvas to be something it wasn't. I wanted something natural, organic and versatile.

In 1996 I saw some simple gourd projects in a craft book.  I could immediately see the potential. The more I learned, the more I knew gourds fit in with most of my major interests - archaeology, mythology nature, wildlife, playing music and organic gardening.

Artistically, gourds are versatile.  Most art mediums can be applied to gourds, and techniques such as pyrography, carving and chipping can be used. Gourds are challenging.  Each gourd is unique in shape, size and density.

Gourd art isn't for the perfectionist.  A gourd artist must be flexible and willing to accept surface blemishes and irregular shapes, incorporating these inconsistencies into the work.  Each art piece is unique and can never be duplicated.

I live in California with my husband, 2 large rescue dogs and a cat.  I am active in the community caring for pets, organic gardening, coordinating art show gourd booths, creating newsletters and websites.  I play flute in the Saratoga Community Band.  Every moment is an act of creation.  Why gourds?  Why not?

Related Art Activities
• Newsletter/ Communications Coordinator, Calabash Club of Silicon Valley
• Show Coordinator, Gourd Artist Guild
• Show Coordinator, Calabsh Club of Silicon Valley
• B.S. Recreation and Leisure Studies, San Jose State University, 1982
•  Member, Los Gatos Art Association
•  Member, Pacific Art League
•  Member, California Gourd Society
•  Member, San Francisco Bay Area Etsy Team
•  Member, Saratoga Community Band
•  Member, Harpers Hall and Culinary Society

Acknowledgements
• Campbell Reporter, Triton Museum AvArtFest, 2004
• California Gourd Society, 2006, Carousel Gourd
   Judges Award
   Second Place
• Environmental Volunteers Birds and Blooms Birdhouse Auction 
  Green Man Birdhouse, Best of Show, 2008
• Almaden Art & Wine Festival 2011, First Place Art category