cyndeenewick.etsy.com



@ Contact Cyndee


2013 Art Shows

• Oshman Family Jewish    Community Center
     Featured Artist, May 2013
     3921 Fabian Way   Palo Alto
     (650) 223-8700

• Silicon Valley Open Studios
   Dry Creek Artisans
    876 Dry Creek Rd. in Campbell
    May 18 and 19

• Gallery Saratoga
   14435 Big Basin Way    Saratoga
   408-867-0458
   Featured Artist,  August 2013

• Calabash Gourd Festival
   TBA
   Uesugi Farms
   14485 Monterey Rd, San Martin

•  Montalvo Art Center
   Yuletide Marketplace
    TBA
    Villa Montalvo in Saratoga

• Artifactory Holiday Show
   TBA
   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 2 rescue cats.  I am active in the community caring for pets, organic gardening, creating club newsletters and websites.  I play flute in the Saratoga Community BandEvery 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, California Gourd Society
•  Member, San Francisco Bay Area Etsy Team
•  Member, Saratoga Community Band
•  Member, Harpers Hall and Culinary Society

Acknowledgements
• Gourd Fever Artist feature, September 2012.pdf
• 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