Students Flock from Across Country to Learn from Masters

The 9th Annual International Gourd Art Festival, happening June 25th and 26th at the Welburn Gourd Farm in Southern California, is bringing in master gourd art teachers from around the world to teach gourd art classes June 23rd and 24th, the two days preceding the annual festival.

Fallbrook, CA (PRWEB) March 24, 2005 -- The 9th Annual International Gourd Art Festival, happening June 25th and 26th at the Welburn Gourd Farm in north San Diego County, is bringing in master gourd art teachers from around the world to teach gourd art classes June 23rd and 24th, the two days preceding the annual festival.

Weve seen a huge increase in the demand for gourd art classes, says Phoebe Welburn, Assistant Festival Director and Marketing Manager for the event. What amazes festival visitors the most is seeing raw gourds in the bins selling for $1.00 - $12.00, and 10 feet away there is an artist selling decorated gourds for $500 - $5,000. It really inspires them to try their own hand at crafting gourds."

Teaching talent from as far away as Peru and eastern Canada will be sharing their artistic secrets, and enrollments are going on now for over 20 gourd classes, ranging from the more natural styles of gourd basketry and wood burning to the more contemporary techniques with gourd carving and stone inlay.

The festival continues to surprise its visitors each year with ever-increasing levels of artistic talent among its exhibitors, and first-time festival attendees are often astonished to learn gourd art sells for upwards of $25,000. Festival planners report a significant increase in the number of people outside of California planning to attend the event and estimate the total visitors will be around 11,000 this year.

Connie Dancil, a gourd enthusiast from Phoenix, Arizona writes, I cannot wait for this years festival so I can take some classes and learn how to create these fantastic, creative art pieces."

New this year is a gourd class for kids, where young talent ages 10 to 15 are inspired to create their own unique masterpieces. The full-day gourd classes average $59 to $69 in price and run 4-6 hours in length.

Both the classes and the festival will take place under the trees at the scenic Welburn Gourd Farm located in northern San Diego County just outside the town of Fallbrook, and organizers expect over 11,000 people to turn out for the annual event.

In addition to over 50 gourd art exhibitors, including international artists from Peru, China, and Canada, festival guests will enjoy live musical performances, a gourd art competition with over 300 gourd art pieces, fare from local restaurants, and a selection of over 100,000 dried gourds ready to take home and craft.

Festival tickets are just $7.50 and children under 12 are admitted free. Free parking is available. For more information on the festival or to register for gourd art classes, visit the festival web site at www.gourdfestival.com, or call (760) 728-4271.

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