Underneath the canopy of mature oak trees, the Welburn Gourd Farm in De Luz Canyon hosted its distinguished 11th Annual International Gourd Art Festival on June 23 and 24. The most noted artists in the nation were corralled for this special weekend.

The festival is quite unique because it really is the only one of its kind. "We have so many artists who come who are in the fine art category and who are in the top of their field as far as this craft industry," said Laura Cunningham, Festival Director.

The artistic display at the festival was magnificent, radiating originality, beauty and excellence. On the far side of the festival stood two tents housing over 250 competition entrants. Out of 27 different categories, it was Valentin Ruesga of Redondo Beach who walked away with the "Best in Show" ribbon.

"It was so unexpected," said a humble Ruesga. "I was completely shocked."

Ruesga’s win was the first time a novice entry ever won "Best in Show." His artwork encompassed a stunning display of master craftsmanship, transforming a gourd into a breathtaking piece of art. Ruesga admitted this piece was quite meticulous, taking him roughly six months to complete. Choosing the right gourd, colors and various elaborate designs and carving techniques was mandatory.

Ruesga, a native from Spain, started watercolor painting when he was in fifth grade. His artistic talent found its way to the United States, where he has partnered with Steve Browning, owner of The Browning House in Southern California.

This event was also one of the times where gourd artists could join together and collaborate on new ideas and projects. This year, a few new artists joined the festival. "This is my first time here, and it’s so great to show folks my gourd art," said Debbie Martinez-Rambeau, owner of From Earth to Hand. Some of her pieces can be seen at the famous Gene Autry Museum.

The number of people who visited the festival was around 7,000 this year. Some of these guests were new to gourd artistry, taking in all the new aesthetic elements. Others were repeat guests, enjoying the gourd mastery surrounding them more than ever. "I’ve come here for many years," Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] said Dave Soza. It is the beauty of the artwork that keeps this guest returning. "You really have to remind yourself that these are gourds."

Guests at the festival had a great time visiting the art booths, food vendors and the wine garden hosted by the Fallbrook Rotary and watching Maria Dellos demonstrating the use of GourdMaster Products.

The Gourd Crafting Arena was another popular site where people attempted to learn the craft hands-on and became quite involved in the multiple stages of this technique. "[Guests] have the opportunity to work on one [gourd] themselves and see all the tools," said Cunningham. People who attempted this craft quickly realized it was a lot more challenging than they thought at first glance but enjoyed every minute of it.

Cunningham explained that the history of the gourd reels back to early history. "They were in about every culture you could find." Historically, gourds were used for carrying vessels in water, carriers, utensils and currency. Gourds have always been used in arts and crafts. "Primitive cultures have used them for beads; gourds have been used thousands of years for musical instruments in lots of different cultures." Throughout the ages, gourds have been used for daily practical living to arts and crafts.

Welburn Gourd Farm is one of the largest distributors in the nation and has been in operation for over 30 years. "We grow over 350,000 gourds a year," mentioned Cunningham.

The gourds produced on this De Luz farm are quite favorable to artists because they are primarily known for their thick and sturdy shells. "These shells are really coveted by crafters because they can carve on them deeply and do some very intricate things on them where the gourd will not collapse and break on them." Cunningham also contributes the farm’s popularity to its owner, her father, Doug Welburn. His in-depth experience regarding the organic cultivation and care has produced quality hard-shelled gourds.

Cunningham is happy that this event remains ever-popular: "This festival is just a really wonderful way to participate in the arts and to see what is going on in the gourd art world."

For more information on Welburn Gourd Farm, please visit www.WelburnGourdFarm.com.