An Alameda native and an avid vegetable gardener from way back. I began growing gourds to attract Purple Martins (a sparrow size bird), to my garden while temporarily living in New Jersey. I had read somewhere that Purple Martins eat half their weight in bugs daily. If I cut holes in dried gourds, and hang them up high, the birds would come to live in them, and help keep the mosquito population at bay. I never did attract the Purple Martins. I did however, learn all I could find about gourds, and still find more to learn. Having no previous art background, classes, or experience, I am self taught driven by pure desire, with many “how to” books and much trial and error.

My gourd affair began in 2005 , when my mom gave me my first gourd to practice on while I patiently waited for my gourd “crop” to grow. Mom still treasures that gourd. Mother Nature provides my “canvas”. Gourds. There is few media that a gourd does not accept. Tho my work is somewhat influenced by my Native American heritage and my own journey along The Trail of Tears, I can’t really explain my new found passion. I devour books on the subject. My first tools were whatever I could find around the house and garage. I upgrade them as my skills develop.

I am continually motivated by the endless possibilities provided by gourds. My “mission” , is to bring attention to the beauty of nature and an appreciation of its beauty and function in our world. The support and encouragement from my family and from my extended family at the Frank Bette Center, gives me the courage and confidence to continue to “put it out there”.

As one of my gourds is adopted into a new family, I am emotionally touched, as a part of me goes with each one of my gourds.

For more information on this artist
please call 510-523-6957

or email us info@frankbettecenter.org