Annual Festival Auction
The auction is our SMGS’s largest source of funding for the year and is only as profitable as our donations and our bidders. We are asking donations of gourd supplies, books, raw gourds, finished gourd art, or anything else gourd and craft related! If you have questions or need to know where and when to drop off your donated items please contact: Nanita Pittington — [email protected] or text 970-217-4487.
AGAIN THIS YEAR!!! Instead of a single live auction on Saturday, we will be holding 2 Silent Auctions on Saturday. Final bids will be called (1) Saturday noon, (2) Saturday afternoon. Silent bids for each auction will start Saturday morning. Bids will be taken up to the moment of the final call, so don't miss out! Each of the 2 auctions will feature different items. All items must be paid for and picked up by 2:30pm on Sunday. No items will be shipped.
Fine Art Gourd Raffle
We have some great artists that have volunteered to donate their gourd art this year and we know that you will have a problem deciding which gourd art you hope to win. We encourage you to join in the fun and excitement. Our gourd raffle is once again offering an impressive collection of gourd art. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Winners will be drawn on Sunday, but you need not be present to win. SMGS would like to thank these very talented artists for donating their wonderful gourd art to be raffled off at this year’s festival!
Truth Comes in Like a Lion
Acrylic on Gourd
Melynda Lotven
Painting gourds since 1993, Melynda Lotven has been featured in magazines, books, videos, and on HGTV, and the DIY Network. She got her start with local TV as a frequent visitor on the long running show Pepper and Friends where Paul Pepper named Melynda the Gourd Goddess. She is a Juried member of The Best of Missouri Hands for over 20 years, as well as a founder and first president of the Show Me Gourd Society. Melynda is also an original and current committee member of the Fall into Art, art show in Columbia, MO. 2024 was its 13th year and has been handed over to the Columbia Art League. Melynda has an Etsy shop and has sold over 400 gourds: www.etsy.com/shop/EnchantedGourdArt
Melynda currently has the “Columbia in the Round” as a part of the permanent collection at the Columbia Visitors Bureau. A giant bushel gourd with Columbia interests painted all the way around it with a map painted on the bottom backwards so that it can reflect in a mirror it rest over.
Melynda has an open house in her home first weekend in December and welcomes people by appointment.
Enchanted Gourd Art
5401 O’Neal Rd.
Columbia, MO 65202
Plans To Prosper
Cross Wall Hanging
Kristin Johnson
I am Kristin Johnson of Praisin’ Art: Gourds. That means I love to praise the Lord with my gourd art! I live on a farm near Hoxie in Northwest Kansas where I am also learning the love of gourd gardening. I began creating gourd art as an Art teacher in Michigan over 23 years ago and have not been able to rid myself of the “gourd mood!” I prefer to wood burn each and every day with my simple little wood burner then paint with alcohol inks.
Be Exalted
Carolyn Owen
I have always enjoyed using my God given talent in various artistic/craft endeavors. Art has always just drawn me in, and I love to create things that bring pleasure to myself and others. In 2004 I narrowed my artistic endeavors to primarily working with gourds. I have been fortunate enough, over the years, to win several awards for my gourd art including the Missouri Gourd Artist of the Year. Working with gourds allows me to enjoy my love of nature and incorporate it into my art. Each gourd has unique characteristics, and the unique shapes and surfaces are very challenging at times.