Virginia Lovers Gourd Society presents the Virginia Gourd Competition at the Virginia Gourd Show, Sale & Competition November 18-19, 2017 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Museum of the Shenandoah Valley 901 Amherst St, Winchester, VA 22601 Free Admission to the event Competition Categories, Rules and Registration www.vlgs.org
Entries: 1. Entrants are not required to be a member of any gourd society at this time. However, local and national membership is required for the Jim Story Award and to advance to National competition. Check your state chapter or American Gourd Society for membership information. 2. Only one artist entry per category will be allowed. Non-Crafted Gourds: Gourds in the GROWER categories must have been grown by the exhibitor, (adult or youth) in the current or previous season, and be in good condition. Gourds must have stems, be mature, and clean. Non crafted gourds must not be cut. No finish of any kind is permitted in the noncraft categories. 1. Largest Gourd - Gourds will be judged for the greatest circumference. 2. Smallest Gourd - Gourds, (hard shell and ornamental gourds) will be judged for overall size. 3.Manipulated/Molded Gourd - Gourds which have been reshaped by coiling, knotting, live etching or other forms of artificial reshaping will be judged in accordance with the AGS Jim Story competition guidelines. Youth Crafted Gourds All youth who have entered any technique will be awarded. Correct age division is the responsibility of the sponsoring adult. 4. Best youth craft (Y1 age 1-5). 5. Best youth craft (Y2 age 6-12). 6. Best youth craft (Y3 age 13-17). Adult Crafted Gourds First, second, and third place awards will be considered for all entries. Categories will be designated by prefixes, Class by number: N= Novice Division The novice Division is created to allow all artists who are developing the basic techniques to compete among their peers with similar skills. The novice entrant should not have exhibited in more than four gourd shows, won more than 10 first place awards, (blue ribbons) in any gourd show in any two (2) year period or won a major award in this division. Anyone entering this division must place all of their entries in this division. The novice must compete in only one division level. I=Intermediate Division The Intermediate Division is created to allow those artists who have mastered the basic techniques and are ready to compete in a wider range of competitions. The Intermediate Division is open to all competitors. Entrants cannot have sold or taught for a fee. Those entrants who have won more than 20 first place awards (blue ribbons) in this division or won a major award must move to the Advanced Division. Anyone entering the Intermediate Division must place all of their entries in this division. A= Advanced Division The Advanced Division is created for the accomplished artist whose art and skills have been recognized as superior. Anyone entering this division must place all their entries in this division until a new division is created. Qualifying Advanced Division entrants cannot compete in the Intermediate or Novice divisions. G = Growers Division The growers Division is created to encourage the growth of hard shell gourds, (Lagenaria siceraria), by private or professional growers. Any variety may be entered, but only size will be judged. Y = Youth Division The Youth Division is created to acquaint youth with gourds and their usefulness as an art medium. Older children or adults may supervise, but all art work submitted must be produced by the named entrant. Youth are further subdivided into three subdivisions, and must only enter the subdivision for the age group in which they fall on the date of entry.
Musical Class 7. Gourd Musical Instrument, functional. Includes drums, rattles, shekerees, etc. Any techniques. Pyrography (Wood burning) whole or cut gourd 8. Pyrography with or without other techniques. Pyrography must dominate, ornamentation permitted. Carved Gourd Class 9. Carved Gourd pertains to the removal of the outer gourd shell. It includes carved, chipped, fretwork, filigree, etching and cuts completely through the wood. Other techniques are allowed, but the carving should dominate. Decorative painting and minimal embellishments are allowed. Colored Gourd Class - whole or opened 10. Painted or stained gourd using any medium, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink, colored pencil, stains, glazes, waxes used to color the gourd or complete a picture, design or pattern. Other techniques and embellishments allowed to compliment the coloring, but must not be a major portion of the work. Woven Gourd Class 11. Woven gourd bowl or basket with natural plant/animal weaving material (pine needles, vines, natural colored leather, feathers, etc.) and/or man-made materials (dyed lacing, wire, fabric, etc.) Light ornamentation permitted. Wearable Class 12. Any wearable gourd, mask, jewelry, belt, purse or hat. Any technique(s) permitted - gourds must dominate. Birdhouse/Bird Feeder Class 13. Birdhouse or bird feeder. Entrance holes should be appropriate sizes, with drainage and hanging holes. Any technique(s). Miniature Class 14. Miniature gourd creations, must be 6 or less inches in diameter, length and height. Any technique. Wall Art Class 15. Gourd designed to be hung on a wall. Any technique. Historic/Ethnic Class 16. Any Native American, Americana or patriotic, or ethnic (African, Peruvian, Chinese, etc.) theme gourd. Any technique. Floral Class 17. Gourd vase or container with dried floral arrangement, or decorated in a floral theme. Any technique. Sculpture Class 18. One or more gourds, used to create any subject, including mobiles. May include animals, real or mythical using 70% gourd pieces. May include clay and or epoxy. Holiday Gourd Craft Class 19. Any holiday or season, any technique(s) and a reasonable amount of decorative materials are permitted.
General Gourd Classes 20. Gourd toys, doll, functional toy or set fashioned from gourds or gourd parts. 21. Decorated gourd bowl or basket. Any technique. 22. Lamps and Luminaries. Lamps in any style, gourds must dominate, must be functional; with or without electricity. (Candle holders, lanterns, lamps, etc.) 23. Beaded Gourd. Whole or cut gourd. Any type of bead is acceptable. 24. Gourd Boxes. Any technique(s). Hinged or unhinged lids optional. 25. Multi-technique multi-media gourd. Combination of multiple techniques. 26. Free Style; any gourd craft entry that does not fit in another category. Must be made of a gourd or gourd part. Gourd must dominate. Diorama Class 27. Interior of a gourd decorated in some theme or fashion. (Mouse, doll or fairy house, nature scene.) Exterior of gourd must be decorated to compliment interior. The interior will make up 75% of content to be judged, exterior 25%. Theme Class 28. Theme for 2017 Show is Transportation. Any technique may be used. Group Project Class 29. A gourd created by two or more artists. May be mixed division and/or mixed class. Using any technique or subject. Gourd Growers (Non-Craft) Rules 1. All raw gourds must be whole, uncut gourds. 2. Gourds in growth categories must have been grown by exhibitor and in good condition. 3. Non-craft gourds must have stems, be mature, and be clean. No finish of any kind is permitted. 4. Gourds in the growers competition must be from this year or last year s crop. 5. Previous Virginia competition award winners may not be entered. Gourd Art and Craft Rules 1. All art entries must be the work of the exhibitor. 2. All entries must remain in competition until the end of the show on Sunday at 5 pm. Failure to do so can result in not being allowed to enter future competitions. 3. All entrants must allow photography of their work under the fair use doctrine. No copy or photograph of the work may be sold for profit without the consent of the artist. 4. All entry tags must be completed and attached to the gourd entry by 6 pm, Friday preceding judging. 5. Gourds that have won a first place award in a previous Virginia Lovers Gourd Society Show are not eligible for the current year s competition. 6. The competition area is closed to everyone except the judging staff during the judging process. Please be patient, the judging process may take a little time. The judges will be looking carefully at each entry. Ribbons will be awarded at this time. 7. American Gourd Society judging criteria B will be used to judge all gourds. 8. A Peoples Choice Award, judged by visitors, will be awarded at noon on Sunday. 9. Names will not be disclosed on art pieces to allow fairness of Peoples Choice award.
10. Artists who have already achieved the highest awards offered by the Virginia Lovers Gourd Society are invited to submit their works for display only. Items will not be eligible for judging. The following section clarifies the quality standards for gourd preparation and presentation. Gourds not meeting these standards will likely receive a lower score. If you have an irregular technique or gourd, please leave a note for the judges using a 3x5 note card. 11. All open (cut) gourds (except birdhouses) must be cleaned to remove surface dirt, seeds, and all white seed membrane and finished, inside and out, for show quality. Stems are not mandatory but must be cleaned and finished to compliment the design if left on gourd. Outside surfaces and stems must be cleaned for gourd birdhouse, but minimal interior membrane can be left for nesting material. 12. Gourd quality will be a factor in judging ALL categories. A poor quality gourd can result in a lower score in accordance with VLGS rules. A 3x5 explanation card may be placed with a gourd where a major blemish or flaw is incorporated in the design or presentation of the gourd. The judges will determine gourd quality. 13. Leveling the bottom of a gourd by sanding is allowed and will not be considered poor quality or a determent to the surface technique of the competition category. 14. The inside surface of cut gourds and covered containers may be painted, stained, decoupaged, coated, or otherwise finished. The inside finish does not affect the entry category which is based on the exterior surface treatment of the gourd entry. 15. Translucent and clear protective finishes are allowed on all entries except non-craft gourds. Translucent finishes may be colored unless specifically denied, but must be sheer enough to see the natural characteristics and markings of the gourd through them. Examples: wax, ink, colored shoe polish, dye. 16. Gourd stands may be used (revolving and stationary) but are not mandatory. The stand should be complementary to the gourd art, of stable construction, and must not interfere with the viewing of other entries. Electrical outlets may not be available for revolving stands. If you wish to use a revolving stand it should be battery operated. 17. There is no requirement that the gourd art or craft be presented in an upright position, but the gourd must be stable at rest so that it does not roll or fall from an exhibition table. 18. A 3x5 card and/or photographs may accompany any entry indicating techniques or products used on the entry. The card may be attached to the entry tag string or placed with the entry before the judging. No business cards are allowed on entries until judging is completed, but they may be placed with exhibits after judging is finished. Sales information may be placed by the entries AFTER the ribbons are awarded. 19. Identifying marks of the artist, such as name, initials, or signature, must be concealed by nonmarring masking, (painters tape, tacky putty.) 20. Ribbons may be awarded to the top three (3) entries in each category at the sole discretion of the judges. A sole entrant in a category does not guarantee a first place ribbon. Competition criteria must be met to earn a ribbon of any color. A merit or other special ribbons may be awarded at the discretion of the judges. All awarded ribbons MUST remain in place until the end of the show on Sunday. 21. Decisions of the Judges are final. In the event of an error, no award will be removed but a duplicate award will be given. 22. The Virginia Lovers Gourd Society and facility are not responsible for damage to or theft of entries. 23. Gourds will be placed on display by the competition staff, and are not to be touched by anyone other
than the entrant without permission of the competition staff until after the show closes. 24. Please note that the Gourd Show is a family event, and any gourd considered offensive or inappropriate for young attendees may be covered or removed by the judges. 25. The competition chairs reserve the right to change, subdivide, combine and/or relocate any class and/or items entered in the competition. 26. Any competitive item that is sold must remain on the display table until the close of the festival. It is the responsibility of the seller to make appropriate arrangements with the purchaser for subsequent delivery of the sold item. 27. Gourds not claimed on Sunday, November 19, 2017 by 6 p.m. become the property of the VLGS unless prior special arrangements have been made. 28.Questions about the competition may be directed to the competition chair, Carol Jackson, at competition@vlgs.org. 29. Entry tags may be downloaded from the Virginia Lovers Gourd Society, vlgs.org. It is the responsibility of the artist to enter their piece in the correct category. Be certain that you have read the specific criteria outline for the category and make your decision accordingly. If you have questions about the proper category placement, see one of the volunteers in the competition registration area to explain the art/craft category or division. They can provide advice, but you must make the final determination for placement of your piece. Leave your entry with the volunteer who will place them in the display area for you. Pieces entered in the wrong categories cannot be judged or moved unless you agree to allow it to be moved on the entry tag.