The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) will host the Virginia Gourd Show & Sale from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10. Admission to the show and sale is free.
Attendees may shop a wide array of unique gourd art, including luminaries, birdhouses, bowls, and ornaments, crafted by Virginia artisans. Raw, cleaned gourds for arts, crafts, and decoration—ranging from large bushel sizes to small, jewelry-size pieces—will also be available for purchase.
According to Angela Mohr, event organizer and one of the Coordinators of the Virginia Lovers Gourd Society, work from more than a dozen award-winning gourd artisans from Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia will be on view during the weekend show.
While browsing displays of gourd art available for purchase, event attendees can engage with artisans to learn about gourd crafting and the difference between edible and inedible gourds. The event also features a “people’s choice” gourd challenge with the theme Gourdious by Nature, inspired by the MSV’s special exhibition, Curious by Nature: Works by Charley & Edie Harper. Attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorite entry. On view at the MSV through January 5, 2025, Curious by Nature showcases the whimsical prints and paintings of renowned wildlife artist Charley Harper (1922–2007) and his wife, Edie (1922–2010).
The Virginia Gourd Show & Sale, organized by the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society (VLGS), has been a regional tradition for over 20 years and is now in its seventh year at the MSV. The event will take place on the first floor of the MSV galleries building. While admission to the event is free, regular admission applies for gallery and garden access.
Based in Stephens City, the VLGS is dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of gourd gardening, encouraging the use of gourds in arts and crafts, and supporting gourd agriculture.
A regional cultural center, the MSV is located at 901 Amherst Street in Winchester, Virginia. The MSV includes a galleries building that presents permanent and rotating exhibitions, the Glen Burnie House, seven acres of formal gardens, and The Trails at the MSV, a free-admission art park open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Additional details about the MSV are available at www.theMSV.org or by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 235.