Gourds Go to Middfest International Peru · children's gourd musical instruments were collected for...
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Gourds Go to Middfest International Peru By Larry Shermanand Peter Carels* The Middfest International celebration (http:ll www.middfestintemational.org ) takes place annually during the first weekend of October in Middletown, Ohio. Each year this event focuses on a different country and this year it is Peru, home of wonderfully crafted gourds. Because of this Ogourd connection,O the Middfest folks including their director Ms. Virginia Ritan and Elizabeth Birch, contactedme as a representative of both the Oxford Gourd and Drum Ensemble (OGADE, hltp:ll www.ogade.org) and the Ohio Gourd Society (http:// americangourdsociety.org/ohiochapter/). The end result ofour discussions led to two projects: l) a four day gourd crafting workshop with 5 to I I year-olds participating in a summer camp directed by Ms. Cecelia Thompson, Recreation Administrator for the City of Middletown, Ohio, and Sue Rogers of the Art Central Foundation (http://www.artcentralfoundation.org ); and 2) musical performances by OGADE during the weekend of the festival. This year, Middfest takes place during the weekend of September 30ft and October 1" and 2nd, the weekend after the Ohio Gourd Show. The Middletown Summer Camp project was financially supportedby the Middfest Foundation. The children were instructedby Larry Shermanand Peter Carels, co-directors of OGADE. Raw gourds were obtained from two local gourd growers in Oxford, Ohio (Lynn Stutz and Bob Rauen). The children chose their own raw gourds and scrubbed and cleaned them during the first day of the workshop. A chop stick with their name on it was then attached to each child's gourd and set aside to dry. The second day, the children were introduced to traditional Peruvian desigasas well as Peruvian musical rhythms and sounds.They createdtheir own personal designs on paper using multi-colored Sharpie pens. They also practiced Peruvian musical rhythms using verbal phrases and hand clapping. During the third day the children applied their desigrrs to their gourds using the multi-colored Sharpie pens. Their gourds were then varnishedwith a fast drying non-toxic acrylic varnish that affixed the designs more permanently. During the fourth day they played musical rhyhms using their designedgourds and the chop sticks. As we explored the musical potential of each child's gourd, we discovered that three basic sounds were possible, scraping, shaking, and clacking. Elongated or long-necked dipper gourds could be played as scrapers using the chop stick to stroke the side like a guiro. Some gourds contained seeds that readily made them into shakers like a maraca. The rest were tapped with the chop stick, either in on€ or in two places to create a higher or lower pitched OClackingO sound. Dividing the children into three goups according to the manner of sound they produced with their gourd, we developeFthree parts resulting in some very interesting poly-rhythms. At the end of the fourth day, the (Continued on page 15)
Transcript of Gourds Go to Middfest International Peru · children's gourd musical instruments were collected for...
Gourds Go to MiddfestInternational Peru
By Larry Sherman and Peter Carels*
The Middfest International celebration (http:llwww.middfestintemational.org ) takes place annuallyduring the first weekend of October in Middletown, Ohio.Each year this event focuses on a different country andthis year it is Peru, home of wonderfully crafted gourds.Because of this Ogourd connection,O the Middfest folksincluding their director Ms. Virginia Ritan and ElizabethBirch, contacted me as a representative of both the OxfordGourd and Drum Ensemble (OGADE, hltp:llwww.ogade.org) and the Ohio Gourd Society (http://americangourdsociety.org/ohiochapter/). The end resultofour discussions led to two projects: l) a four day gourdcrafting workshop with 5 to I I year-olds participating in asummer camp directed by Ms. Cecelia Thompson,Recreation Administrator for the City of Middletown,Ohio, and Sue Rogers of the Art Central Foundation(http://www.artcentralfoundation.org ); and 2) musicalperformances by OGADE during the weekend of thefestival. This year, Middfest takes place during theweekend of September 30ft and October 1" and 2nd, theweekend after the Ohio Gourd Show.
The Middletown Summer Camp project was financiallysupported by the Middfest Foundation. The children wereinstructed by Larry Sherman and Peter Carels, co-directorsof OGADE. Raw gourds were obtained from two localgourd growers in Oxford, Ohio (Lynn Stutz and BobRauen). The children chose their own raw gourds andscrubbed and cleaned them during the first day of theworkshop. A chop stick with their name on it was thenattached to each child's gourd and set aside to dry. Thesecond day, the children were introduced to traditionalPeruvian desigas as well as Peruvian musical rhythms andsounds. They created their own personal designs on paperusing multi-colored Sharpie pens. They also practicedPeruvian musical rhythms using verbal phrases and handclapping. During the third day the children applied theirdesigrrs to their gourds using the multi-colored Sharpiepens. Their gourds were then varnished with a fast dryingnon-toxic acrylic varnish that affixed the designs morepermanently.
During the fourth day they played musical rhyhms usingtheir designed gourds and the chop sticks. As we exploredthe musical potential of each child's gourd, we discoveredthat three basic sounds were possible, scraping, shaking,and clacking. Elongated or long-necked dipper gourdscould be played as scrapers using the chop stick to strokethe side like a guiro. Some gourds contained seeds thatreadily made them into shakers like a maraca. The restwere tapped with the chop stick, either in on€ or in twoplaces to create a higher or lower pitched OClackingOsound. Dividing the children into three goups accordingto the manner of sound they produced with their gourd, wedevelopeFthree parts resulting in some very interestingpoly-rhythms. At the end of the fourth day, the
(Continued on page 15)
(Continued fom page I 4)
children's gourd musical instruments were collectedfor display at the Ohio Gourd Show during the lastweekend of September, as well as at the MiddfestInternational Festival during the following weekend.As OGADE lS performing at the MiddfestInternational Festival, the children were invited toplay along with them during some of theperformances. The crafted gourd musical instrumentsare to be retumed to the children at the end of theMiddfest Intemational Festival.
Author's Notes. Larry Sherman and Peter Carels areco-directors of OGADE, a percussion group that hasperformed many times at the annual Ohio GourdShows held in Mt. Gilead and Greenvil le, Ohio. Peteris known for his work with wellness in communitiesof senior citizens using drum circle techniques. Lanyhas been a President of the OGS and was recently(201l) elected to the office of 2nd Vice President ofthe Ohio Gourd Society. Since 1995 the two of themhave collaborated in many classroom projects withyoung children where gourds were used to teach multi-cultural global rhythms and musical diversity.
Finished gourds
Gourd trumpets
Carels gourd
Cover Photo by: Glenn & Carolyn BurkhalterThree or four years ago, Carolyn and I started making these giraffesafter seeing one that had been made from a short handle dipper. Itoccurred to us that the long spiral and knotted neck dipper gourds that Igrow would be different and look pretty neat if used for the necks of
siraffes----and that's what we did.We use parts of five to seven different gourds to create one giraffe.depending on what is used for the base, which might be the dipper bowi /Lits;lf if ii "sits" well, or a base cut from another gourd. The head is -T
made frorn a mini-bottle, the horns from Tennessee spinners and theears from other pieces of gourds. I use a lot of Gluesmith glue in theprocess.This photo is of the original giraffe family that we created.
Back Cover: This mask was influenced by the American Indians andrepresents a hawk mask. The artist, Debbie Wilson, from Mt. Vemon, Ilhas studied American lndian art for over 35 years. This apple gourd
was cut in half and holes were drilled for the eye and nostril openings'
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Kid's Korner
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Devil claw plants were added for the claws and twine unraveled wasadded around the entire mask for texture. The gourd was painted with 4 n ln M1 gacKlardacryl ic paints and sealed. Lu
AGS Annual MeetingAt the Ohio Gourd Show
DATE: September 24th, 20llTIME: 5:00 pm
PLACE: Youth Building (gourd class building)
Judging Handbook Available
The official AGS judging rules were printed recently inour magazine, and are available for download from ourwebsite.
However, if you would like to purchase a formal, boundand printed copy, it is available on @l!LJust search for "American Gourd Society." A11 profits (we
make $l .64 per copy) go to the AGS.
Also, it will be available from our AGS book sales (Dallas/
Linda Lundsford).
FIND YOUR AGS EXPIRATION DATE:It is part of your Mailing Label on this issue.
XXXX XX/X)VXXXXYour Name
AddressCity, State Zip
^ XXXX is your ID Number' XX/XX/XXXX is your Expiration Date. ru
Llassified Ms
r ' V O L U M E 4 1 N O . 26 r^tt zott
A publication of the American Gourd Society,lnc., issued four times a year. Dues (effectiveJanuary 1, 1998) including subscription toTHE GOURD MAGAZINE - $15.00 per year.Foreign - (U.S. currency) $22.00 per year,$44.00 for two years, and $60.00 for threeyears.To order single copies: $7.50 per issue pluspostage.
AMERICAN GOURD SOCIETY, INC.P.O. Box 2186
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OFFICERS:President: Hudi Sandgren,
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2nd. Vice President: Ce Ce Thomas
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Publicity Director: Kristy Dialqeckoqourds@cox. net
Tel ler Committee: Barbara NelsonqarV. nelson 1 @mchsi.com
Histor ian: Terr i Schmit [email protected]
Membership: Dal las LunsfordP.O. Box 2'186, Kokomo, lN 46904-2180765-453-5047aqsmembership@comcast. net
Chapter Information
ALPHA CHAPTER - North Carolina GourdSocietyShel ly Nouick bear inafa.earth l ink.net
ALPHA ll Chapter - New York State GourdSociet-vGraharn Ottosor.r. Interim Presidentgrahrrr tut ecor i I Iase. i thaca. l r r j .us
BETA CHAPTER - Ohio Gourd Societv.Anna Mi l ler . President
CHI CHAPTER- Pennsylvania Gourd SociefyTerry Noxel, President, 607 -65 5 -5366
noxel ts(a aoi .conr
DELTA CHAPTER - Virg in ia Lovers 'GourdSociety,Angela Mohr P O Box 3Stephens Ci ty VA 22655
(540) 869-8529 gourdgal( lcomcast .ner
Send articles to:Judy Fornshell, Editor, The Gourd Magazine706 Macalan Dr., Marion IN 46952-2043afo rn sh ell@ indy. rr.co mphone (765) 573-5295 (new number)Cell (76s) 517-0238Advisory Committee: Kathy James,and Bonnie Gibson.
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EPSILON CHAPTER - South Carolina GourdSociety, Dickie Martin, President, 864-682-5251,[email protected]
ETA CHAPTER - Indiana Gourd Society,Karen K. Niemeyer, President, l2l7 Wesley Court,Thomtown, IN 46-71 -8955(7 65) 436 7518 [email protected]
GAMMA CHAPTER - Arizona Gourd Societv.Judy Weinfurther, President,iudv [email protected]
IOTA CHAPTER - Kentucky Gourd Society,Janet Bamett, PresidentP. O. Box 905 Taylorsville KY 40071Toll free | -87 7 -7 65 -8594
KAPPA CHAPTER - Texas Gourd Society,Joe Pritchard, [email protected],817-909-2814
LAMBDA CHAPTER - Florida Gourd SocietvLaraine Short, Presidenta [email protected]
MU Chapter - Washington State Gourd SocietyStacyAnnon, President, 253-973-6117http://www.wagourdsociety.org/Annon.htm
NU CHAPTER - California Gourd Societv.Sylvia Nelson, Presidentcasourdpres@lrontier. com
OMICRON CHAPTER - Illinois Gourd Society,Bonnie Cox, ILGS President [email protected]
OMEGA CHAPTER- Hawaiian Gourd SocietyMary Amos, President, [email protected]. Box 1250, Captain Cook, HI 96704www.hawaiigourdsociety.comouttayourgourd@smai l.com
PHI CHAPTER - New Mexico Gourd SocietyTricia Sutton, President [email protected]
PI CHAPTER - Georgia Gourd SocietyReggie Eakin, [email protected]
Color
$5s.00$80.00$r50.00$22s.00
PSI CHAPTER - Mississippi Gourd Society,Susan Byra, Presidentmississippi gourdsocietvfi gmail.com
RHO CHAPTER - Idaho Gourd SocietyLiz Meyer, President, 63 N. Wedgervood Dr.Nampa, Idaho , 8365 I, 208-46 I -202 Ie i adven ture s fr!rn sn. c o m
SIGMA CHAPTER - Iowa Gourd Society.Joyce Howard, President,i [email protected]
TAU CHAPTER - Alabama Gourd Society,Elizabeth West, 240 County Road 994, Cullman, AL350s7. (256)747-1447.
south ern go u rd ga I fri,ao I. c o m
Theta Chapter - Michigan Gourd Society,Jim Ege, President,iamesege(4mac.com
UPSILON CHAPTER - Tennessee VolunteerGourd Society,Lisa Roberson, PresidentI i saroberson I fiatnetzero. com
XI CHAPTER - Show-Me Gourd Society,Bert Petrie, President, 187 Kona Cove, Roach. Mo.65787, bpetrie(aemai l.conr
ZETA CHAPTER - Wisconsin Gourd SocietyBarb Rothwell, President cvwrr(rirrcharter.nct
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Barbara Bellchambers, President
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