Fine Gourd Art by Heather Kinkade
Ms. Kinkade is the president of Kinkade Gourds, a fine art gourd company that grew out of a desire to continue the hand graphics that she had refined over the last 26 years in the Land Planning and Landscape Architectural field. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Heather took as many art classes as possible to refine her artistic side of the profession. As time moved forward, hand graphics were replaced with computer graphics and management duties consumed working hours putting an end to Heather’s creative expression. This natural transition to working with gourds has allowed her to once again find her creative talent. This new direction has allowed Heather to continue to work with her hands through carving, burning, staining, painting and color pencil rendering of once living, three dimensional, plant material; which stays in line with her love for the natural environment.
Ms Kinkade is challenging the way traditional gourd techniques are conducted by creating her own interpretations for faux leather tooling on gourds by using traditional leather tooling techniques and master leather artist’s patterns for her design inspirations. She is also creating new basket patterns for use on gourds; patterns based on traditional basket designs. She continues to move gourd design toward a higher level of design and toward new effects with a focus on western characteristics. In 2011 she was awarded the following:
Northwest Gourd Festival in Moses Lake, WA July 2011
Come Full Circle – First Place Masters “Bowls” Category, Presidents Choice, and Second Most Votes in People’s Choice
Prill’s Gourd – Third Place Masters “My Way” Category, People’s Choice, and Judges Choice
Cody Country Artist League Spring Show in Cody, WY June 2011
Come Full Circle – First Place in Professional Other/3D
Prill’s Gourd – Honorable Mention in Professional Other/3D (Third Place)
Arizona Art Alliance Spring Show in March 2011
Magnolia – First Place in 3D
Wuertz Gourd Festival in February 2011
White Rope – First Place, People’s Choice, and Judge’s Choice
Magnolia – Judge’s Choice
Gourd Purse – Second Place
2010 Awards:
Sundust Gallery
Sun Flower – Distinguish Artist Award
2010 Awards Continued:
Cody Country Artist League Spring Show
Heishi Circles – Second Place 3D
Wuerts Gourd Festival
Morning Glories – First Place
Maple Leaf – Third Place
Wuerts Gourd Festival
Mask – Third Place
Representation:
The West Lives on Gallery, Contemporary Art Collections in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
http://www.westliveson.com/contemporaryartists.html
Big Horn Galleries in Cody, Wyoming and Tubac, Arizona
http://www.bighorngalleries.com/HeatherKinkade.htm
Fountain Hills Artists Gallery in Fountain Hills, Arizona
http://www.fountainhillsartistsgallery.com/Kinkade/Heather_Kinkade_Artist.html
Current and Previous Showings/Lessons:
Teaching Engagements: Spirit of the Desert December 2011; Southwest Gourd Association January 2012; Spirit of the Desert February 2012; Show-me-gourd Association (Missouri) April 2012; Washington State Gourd Association July 2012.
Northwest Gourd Festival in Moses Lake, WA
Cody Country Artist League Spring Show in Cody, WY
June through July, 2011
Herberger Theater in Phoenix, AZ
Living in Arizona
July through August, 2011
Fram’n Works in Phoenix, AZ
Two month show with one other 2D artist
October through November 2010
K3 Guest Ranch in Cody, WY
On Going 2009 -2012 (During summer, gourd lessons are offered)
Wild West Extravaganza in Cody, WY
July 2, 3, and 4, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Memberships:American Gourd Society
http://americangourdsociety.org/
Arizona Gourd Society
http://www.arizonagourdsociety.com/
Vice President of the Arizona Gourd Society
Southwest Gourd Association
http://swgourdpatch.com/
Immediate Past Vice President of Southwest Gourd Society
Cody County Art League
http://www.codycountryartleague.com/
Arizona Art Alliance, Juried Member
http://www.azartalliance.com/gallery.html
Sonoran Arts League, Juried Member
http://www.sonoranartsleague.org/index.php
Contact Artist:
Heather Kinkade
Phoenix, Arizona
602-550-9316
hk@kinkadegourds.com
Call or email with any questions about classes or if you would like to commission a gourd.
Please visit our other website that deals with rainwater catchment and reuse. The webpage can be found at: www.forgottenrain.com Thank you.
