Africa along the Zambezi River in a place near the city of Livingston.
Who migrated inward from Madagascar in search of relics.
From generation to generation.
A self-taught landscape artist, I began painting on gourds several
years ago,
then tried carving (a talent my Grandfather had). While working at the
Animal
Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida, I was in daily contact
with cultural representatives from all over
the continent of Africa.
The stories about Africa passed down through my family and
my
love of animals have definitely influenced my artist expression.
Each natural gourd is selected for its
unique shape and color.
a “one-of-a-kind” picture or story is carved into the gourd
then painted.
Gourds, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which produce
a hard-
shell durable fruit grown for ornamental, utensil, and general interest
are
a renewable medium and can be recycled leaving no foot print
on the environment. The gourd plant has
been described as one of nature’s
greatest gifts to mankind. Of all known plants the gourd is the
only one
experts believe spanned the entire globe during prehistoric times. It
appears
to be one of the first cultivated plants in regions throughout the
world and was used by every known
culture in the temperate and tropical
zones and is still used by many cultures today.
Asante Sana
Frederick G. Link, Artist