This gourd was designed and created specifically as a donation to the Boulder County Hospice fundraiser. The requirement was to provide an item that had an African theme.
The pattern was burned into the skin of the gourd, and then colored with ink dyes. The lighter patterns were then carved into the skin, removing the dye. The patterns on the back side of the gourd and on the woman’s dress are meant to depict the African tradition of dyed mudcloth. The woman’s necklace is made of antelope teeth. The entire gourd has been sealed with satin polyurethane.