Artist Barbara Welch will display her unique gourds at the State Library in the Ola Babcock Miller Building, corner of E. 12th and Grand, through July.

About Welch: "Having always loved art, I discovered the gourd 13 years ago. This natural, hard-shelled wonder is the perfect palette for an artist. The gourd lends itself to such a variety of art forms. The shell, being like wood, can be painted, stained, dyed, carved, burned, and cut. Besides the artistry, the numerous shapes also contribute to different designs. Sometimes the actual mold design on the shell helps to form the piece. Flaws sometimes become an important and surprising part of the creativity.

"Basically a self-taught artist, I find enjoyment in using my imagination and thinking "outside the box" as well as doing more traditional and marketable items. I also like to incorporate things in nature to embellish when possible. It brings me great pleasure to work with my hands and create a piece of art that I and others enjoy. I would say that gourd art is just fun."

The Library is located in the Miller Building at the corner of E. 12th St. and Grand Ave. The building is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information call 515-281-4102 or 800-248-4483, or email is@lib.state.ia.us.

Click here for a map to the Miller Building.