| GUS the SQUASH CARVER |
| Specialties include: Giant Pumpkins/Squash Corporate/Sports Logos |
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| Contact Info: |
| About my work I started carving pumpkins semi professionally in 2002 at the Indiana State Fair. I was carving Giant pumpkins (I also grow them) and knew that the skin was very thick. I thought that there was great potential for carving just on the skin of the fruit without having to penetrate into the cavity. My first real professional work came in 2004, again at the Indiana State Fair. The photo above is my first truly professional piece. This was carved on a 400+ pound pumpkin during the fair. The crowd enjoyed watching the work take shape over four plus hours. I had a great time answering their questions while I worked. The kids were fascinated (as were the adults.) You could actually place your fingers behind the wings. I encourage people to touch my work to prove that it is real. I have also found an additional advantage to this style of carving...they last. Since pumpkins and squash rot from the inside out, these designs will usually last as long as an uncarved fruit. Depending on the conditions, this can be from two weeks to over two months. This makes the work much more appealing to more corporate clients interested in using this as a form of advertising. Since the fair, I have done both public carving as entertainment and carving at home and brought to the client. |
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| Located near COLUMBUS, OHIO (but willing to travel) |
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| UNDER CONSTRUCTION! Watch for a completely new site, coming in Late August 2008 |
| "The Major Universities of Indiana.", 2004 Indiana State Fair Approx. 3 hours to carve. This one brought many comments from the crowd . People expressed who should be on top, who didn't belong, etc. I personally let the fruit dictate where the logos looked the best. ...and yes, I know I did not include Notre Dame. Their logo belongs on a big green squash! ...besides, I am a Buckeye Fan! |
| The "Perspective Thumb", 2004 Indiana State Fair Approx 1.5 hours to carve. OK, I admit, I was playing! This was my first controversial piece...people thought it was an obscene jesture, thus the text was added. This was an attempt to see how deep I could carve into the fruit. I reached the cavity at the bottom left. |
| "Tumbleweed corporate Logo", 2004 Tumbleweed restraunt, Reynoldsburg, OH Approx. 4 hours to carve at home. This 300 pounder was carved at home then delivered to the restraunt. The photo at left was taken nearly three weeks after carving. The owner took good care of the fruit and kept it in their front foyer after I removed the rotting stem. I am more than happy to take care of my pieces and even dispose of them upon request. (Roll mouse over pic for close-up.) UPDATE: As of Feb 5, 2005, this fruit was still in their foyer. Double click on picture for 5 Feb photo. When I checked in early March, they had thrown out the pumpkin, even though it was still sound...darn, I wanted to see how long it would last. |
| "Oven Mitt" 2004 Arby's restraunt, Morse Rd., Columbus, OH Over 2 hours home carving, again in my living room. This is one of two tall Jack-O-Lanterns carved, the other was the "Arby's" corporate logo (roll over photo to see). These were displayed over two months, then disposed of since they were "out of season." I guess I shouldn't complain, the Christmas decorations clashed anyway. |
| "BD's Mongolian Barbeque" logo, 2004 BD's Easton restraunt, Columbus, OH 3+ hours carving at home (not in the living room) This 150 pound pumpkin had a beautiful color. Unfortunately, due in part to the high heat and humidity in the restraunt, this piece only lasted about two weeks. Lesson learned...display in foyer! |
| "Indiana Pumpkin Growers Association", 2002 Indiana State Fair This is the piece that started it all. Carved over 3 hours in the summer sun, but still one of my favorite pieces. The fruit was over 500 pounds. The seeds had been removed through a large hole cut in the top. The carving was done with an 8" hunting knife (brought to cut it open for the seeds) and some tools borrowed from the gourd society. Roll over the picture for a view of the Indiana State Fair logo on the other side. |
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