Betty Finch, from California, and founder of the Kern County Gourd patch, is an award winning gourd artist. Also a gourd grower, she devoted herself to researching and studying the Chinese technique of molded gourds. Through The Immortal Molded Gourds of Mr. Zhang Cairi, much of the history, and many of the techniques, are now accessible to all. Traveling to China in continuation of her work, Betty Finch was a speaker at the '2005 International Forum on Gourds', in Huludao.
Guojun Zhang has dedicated his life to traveling China in search of the finest artisans of gourd art, and to traveling the United States seeking appropriate markets for their fine products.