National Guitar Museum

Last updated
National Guitar Museum
EstablishedMay 7, 2008;15 years ago (2008-05-07)
Type Music
Founder HP Newquist
Executive Director HP Newquist
CuratorRich Maloof and Pete Prown
Website nationalguitarmuseum.com

The National Guitar Museum (NGM) is a museum dedicated to the guitar's history, evolution, and cultural impact; and to promoting and preserving the guitar's legacy. The NGM addresses the history of the guitar as it has evolved from ancient stringed instruments to the wide variety of instruments created over the past 200 years. It focuses on the guitar's inventors, innovators, and influential players, along with the science and technology behind the guitar's construction, shape, and sound.

Contents

The NGM does not have a permanent location, but rather exhibits its collection in a touring format.

Overview

The museum was founded by author and former Guitar magazine editor-in-chief HP Newquist, who serves as its executive director. It is the first museum to focus solely on all aspects of the guitar and to include instruments from most of the world's stringed instrument manufacturers. The NGM's collection focuses on representative instruments from a vast array of historical makers and modern luthiers.

The NGM's board of advisors includes guitarists Tony Iommi, Steve Howe, Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore, Liona Boyd, Al Di Meola, and Joe Bonamassa. Johnny Winter served on the board prior to his death. Curators include guitar industry veterans Rich Maloof and Pete Prown. [1] [2]

History

In 2011, the NGM collection began touring the United States in a variety of exhibitions.

In 2012, it was announced that at the completion of its exhibition tours, one U.S. city was expected to be chosen as the permanent home of the National Guitar Museum. [3] As of 2023, a permanent home for the NGM has still not been chosen.

Touring exhibitions

"GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World"

"GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World" exhibit. GUITAR Exhibit.png
"GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World" exhibit.

In February 2011, the NGM launched its first touring exhibit, entitled "GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World," which began with previews outside New York City. [4] The national rollout was in Orlando, Florida, on June 11, 2011. The exhibit traveled to sites across the United States from 2011 to 2022. [5] [6] [7]

The hosts for the GUITAR Exhibit:

"Medieval To Metal: The Art & Evolution Of The GUITAR"

The NGM curates a touring art exhibition, "Medieval To Metal: The Art & Evolution Of The GUITAR." It debuted at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin in February 2015. It has since been presented at more than a dozen art museums in the United States, including:

"America At The Crossroads: The GUITAR And A Changing Nation"

"America At The Crossroads: The GUITAR And A Changing Nation" is an NGM exhibition focused on U.S. history. It uses the guitar as emblematic, and representative , of pivotal national events. It debuted in January 2023 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Grand Rapids, MI.

Lifetime achievement award

The NGM presents an annual "Lifetime Achievement Award" to a guitarist who has been instrumental to the legacy of the guitar. [11] The recipients to date have been:

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Mervis, Scott. "National Guitar Museum rolls into Carnegie Science Center". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Scaramuzzino, Amy. "Tony Iommi Joins National Guitar Museum Board". 101 WRIF. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  3. ↑ Katic, John (July 3, 2012). "Guitars on Tour): Traveling Exhibit Hints at Possibilities of Permanent National Guitar Museum". Guitar World Magazine . Archived from the original on August 13, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Gargan, Scott (February 14, 2011). "National GUITAR Museum rolls out GUITAR Exhibit". Connecticut Post .
  5. ↑ Begos, Kevin. "Guitar museum travels the US, searching for a home". AP. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  6. ↑ “National GUITAR Museum keeps working the road”, The Los Angeles Times .
  7. ↑ Nyman, Shane. "Amped up): History Museum showcasing the extensive history of the guitar". Post-Crescent Media. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  8. ↑ “Guitar exhibit plays on science, romance”, Orlando Sentinel .
  9. ↑ Jentzen, Aaron (Summer 2012). "On tour at Carnegie Science Center, the world's most popular instrument gets its solo". Carnegie Magazine. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015..
  10. ↑ Rutkoski, Rex (June 13, 2012). "Guitar exhibit will rock the Carnegie Science Center". Trib Live .
  11. ↑ "Vintage Guitar - June 2018 - open - 24". www.nxtbook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  12. ↑ CG News Desk. "The National GUITAR Museum Announces Presentation of "Lifetime Achievement" Award to David 'Honeyboy' Edwards". City Guide New York City. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "National Guitar Museum a Hit In Orlando". Guitar International. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.


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