Sunday, April 21, 2013
Waukesha GuitarTown Phase two will be publicly unveiled on June 7.
Waukesha could have three to five murals installed in the downtown area in conjunction with the second phase of the Waukesha GuitarTown project. The murals received the support of the Public Art Committee last week and head to a public hearing before the Waukesha Plan Commission at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 201 Delafield St. A news release from the Waukesha GuitarTown project shares more about the murals: The murals are the first of a series of murals that Waukesha GuitarTown has planned for 2013. The murals will focus on Les Paul and the history of Waukesha. The murals are being done by the national acclaimed WallDogs, who have done many projects around the United States Samples of their work can be viewed as close as the murals …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
As the weather has become more mild, the Waukesha GuitarTown has moved the giant guitars outside for the warm season.
There's something a little different about downtown Waukesha this week. The Waukesha GuitarTown guitars were moved outside on Monday as the cold, snowy winter has left and spring is here – even if it is still cold outside. The guitars are in various locations in downtown Waukesha. And the fun is only just beginning. The Waukesha GuitarTown will unveil phase two of the public arts project in June. Currently, artists are working on the large guitars and on the smaller playable guitars that will be on display throughout downtown Waukesha. Gibson Guitars gave Waukesha a GuitarTown distinction because Waukesha is the birthplace of Les Paul – the Wizard of Waukesha.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The artists will design the next round of 15 10-foot fiberglass replicas and 24 playable Les Paul guitars for the Waukesha GuitarTown public arts project.
The Waukesha GuitarTown Steering Committee has announced the artists selected to design the next round of fifteen 10-foot fiberglass replicas and 24 playable Les Paul guitars that will become part of a public art project. The Waukesha GuitarTown public arts project kicked off in downtown Waukesha in June 2012. Gibson Guitars agreed to a second phase, and the GuitarTown steering committee has the artists that will design the guitars. This year's project has grown to 15 10-foot guitars and to 24 playable showcase guitars. With these additions, the Waukesha GuitarTown Project will be beautifying Waukesha’s landscape with a total of twenty-five 10-foot guitars. Likewise, the playable Les Paul guitars will now increase to a total of 44. This …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Artist deadline to be part of the second phase of the Waukesha GuitarTown project is 5 p.m. Feb. 21.
Do you want to design a 10-foot-tall fiberglass Gibson Guitar that will be seen by thousands in downtown Waukesha? The Waukesha GuitarTown public arts project kicked off in downtown Waukesha in June 2012. Gibson Guitars agreed to a second phase, and the GuitarTown steering committee is seeking artist designs from throughout southeastern Wisconsin. The deadline has been extended to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 for the project that is to be unveiled in June 2013. In addition to the giant fiberglass guitars, regular-sized playable guitars will be placed throughout the downtown area. You can check out some of the guitars from last summer’s GuitarTown events from the Waukesha GuitarTown’s Flickr account. The following information was provided by Norm Bruce …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
After a successful project last year, Gibson has agreed to Phase II and to have large guitars designed by local artists. The steering committee is in search of the artists.
The Waukesha GuitarTown steering committee is in search of artists to design the Gibson Les Paul guitars for the next phase of the project. Last year Waukesha received the good news that the city would become a Gibson GuitarTown, which brought 10 10-foot-tall fiberglass Les Paul model guitars and 10 regular-sized guitars. Waukesha GuitarTown unveiled the project last year during a big weekend celebration. The guitars were decorated by 30 area artists and placed at various locations throughout the downtown. The 10 10-foot-tall Gibson guitars paid tribute to inventor and music legend Les Paul, who is a Waukesha native and considered to be the father of the solid-body electric guitar. After a successful project, Gibson Guitar Company has …
Monday, October 8, 2012
Gibson Guitars approves a second phase to Waukesha GuitarTown.
Waukesha GuitarTown’s public art project is expanding next summer, bringing more guitars, more artists and more music together. The large, 10-foot fiberglass Les Paul-model Gibson guitars will be designed by local artist in Southeastern Wisconsin and “placed around the city at landmarks and businesses for the purpose of bring people together and raising funds for local charities, similar to what we accomplished last year through GuitarTown,” Mayor Jeff Scrima said in an interview with Waukesha Patch. Gibson Guitars selected Waukesha for its public art project because Les Paul was born in the Wisconsin community. Scrima met with Gibson Guitar Corporation's CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and President David Berryman on Friday in Nashville, and …
Friday, August 10, 2012
Huge donation benefits the school district's arts and music programs.
The School District of Waukesha is due to receive a $45,000 windfall, thanks to Waukesha GuitarTown and the Gibson Foundation. In making the donation, GuitarTown hits a high note with the school district. "It's just a fantastic surprise," said Superintendent Todd Gray. "This is a huge donation and this will be very well-used in the music and art departments." According to its website, Waukesha GuitarTown Project's mission is to "raise funds to better the lives of those served by local charitable organizations, including Waukesha school music and art programs, the new Waukesha County Museum Les Paul exhibit, and the new Waukesha Community Health Center." There are "no strings attached" for the gift, other than putting the GuitarTown logo on…
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Quick fix helped bring 10-foot-guitar back to Waukesha County Museum after an unknown vandal damaged the guitar.
The 10-foot-tall fiberglass Gibson guitar that was damage by vandals last week is repaired and back at its home outside the Waukesha County Museum, according to a news release from Norm Bruce. Steve Kassens, a member of the Business Improvement District Board of Directors, arranged for the guitar to be repaired and touched up the guitar with paint. “Thanks to the quick response the guitar is back for all those people who wanted to view the walking tour this last weekend,” Bruce said in the news release. The guitar was ripped off its stand and laying on the ground in front of the Waukesha County Museum on July 16 at 1:40 a.m. The city garage took the guitar so it can be fixed, according to the police department’s call log.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
In January, 2012, the Waukesha Downtown Business District approved three challenges for 2012. Since July marks the halfway point of the year, BID President Norm Bruce the community of Waukesha an update on its progress.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Downtown Waukesha event brought thousands as people listened to live music and checked out the Gibson guitars.
Downtown Waukesha is officially a Gibson GuitarTown. The opening of GuitarTown coincided Friday night with the opening of this season’s Freeman Friday Night Live in downtown Waukesha. The 10 10-foot-tall fiberglass guitars that were decorated by area artists were on display throughout the downtown area. FFNL runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekly every Friday through October. Have Photos From Freeman Friday Night Live? Add them to this article!
Tj
9:41 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2013
I have long dreamt of a town where every resident plays guitar, and makeshift troubadours roam Main Street, smiling, spreading songs of joy through the city centre, and making music matter again. Long songs sung by long haired singers stream from open windows and doors. Everyone's holding hands, harmonizing, helping others hit the high notes. Please, GuitarTown Committee Members, help make my … more ›