“Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of The Guitar” opens at William King Museum of Art, Abingdon, Virginia, May 15 and runs until Aug. 17. This touring exhibition celebrates the artistic development of the guitar.
Developed by The National Guitar Museum, it features 40 objects, ranging from the intricately inlaid Moorish oud and six-foot long Renaissance theorbo on to the modern Italian design of the Eko and transparent acrylic body of California’s BC Rich guitars. Spanning centuries of design and craftsmanship, the exhibition takes visitors through the history of an object that is one of the most recognizable items on the planet.
“Over the past several years, interest in the guitar as an icon has grown significantly,” according to HP Newquist, executive director of the NGM. “The guitar has been a signature element of world culture for more than 500 years; now visitors can explore the design history and artistry that has played a major role in the guitar’s evolution.”
The guitar pervades culture beyond music. It was an integral element of the work of both Vermeer and Picasso, and today it is incorporated into advertising everything from clothes and cars to the Olympics. “It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been affected by the guitar, whether as players or just fans of all types of music. And while this may be apocryphal,” Newquist adds, “it’s a widely held belief that the two most recognizable man-made shapes on the planet are those of the Coca-Cola bottle and the electric guitar.”
The “Medieval to Metal” Exhibition also includes life-size photorealistic illustrations of historically important guitar designs from noted artist Gerard Huerta, and 20 photographs of acclaimed musicians and their guitars from Neil Zlozower, one of the world’s premier concert photographers.
This exhibition is part of the museum’s McGlothlin Exhibition Series and is sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino of Bristol, and Matt Smith Realty.
William King Museum of Art is open six days a week, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays. Admission to the museum is free.
