Musical instruments in the hands of the PGSO are near the top of their artistic capabilities.
But what about the bottom? Flip over a violin and isn't it a wooden canvas on which still more art could be applied?
In the hands of the PGSO, these instruments have come to life in a whole new artistic way. Fourteen of these instruments have been stripped down to their tops or bottoms and local visual artists have transformed them into display art with an unmistakable musical reference.
And these painted violins will be available for auction on May 15, for the benefit of all the artists involved.
"For this fundraiser, we take the cost of the materials, off the top, then split the proceeds 50-50, half to the artist, and half to the PGSO," said orchestra general manager Marnie Hamagami. "We have had so many talented artists contribute. Even one from Jose [Delgado-Guevara, the orchestra's principal violinist] who is also a talented visual artist."
He wasn't a dual-arts prodigy until local painter Corey Hardeman started teaching him about six months ago.
"He's my pride and joy. He just leaps forward with every new work," Hardeman said. She contributed three works to this fundraiser, not counting Delgado-Guevara getting double duty out of his chosen instrument.
Hardeman said it was a delightful challenge to apply oil and brush to the wooden instrument components because of the paint absorbing characteristics and how that affected the brushing and drying process.
"It forces you to approach the work in a different way," she said. "The shape of the instrument informed the art, in that this isn't a standard rectangle, so the image has to fit."
Hardeman added that she was proud to contribute her talents for the benefit of the musicians.
"I really have an attachment to the symphony in this city, and I wanted to contribute," she said. "There is an interesting cross-pollination between the performing arts and the visual arts."
The artists who contributed were:
oCorey Hardeman
oCara Roberts
oKeith Kerrigan
oMo Hamilton
oWendy Young
oLisa Redpath
oJose Delgado-Guevara
oRaine Gould
oKat Tecson Valcourt
oElaine Kerr
The auction features tops or bottoms of 12 violins and two cellos. The bidding happens at the Groop Gallery (1127 Third Ave.) starting at 7 p.m.
