The National Guitar Museum (NGM) is a museum founded to promote and preserve the legacy of the guitar. It is dedicated to the history, evolution, and cultural impact of the guitar. The NGM addresses the history of the guitar as it has evolved from ancient stringed instruments on to the wide variety of instruments that have been created over the past 200 years. It also focuses on the inventors and innovators involved in the instrument, along with the science and technology behind the guitar's construction, shape, and sound.
History
The museum was founded by HP Newquist, who serves as its Executive Director. The NGM's board of advisors includes notable guitarists Tony Iommi, Steve Howe, Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore, Liona Boyd, and Joe Bonamassa. Johnny Winter served on the board prior to his death. Curators include guitar industry veterans Rich Maloof and Pete Prown.
Touring exhibition
The NGM launched a touring exhibit entitled "GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World" that began with previews outside New York City in February 2011. The national rollout was in Orlando, Florida, on June 11, 2011. The exhibit is currently booked at sites in the United States for the next several years. At the completion of the tour, one U.S. city will be chosen to become the permanent home of the National Guitar Museum. The hosts for the GUITAR Exhibit (past and future):
- Connecticut Discovery Museum: February 15 â€" May 15, 2011 (Previews)
- Orlando Science Center / Orlando, FL: June 11, 2011 â€" January 4, 2012 (National Launch)
- Louisville Science Center / Louisville, KY: January 21 â€" April 22, 2012
- Carnegie Science Center / Pittsburgh, PA: June 16 â€" September 30, 2012
- Science Museum of Virginia / Richmond, VA: October 13 â€" January 6, 2013
- The Springfield Museum / Springfield, MA: January 18 â€" April 21, 2013
- The Museum Of Idaho / Idaho Falls, ID â€" Yellowstone: June 10 â€" November 30, 2013
- The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center / San Diego, CA: December 20, 2013 â€" April 6, 2014
- The Bishop Museum / Honolulu, Hawai’i: May 2014 â€" September 1, 2014
- Liberty Science Center / Liberty State Park, NJ: October 2014 â€" January 2015
- Imagination Station / Toledo, OH: February 2015 â€" May 2015
- Discovery Place / Charlotte, NC: May 31, 2015 â€" September 2015
- Oregon Museum of Science & Industry / Portland, OR: October 2015 â€" January 2016
- Exploration Place / Wichita, KS: January 2016 â€" April 2016
- Whitaker Center / Harrisburg, CA: May 2016 â€" September 2016
- Gulf Coast Exploreum / Mobile, AL: September 2016 â€" January 2017
- Buffalo Museum of Science / Buffalo, NY: January 2017 â€" May 2017
- The Berkshire Museum / Pittsfield, MA: May 2017 â€" September 2017
- Kalamazoo Valley Museum / Kalamazoo, MI: September 2017 â€" January 2018
The NGM also 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.
Lifetime achievement award
The NGM presents an annual "Lifetime Achievement Award" to a guitarist who has been instrumental to the legacy of the guitar. The recipients to date have been:
- 2010: David Honeyboy Edwards.
- 2011: Roger McGuinn of The Byrds.
- 2012: B.B. King.
- 2013: Vic Flick, the session guitarist who played on thousands of early British Invasion songs, known for performing the original James Bond theme song.
- 2014: Buddy Guy, pioneering Chicago electric blues guitarist.
- 2015: Tony Iommi, guitarist and founder of Black Sabbath, acknowledged as the creator of heavy metal.
- 2016: Glen Campbell, singer-performer and notable session guitarist, his TV show helped popularize the acoustic-electric guitar.
References
External links
- National Guitar Museum website
- “GUITARS: The Sound And Science.†Community Idea Stations
- “Touring Exhibit Explores The History and Science Of The Guitar.†WAMC Public Radio
