Stevie Mention in AZ Republic today~
 

Large decorated guitars to rock Valley fund-raiser

Jane Larson
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 17, 2005 12:00 AM

PF Chang's China Bistro's work of public art shines with all the shades of copper inherent in 15,000 pennies.

The sculpture, sponsored by Motorola Inc., features a chili pepper design borne of 130 hours of work with tiny mosaic tiles and grout.

The Weitz Co.'s saguaro-ribbed guitar is cradled by a tall steel cactus wearing sunglasses. advertisement




The Valley-wide public art project known as GuitarMania is gearing up.

Sponsors and artists will get a sneak peek tonight at a party in the downtown Phoenix warehouse where the guitars are being stored. Dozens of the 10-foot-tall fiberglass works go on public display next weekend near America West Arena and Bank One Ballpark in downtown Phoenix.

"We want to get people's attention in a way that's fun, creative and accomplishes something for the community and local artists," said Brian Hassett, president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona.

Valley corporations and other sponsors have contributed nearly $600,000 to the project, which is modeled after the first GuitarMania fund-raiser in Cleveland in 2002.

That event raised $1 million for charity.

The Arizona version will be a fund-raiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona.

Besides the corporate-sponsored art, there also are plenty of sports-themed guitars, including an Arizona Diamondbacks one to be signed by the whole team and guitars by Diamondbacks favorite Luis Gonzales and Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash.

Big names from the musical world also contributed. Singer Stevie Nicks created one with her 13-year-old niece, and musician Eddie Van Halen bonded with son Wolfgang in designing their guitar.

Other corporations contributed their expertise to the project.

Dircks Moving Services transported the blank guitars to artists, Pioneer Packaging made custom cases and Home Depot Inc. donated paint.

Seventy-nine guitars will be on display beginning with the official unveiling Sept. 23 in downtown Phoenix. Late arrivals, mostly from celebrities busy with road trips, will bring the eventual total to 86. Extras are available for last-minute sponsors, too, Hassett said.

Sponsorships are $7,500.

The guitars will be displayed in downtown Phoenix next weekend, then moved to locations around the Valley that will be their home until they are auctioned off in February.

About 30 will be placed in downtown Phoenix, with 20 each for Tempe's Mill Avenue and Scottsdale's Marshall Way. Glendale will host the remaining works downtown and at the Glendale Arena.