Sunday, April 28, 2013

brochures available

The Les Paul Foundation has produced a brochure briefly describing highlights in Les' life and maps to Waukesha locations prominent in his youth. Brochures available at Waukesha County Museum and Pewaukee Convention and Visitor Bureau.



Friday, April 12, 2013

The Way Home

Learned this week the Waukesha County Museum's exhibit: "Les Paul: The Wizard of Waukesha" finally opens June 9th, on what would've been Les' 98th birthday.
Sam Llanas of the BoDeans worked with the museum to produce a pretty nice video featuring his song The Way Home.  He's playing one of Les' early guitars and visiting several Waukesha sites.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The 39

Here is the link to the individuals and teams taking control of fifteen 10' guitar sculptures and 24 playable Les Pauls for the 2013 version of GuitarTown II. I went to the packed Bernie's Tap Room for the artist unveiling and came away with the feeling that 39 guitars may be too much to add to the ten 10' and 17 playable already on display in Waukesha. I'm sure I'll be proven wrong, but that was just my feeling at the time. I also had reservations about some of the chosen artists which, again, I'm sure will be proven otherwise. Three standard and one ten-footer for middle school students? Please forgive my nervousness.

Several are returning artists from last year, so we already what quality to expect. I'm familiar with the high level of Carroll University and Waukesha's North and West art, but wouldn't know what to expect from Team La Casa de Esperanza or Team Saratoga STEM Academy. I'm glad to see artist Cecelia Blenker got a Les Paul. I've seen her studio in the Springs Gallery and like what she does with pets and children. Charles Lichtie makes me a little nervous as I remember his art as being very dark.

Last year I was nervous about the quality of art we'd see and I was totally relieved. It was phenomenal! This year, with all the students participating, I get the same queasy feeling. I'm positive we will be pleasantly surprised! Waukesha has a lot of talent and I can't wait to see it.

The standard Les Pauls were distributed March 18th at Bernie's and at least one, Tom Noll's, is already finished. The ten foot sculptures were delivered, and picked up, last Wednesday.