Artists bring varied talents to guitar project

Last fall, 13 local artists began to transform unplayable guitars into works of art.

Few guidelines were given for the "Painted Strings" project, which will benefit the Sisters Folk Festival's Americana Project. Each artist chose his or her own medium and theme

The finished products reflect the uniqueness and creativity of the individual artists.

Jeff Wester, proprietor of Ponderosa Forge, was surprised when he was asked to take part in the project. Wester is not a painter -- he is a forger of iron. But he accepted the challenge with enthusiasm.

"When Brad (Tisdel) and Kathy (Deggendorfer) asked me if I wanted to do a guitar, I said 'Sure!'" said Wester. "The idea for my creation just popped into my head. It took a little creativity to finish the guitar, but it was a lot of fun."

Wester's creation, entitled "The Guitar Man," features a figure sculpted out of iron. The figure is actually holding the guitar, and the head is designed so that a potted plant can be put into place -- providing a punk-rockish "hair-do."

Wester's work of art can be previewed during the Art Stroll at Sisters Feed Company.

Wester, a sponsor of the Sisters Folk Festival, is a musician as well as an artist. He started picking on the guitar when he was eight and took up the banjo in recent years. Banjo fans can enjoy Wester's picking at Paulina Springs Book Company during the Art Stroll.

"I've been talking with Jody Henderson about teaching banjo to high school students as part of the Americana Project," he said. "Americana is a neat project -- I think it's good to get kids involved in music."

Wester's own children, who are in first and third grade, are currently taking piano lessons.

Local artist Pam Jersey Bird is not a musician, but has a deep appreciation for the historical roots of American music.

"I think I took the Painted Strings project more literally than some of the other artists," said Bird. "I did a little research and discovered that our music today comes from two roots: European folk and African roots. Blues started in the Mississippi delta and gradually made its way up to Chicago as the slaves moved north."

Bird combined symbolism and reality to represent the influence of African music. Her finished creation, which she calls "Got My Mojo Working," is not only beautiful to behold--it is an in-depth lesson in music history.

"I started with the back of the guitar," she said. "I painted B.B. King and Bessie Smith -- representing a well-known musician and singer. The female figure perfectly fit the shape of the guitar."

Every one of Bird's paintings has an upper and lower area, representing spirit above and earth below.

A map of Africa adorns the front, with names of various blues artists, representing the migration of roots music.

Bird has a degree in art education and has "always been an art teacher."

She has worked as an Art Museum Educator, and for over five years she participated as an artist-in-residence for California and Oregon schools. Bird recently taught a workshop on collage at Central Oregon Community College and will be teaching at a SOAR art camp for kids this spring. Her work has been exhibited in California, Washington, and Oregon.

Artist Tom Browning is known around the world for his Santa oil paintings. Instead of the jolly old elf, however, Browning chose a floral design -- complete with a bird's nest inside the sound hole -- to transform his guitar.

"Dennis McGregor and Kathy twisted my arm to get me to participate," Browning admitted. "But then I decided it was time to get more involved in the community."

Browning decided he wanted to be an artist at age 10. With over 25 years as a professional artist behind him, Browning has fully realized that goal.

"I started out in the fine arts, and have moved into commercial art more recently," he said.

Browning and his wife, Joyce, started a publishing company called Arbor Green several years ago to help market and distribute his Santa paintings. His Santa's Time Off lines now includes prints, cards, gift wrap, notepads, to name just a few items.

Besides Santa, Browning is best known for his figure paintings. He is currently working on a book for Harper Collins called "Love Me Tender."

The text of the book will be taken from the Elvis Presley song, but the pictures painted by Browning will be portraits of his own beloved granddaughter, Jordan.

"I think that Painted Strings is a worthwhile project," he said. "Music and visual arts go hand in hand -- they have a lot of threads in common. Anything you can do to stimulate creativity is a good thing. Kids today can go either way -- if you get them involved in art and music, they can get a better handle on life."

When asked what advice he would give young, aspiring artists, Browning didn't hesitate to answer.

"Pursue your passions -- I did," he said. "I was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged me and were instrumental in my pursuing art. My parents supported me."

Browning's creation is entitled "Natural Harmony" and will be displayed during the Art Stroll at Paulina Springs Book Company.

The Art Stroll takes place on March 1 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The public will have the opportunity to bid on the guitars by signing up on silent auction sheets. Guitars will be on display until March 8, then they will be auctioned off at the Soda Creek Gallery the next evening.