"Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York" Exhibition
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
This event has ended.
New York City and nearby New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County have been home to a vibrant Italian American population since the late nineteenth century. Within this community, a remarkable tradition of lutherie (stringed-instrument making) has flourished. Italian American craftsmen have produced an enormous variety of musical instruments, from traditional European-style violins, mandolins, and guitars to newer American instruments such as archtop guitars and mandolins and even electric guitars. Since the 1930s, makers from this tradition in the New York region have become especially well known for their extraordinary archtop guitars. This exhibition examines the work of three remarkable craftsmen from this heritage—John D'Angelico, James D'Aquisto, and John Monteleone—their place in the extended context of Italian and Italian American instrument making, and the inspiration of the sights and sounds of New York City.
Also, a dynamic multimedia guide to the exhibition, which has been developed by the Metropolitan Museum’s Digital Media Department, will be available as a free download from iTunes.
[Image: John D’Angelico (American, 1905–1964) "Archtop Guitar," Lou Monte New Yorker model (serial number 2150), 1963 Spruce, maple, ebony, brass, celluloid, mother-of-pearl; sunburst finish; W. 17 in.]
Media
Schedule
from February 09, 2011 to July 04, 2011