The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 06:32 PM

well...I suppose that if you are VERY involved with both guitars and Jesus, then that instrument represents as much to the maker as the "Pieta" did to Michelangelo...it obviously is not for just everyone, but it represents a lot of work, and no one is make ME look at it, or even asking me to be moved by it...so..........

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 09:54 AM

Bert, Depends on what you mean by "folk art." I don't know if a person with a professional "involvement" in "folk art" (e.g., academic, gallery owner) would take my criteria seriously. They are just my own generalizations about art which has been deemed "folk". My post is just about my own personal use of the term "folk art." Feel free to dismiss it.

HOWEVER, I am willing to grant the status of ART to the guitar. To me, the question whether something is art is not a very interesting one and I prefer to err on the side of inclusivity. To me the interesting question is whether something is GOOD art. Some people I have discussed aesthetics with are nervous about the value judgments implied by the terms "good" and "bad" and avoid them. However, they still manage to pack a lot of value judgments into their criteria for art.

Burke, "folk art" might not be the best term but I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what the terminological options are. None of my friends are professionally involved in folk art, so I have no one to ask. I know that there is something called "Outsider art" but I don't know it well enough to know if a professional guitar maker could properly be called an "outsider" in this respect. I think what we are looking for is a way of categorizing the guitar that puts it above (at least to some extent) the obvious criticisms voiced in this thread. I would not take the guitar as a gift, but it is so over the top that I think that it transcends the usual criticisms. Whatever that guitar is supposed to be or do or represent, it does a great job.

Bill D, excellent point. A friend suggested that the guitar is really no tackier than the Sistine chapel ceiling.

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: John Hardly
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 10:09 AM

I'd give just about anything for a Bourgeois guitar!

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 04:57 PM

I am very "involved" in both guitars and Jesus, and that guitar moves me in only one direction, and not the one the maker presumably intended.

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: Bert
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 05:23 PM

Well as I said first, 'the art is debatable'. I'll concede that some people might consider it art but I don't, excellent craftsmanship yes, but not art. However, I still don't see where the 'folk' comes in. Folk to me, is something that is NOT done for commercial reasons. This guitar is just another commercial product and is as much 'folk' as a new car.

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 05:36 PM

Near as I can tell from a short search of online resources, "folk art" is defined by the artsy-fartsy types as "art produced by self-taught artists."

Can be commercial or non-commercial by this definition.

Alex

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: Burke
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 06:46 PM

I already said folk might not be the best term for it. It doesn't seem very commercial to me, though. It looks like Gibson spent a lot for something to put in their museum. I doubt it will increase their sales all that much.

Gibson's Celebration of Christmas 2000 is our Christmas card to you and your loved ones on this most historic Christmas of our time.

The Tribute to the Birth of Christ will be on display at the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase in Opry Mills in Nashville, Tennessee, during the Christmas 2000 and 2001 New Year's seasons. Afterwards, the instrument will remain in Gibson Guitar Corp.'s permanent collection of unique and treasured instruments.

Here's more on the context of the creation of the guitar. I find it hard to despise it.

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 07:05 PM

Can we consider the ability/talent/craftmanship of the maker as opposed to "Folk Art"? The thing is tacky, but the craftsmanship involved is incredibly. Too bad somebody didn't have better taste..........I don't even like looking at it. As stated, it's too busy, too complicated, too over the top. Art? I suppose, in a broad definiton.

OK, we Pagans want equal time!!! Where is the Gibson with Misletoe, Horned Gods, moons, etc? ;) (joke, joke)

Or maybe a Muslim guitar with crescents, Hands of Fatima, etc.........Jewish guitars with Mogen Doveds, Masada, menorah,........STOP SORCHA, JUST STOP.........(bye now)

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 09:38 PM

And for those of you who do go visit the Ship of Fools (here's the link again), be sure the check out the Fruitcake Zone! Their descriptions of the links are very humourous even when the links themselves are not.

Marion

Subject: RE: The Perfect Instrument for Evangelicals
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 19 Dec 00 - 11:51 AM

The ideal instrument for evangelicals is the guillotine.