Included with paid museum admission; free for members
Tickets for Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces are $7 with museum admission and $10 for the exhibition only.
Explore the wondrous world of guitars at MIM! In honor of International Guitar Month and our current special exhibition Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces, join us for an exciting celebration of guitars. Experience musical presentations, hands-on activities, a look at how guitars are crafted, and more! Get up close with influential musicians, luthiers, students, and experts from the local Valley guitar scene as well as with premier national artists—some of whom are featured in Dragons and Vines. And while you’re here, be sure to spend some time visiting the special exhibition!
Gifts Available for Purchase 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. To commemorate MIM’s dazzling exhibition, Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces, the Museum Store will offer books, T-shirts, instructional DVDs, CDs, mugs, and many other gifts—some produced exclusively for MIM.
Arizona School for the Arts Presentation: “Justin Holland and His Influences” 10:15–11:15 a.m. Don’t miss this intriguing musical presentation by Arizona School for the Arts’ Advanced Guitar Ensemble under the direction of instructor Joshua Pierce. Join Pierce and his students for a discussion of the musical influences of nineteenth-century African American guitarist Justin Holland (1819–1887) and hear some of his compositions performed live. One of the most important figures in the nineteenth-century guitar community in the United States, Holland published landmark method books, arranged numerous works for guitar, served as an influential music educator, and was an early civil rights activist.
Drop-In Guitar Demonstration 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Stop by for a drop-in workshop and learn a new skill on one of MIM’s guitars, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned musician! MIM volunteer team member and talented musician Bart Moser will be leading guests in informal guitar lessons throughout the morning; drop by and try a chord or two.
“The Evolution of the Guitar: From the Shaman’s Bow to the Computerized Guitar” 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Learn about the evolution of stringed instruments—particularly the guitar, which has emerged as one of the most popular musical instruments of all time. Instrument maker and director of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, William Eaton, will share his insights about the fundamentals of how stringed instruments create “sound” through vibrating strings that are coupled to various shapes and cavities. These variations have become the family of stringed instruments that have emerged on every continent, many of which are on display at MIM. Eaton will showcase different parts of a contemporary acoustic guitar to explain the theory and mechanics of how a guitar produces its signature sound.
“Curating Guitars”: Behind the Scenes with MIM’s Curators 12:45–1:45 p.m. Join MIM curators Colin Pearson and Rich Walter for a discussion of the making of Dragons and Vines, the museum’s current special exhibition of world-class inlaid guitars, as well as the long-term cultivation of MIM’s extensive guitar collection.
Up Close with Al Petteway 2:00–2:45 p.m. Join GRAMMY-winning guitarist Al Petteway for a personal look at the world of guitars and inlay art. As a dynamic musician and performer, Petteway will delve deeper into some of the themes explored in Dragons and Vines from his unique perspective, describing his friendship with Larry Sifel of Pearl Works, his own experiences working with inlay artists, and more. Don’t miss this musical presentation as Petteway performs, shares stories, and answers questions from the audience.
Al Petteway Special Merchandise Signing 2:45–3:00 p.m. Al Petteway’s beautiful music can be heard in MIM’s special exhibition, Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces. After his presentation, Petteway will sign copies of his CDs, including Mountain Guitar and Dream Guitars, Volumes I and II. CDs may be purchased at the Museum Store.
Larry Robinson: “Reflections on an Accidental Career” 3:15–4:15 p.m. Join renowned inlay artist Larry Robinson on a journey through a selection of his major and minor inlay works as he discusses his forty-plus years of decorating musical instruments for a living. From having to cover up a hole he accidentally drilled through someone’s bass, to the Millionth Martin and the Lindisfarne guitar, it has been—as the saying goes—a long, strange trip. Guests are encouraged to join the conversation by asking questions during and after Robinson’s presentation.
Larry Robinson Special Merchandise Signing 4:15–4:30 p.m. The amazing art of Larry Robinson is featured in MIM’s special exhibition, Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces. After his presentation, Robinson will sign copies of his book The Art of Inlay, as well as copies of his instructional DVDs, which include a wealth of information for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill levels. Books and DVDs may be purchased at the Museum Store.