The Guitar: A Functional Sculpture

An instrument can be seen as an extension of one’s own self to many people. Guitar players are certainly no exception to this. Guitars are more than they appear to many players. The instrument is not only a tool by which a musician can create their music, but also an extension of their own bodies. Many players feel to be “at one” with their instrument when they are “in the zone” during both improvisation and composition. For me, the guitar is a functional sculpture. It is a work of art that is a tool, built and designed to further create art. When I was a student of Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, I was excited to begin my career of designing and building these sculptures so that my creative passion could be utilized by others to pursue their own musical passions. I would think not only of the playability and the comfort of the instrument, but also would try to create designs that would be creatively inspiring to the musician. This is where the aesthetics of the instrument played a crucial role for me. I wanted to create unique designs that would harness the creative energies of an artist. In essence my desire was not to create a guitar, but rather fabricate a muse that would inspire the very best from the musician. After all, before any of us were professional luthiers or musicians, we were fans of music.