The Guitar: An American Love Story, Ends Dec. 30

An exhibit at the State Museum featuring a selection of some of the rarest guitars ever created ends December 30. The free exhibition, entitled, The Guitar: An American Love Story, showcases more than 150 world-class guitars gathered from both private and museum collections. This is the only time in which this remarkable, assembled collection has appeared together in one gallery, available to the general public.

Earlier this month at the gallery, City National Bank sponsored an invitation-only members holiday evening for The Douglas Henry State Museum Commission and The Board of the Tennessee State Museum Foundation. Martha Henderson, Exec. VP and Manager of City National’s entertainment division attended while representatives from CNB’s Nashville office included Holly Bell, Sr. VP Team Manager; Lori Badgett, VP Entertainment, Diane Pearson, VP Entertainment/Team Leader and Mandy Gallagher, Relationship Manager. The packed gala celebrated The Guitar exhibit, along with exhibits Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer and Tim Nichols: Images from a Songwriter’s Camera. The event provided attendees a great opportunity to mix and mingle while viewing the impressive exhibits in the hall. The reception was followed by a performance by Vince Gill.

Highlights of the exhibit include:
• One of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley’s personal guitars. Courtesy of Graceland, Memphis, TN.
• Standout guitars from Grammy-winning entertainer Vince Gill’s private collection including his cherished 1942 Martin D-28.
• Three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton’s 1958 Gibson Explorer. On loan from a private collection.
• A historically significant Lloyd Loar quartet featuring a mandola, mandocello, mandolin and guitar. Matched set, circa 1924. On loan from a private collection.
• The 1953 Fender Telecaster played by famed Rolling Stone band guitarist Keith Richards. On loan from a private collection.
• Singer and actor Roy Roger’s OM-45 Deluxe guitar made by C.F. Martin & Co., circa 1930. On loan from a private collection.
• Rickenbacker “Frying Pan,” one of the very first solid body electric guitars.
• 1919 Martin 000-30-, likely the only one ever made. On loan from a private collection.
• c1900 guitar and mandolin made by Orville Gibson, the founder and namesake of Gibson Guitars. On loan from a private collection.

Nashville Scene‘s Jack Silverman offers an in-depth look at this stunning exhibit here.