Waukesha GuitarTown artist submission date extended to Feb. 21

The submission date for artists looking to paint a guitar for the Waukesha GuitarTown project has been extended by a few weeks.

Artists now have until 5 p.m. Feb. 21 to submit all the materials needed to the Waukesha GuitarTown Steering Committee. The original deadline was Jan. 31.

According to the Waukesha GuitarTown website, all applicants must be at least 18 years old and a Wisconsin resident.

They should submit the following:

• Contact information (mailing address, phone, email and website if available)
• Four photos (4x6) of current artwork clearly labeled
• Detailed concept proposal with both visual (minimum front and back) and a written description of the concept

Original materials will be accepted (a self-addressed, postage paid mailer if you want application materials returned) and individuals should send or deliver all materials to Waukesha West End Artists, 342 W. Main Street, Waukesha, WI 53186.

All application materials from selected artists will be retained by the selection committee until the project is completed. Applications will be processed by the committee and artists will be reviewed and selected based on their proposal, work examples and résumé.

Last year, there were 30 guitars - 10, 10-foot fiberglass sculpture Gibson Les Paul guitars and 20 regular-sized playable guitars - for artists around the area to decorate. Most honored Les Paul and his music in their works.

The GuitarTown project, in collaboration with Gibson Corporation, is a way to celebrate the contributions of Les Paul, a music icon who was born and is buried in Waukesha.

After a GuitarTown kickoff that featured local and national musicians and events surrounding Les Paul last June, the guitars were placed at indoor and outdoor locations in downtown Waukesha.

Waukesha GuitarTown Steering Committee member Norm Bruce said the intention is to model last year's event with the GuitarTown event coinciding with the first week of the Friday Night Live summer music concert series in downtown Waukesha in June.

The project, through its sponsorships, also raises money for the community. Last year $105,000 was raised: $45,000 to the Waukesha Public School District for new musical instruments and art supplies; $45,000 to the Les Paul exhibit at the Waukesha County Museum; $15,000 to the Waukesha Memorial Hospital to help fund the Community Health Clinic.

Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima announced last fall that GuitarTown would return to Waukesha for a second installment.

Questions on the artists should be directed to Lynn Gaffey at (262) 542-1522 or gaffey@gmail.com. For more details, visit waukeshaguitartown.com.