by Lauren Grange
The Museum of Idaho’s new exhibit will have visitors picking up “good vibrations” from the creation and history of the guitar. From lute and sitar to the influences of Gibson and Les Paul, the guitar has gone through some major changes.
The exhibit, entitled “Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World,” provides hands-on activities and displays to show the science of sound and how guitars are made.
Since its debut on June 11, 2011 in Orlando, Fla., over half a million people have experienced the exhibit’s interactive features. The exhibit was compiled by the National Guitar Museum as a travelling exhibit to allow people all around the country to learn more about guitars.
This exhibit has something for everyone. Britni Storer, the Museum of Idaho's director of marketing, said the exhibit will be perfect for those who do and don’t love guitars. “You’re going to learn about the science of sound and how your ear interprets things. Guitar lovers are going to come in because guitars are their passion. But someone who doesn’t love guitars can learn how guitars have impacted our culture and our history. Bands, fashion, events are all affected by performances of famous guitarists. It really has impacted people’s lives more than we realize.”
And though there will be history behind the guitar, kids will love it because they can touch things. Parts of the exhibit are designed for those who touch to learn, including different types of wood and guitar strings that can be played to hear different sounds, sound boards and various guitars to test how loud different builds are, and a station where attendees can design their own guitars on a touch screen computer.
Storer says the piece she is most excited to see is the giant guitar. It is 43.5 feet long and 16 feet wide, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest guitar, and it will be sitting in the middle of the exhibit for all to see. It can even be played, though it certainly takes more than one person to play a song. Storer joked that she may need to wear earplugs while she works to block out all of the sound from the exhibit.
The world’s largest guitar is only one of the unique pieces to the collection. Over 60 instruments will be on display ranging from antiques like the Persian tanbur and a Sixteenth Century Spanish viheula to modern day classics like a Gibson Firebird, Ibanez Iceman, and a BC Rich 10-string. Other significant guitars such as the oldest electric guitar will also be in the exhibit.
The Museum of Idaho is adding a bit of its own historical flare to the exhibit with pieces that will never be shown anywhere else. A guitar from Muddy Waters (“I Can’t Be Satisfied” and “Delta Blues”) and an autographed Guild Thunderbird S 200 from Chuck Berry (“Johnny B. Goode “and “Run Rudolf Run”) have been acquired specifically from the Experience Music Project in Seattle for the exhibit’s time in Idaho.
Every museum that hosts the exhibit will be slightly different than anywhere else based on square footage, extra materials, and how much the museums want to tailor the exhibit. The Museum of Idaho has taken the initiative and tried to tailor the exhibit to the interests of the community.
Storer said she is looking forward to the community engagement in the exhibit, and the museum has planned some extra ways to get involved. “I can’t wait to have performances and a traveling guitar road show. There are so many possibilities for community involvement. Everybody loves music—they each have their own styles, but the guitar is in every style of music.” Performances from well known and local artists are being organized to bring more music to the community as a part of the Guitar exhibit’s time in town.
Any lover of music will love this exhibit. Storer said, “We all have some memory of a guitar or a guitar-like instrument.” This exhibit is bringing those memories to life through the new “edutainment” trend that combines education and entertainment as a way to have fun learning outside of the classroom. With more focus on hands-on learning and interactive exhibit displays, visitors have the opportunity to become a part of history through their involvement—like experiencing a live documentary.
“Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World” will be on display at the Museum of Idaho from June 13 to November 30, 2013. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Admission prices are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for youth. Special rates for families and groups are also available. Contact the Museum of Idaho or see their website www.museumofidaho.org/ for more information.