So you think those 10-foot-tall guitars you've seen all over town are pretty cool and you've got a few grand extra lying around the house? Talk about a lucky coincidence. On Saturday, Nov. 6, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will host the "GuitarMania II" live auction with all proceeds from sales of the 93 oversized guitars to benefit United Way Services and the Rock Hall's education fund. Here's how we see some of the auction playing out. (Pun absolutely intended.)
Big-Money Guitar: If 2002's Guitarmania auction is any indication, then celebrity creations get the bidding going. Yoko Ono's "Imagine Peace" guitar was the big seller, grabbing $105,000. This time around, it'll either be the brightly painted "Untitled #33" by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea or Graham Nash's "Crosby, Stills and Nash,"
A black-and-white nod to his band with lyrics to "Teach Your Children" on the back.
Creation Most Likely to Leave the City: New York City firefighters were spotted at the corner of East Ninth Street and Prospect Avenue last summer, checking out artist Bob Novak's "All Gave Some -- Some Gave All" guitar, which has a striking image of firefighters raising the American flag at the World Trade Center site on its body. We're guessing it's the one most likely to cross state lines following the auction.
Most Cash Ever Dropped on a Rust Bucket: It'll be John Lionti's oxidized nod to Neil Young. Playing on Young's 1970 album "Rust Never Sleeps," the Liggett-Stashower art director cut the "rusted-out" parts of this very cool creation before applying ammonia, vinegar and salt water to the exterior. He finished it with fiberglass and iron powder to create a rusted look. Since it will keep rusting if left outside, this is an indoor-only piece.
Works of Guit-Art: Let's not forget the truly eye-catching works by Clevelanders on display. Although we can't mention all that deserve a nod, some that we anticipate will raise eyebrows when they hit the auction block include Cleveland Municipal School District art educator Nicholas J. DiGiorgio's bustling "We Built This City," Cleveland sculptor Paula Blackman's graceful "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Point to Point Communications Web designer Jennifer May's striking "Have You Heard the News?"
