Medieval To Metal: The Art & Evolution Of The Guitar

The guitar is the single most enduring icon in American history. Yet it evolved from European and Middle Eastern instruments (such as the oud and lute) during the Middle Ages.These instruments are displayed in the exhibit side by side with the guitar as we know it and recognize it today, distinguished by its signature hourglass shape. Ever since the guitar's inception, though, guitar makers have experimented with hundreds of different forms looking for the perfect blend of beauty and sound–whether it be bowls, flat surfaces, slightly curved lines, or dagger sharp angles.

The historical and notable objects within the exhibit detail this design evolution. They include instruments such as the intricately inlaid Moorish oud, the six-foot long Renaissance theorbo, the modern Italian design of the EKO, the transparent acrylic body of California's B.C. Rich guitars, and many more. Each is an exploration of the iterations of the musical instrument that has become one of the most recognizable man-made objects on the planet.

This exhibit will be open February 9 - May 9, 2020.