It all started with a donated guitar from Ed Beaver that was water damaged and destined for the trash. Graphic Design Coordinator, Bruce Stanley took the challenge to his Graphic Design II class. Designers: Melissa Bullers, Clarisa Doll, Seth Fentress, DeAndrea Gaines, Marcella Hollowell, Michael Nordstrom, Phylicia Sadler, Max Szczublewski were all committed to the project.

The concept was to transform the guitar into a bird house by taking the neck and repositioning it as a perch to the opening in the guitar body. A trip to Home Depot and Pet Smart was next for design assets.

Cutting up art from magazines and using bird seed for design accents came natural for the graphic artists. Etching into the guitar wood, the students had fun carving subtle art elements as a patterned background.

In the end, the students learned collaboration and how to make relative design decisions, giving the piece of art tie in to the city of Nashville and the musicians that suffered from the flood.

The finished donation made its appearance at the Student Portfolio Review where it was handed off to Sheri ONeal by Coordinator Bruce Stanley and Nossi herself.

Tickets on Sale Now for Flood Anniversary Event; Artwork for Auction Announced

# # #

ReTune Nashville Event Poster

Brother Mel

"Enjoy a preview of the art items up for auction at ReTune Nashville's Anniversary Celebration on May 3, 2011 at Soundcheck in Nashville. All art has been created from music instruments destroyed in Nashville's May 2010 flood. Check back here for updates and photos of new pieces as they are finished. Make plans to attend the event to bid on one of these historic and commemorative pieces of Nashville by purchasing tickets here!

Artist: Guy Gilchrist
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (Baden acoustic guitar)
Title: "Nancy & Sluggo-Friends"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-nBBoiunFvnpjdCeExsjH.zip (703 KB)

Artist: Guy Gilchrist
Instrument Donor: Baker (electric guitar); Ed Beaver (Baden acoustic guitar)
Title: "Rockaboney"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-mBlwckhAfhugBFjjqFlv.zip (664 KB)

Artist: Randy Purcell
Instrument Donor: Brad Ruthven (guitar)
Title: "Powerplay"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-hzCstbAtbvfeCoBDxkdo.zip (1.05 MB)

Artist: Randy Purcell
Instrument Donor: Neal McCoy (tour case); Pat & David Hutcherson (violins); Brady Seals (keyboard); Chris Luzinger (blue neptune electric guitar); Soundcheck (rhodes parts)
Title: "Seven"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-ciykkwlhfIGrhwIxktfc.zip (889 KB)

Artist: Steve Wariner
Instrument Donor: Brad Paisley (guitar)

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-xuHDwyxGgjBkkDJyfgEj.zip (1.2 MB)

Artists: Bob McGill & Laurel Smith
Instrument Donor: Cynthia Cyrus (piano, keyboard)
Title: "Dueling Pianos"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-GwnEaDsHmuIjutnqvnwA.zip (1.06 MB)

Artist: Brother Mel
Instrument Donors: Pat & David Hutcherson (violins); Soundcheck (snare drum); Joe Glaser (Taylor guitar)
Title: "And the Music Played On"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-ascGgjfdzDtpGIpnqxjo.zip (465 KB)

Artist: Joel Anderson
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (Taylor acoustic guitar)
Title: "Play On"

Artist: Chris Beck
Instrument Donor: Pat & David Hutcherson (sax)
Title: "Boots"

Artist: Paulette Wooten
Instrument Donor: Jerry Jones - (electric guitars)
Title: "Lifting Nashville"  

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-ipGnuHvnxleIeiAbutfB.zip (829 KB)

Artist: Paulette Wooten
Instrument Donor: Jerry Jones - (electric guitars)
Title: "Her Song Survived" 

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-wosrwFFjxABhiGehkyHm.zip (551 KB)

Artist: Rachel Kice
Instrument Donor: Rick Monroe (guitar)
Title: "It Was My Favorite Guitar"

Artist: Valerie Harrell
Instrument Donor: Todd Cecil (mandolin)
Title: "Shattered but Unbroken"

Artist: Jeff Bertrand
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (Baden acoustic guitar)
Title: "Johnny Cash"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-nbcEHimHnFyagDfIpIut.zip (695 KB)

Artist: Viki Mammima
Title: "Memory"

Artist: Pat Murphy
Instrument Donors: Pat & David Hutcherson (violin parts); Chris Leuzinger (Neptune 12-string electric guitar)
Title: "Phoenix"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-DjqnItAmhoBFzzkbovsC.zip (699 KB)

Artist: Abigail L. Franklin
Instrument Donor: (piano bench)
Title: "Transition"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-aAcmnjeyjlCyrByAiwyd.zip (1018 KB)

Artist: Lydia George
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (guitar)
Title: "Here Comes The Sun"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-GwwtBjtrGqFJsBmtycta.zip (739 KB)

Artist: Beverly Threadgill Robey
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar)
Title: "Guitar Town"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-hlFbufdFHkqDverCqzmp.zip (590 KB)

Artist: Terri Fitgerald
Instrument Donor: Keith Horne (guitar)
Title: "ReAwakening"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-GewBujkbCvElwxeCCCsr.zip (630 KB)

Artist: Sheri O'Neal
Instrument Donor: Tim Marks (bass guitar)
Title: "Regeneration of Reverb"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-qtxfazcjaJubFiuJvmjh.zip (1.31 MB)

Artist: Sheri O'Neal
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar emblem and parts)
Title: "Gibson Cataclysm"

Artist: Sheri O'Neal
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (rhodes keys, tom drum)
Title: "Key's in the Round"

Artist: Wendi S. Mahoney
Instrument Donor: Pat & David Hutcherson (violin)
Title: "No Violinsss"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-skHgdnjhlghgbIIjEJua.zip (644 KB)

Artist: Deborah Morrow
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck ()
Title: "With You My Many Loves, The Music Never Stops!"

Artist: Susan Page
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (Baden acoustic guitar)
Title: "Renewal"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-lEsdxDIpGInqbAifwkoa.zip (461 KB)

Artist: Perrine Long

Instrument Donor:  Pat & David Hutcherson (violin)

Title: "Untitled"

Artist: Guy Gilchrist

Instrument Donor: Peter Frampton (electic body)

Title: " "

Artist: Guy Gilchrist

Instrument Donor: Chuck Geoff of Toby Keith (bass)

Title: " "

Artist: Nossi College of Art Design Students-Graphic Design Coordinator, Bruce Stanley took the challenge to his Graphic Design II class. Designers: Melissa Bullers, Clarisa Doll, Seth Fentress, DeAndrea Gaines, Marcella Hollowell, Michael Nordstrom, Phylicia Sadler, Max Szczublewski
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (guitar)
Title: "Songbird"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-fvwdBJHtevBAqcqadwqG.zip (1.06 MB)

Artist: Lisa Harlow
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (guitar)
Title: "Bring On The Rain"

Artist: Heather Lose
Instrument Donor: Andy Zimmerman (drum)
Title: "Drum Table"

Artist: Herb Williams
Instrument Donors: Pat & David Hutcherson (violin)
Title: "Waxing Baroque"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-EinlvsdngwIvjGvDDqvw.zip (902 KB)

Artist: Jessica Bleu
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar)
Title: "Tree of Life"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-nCEeviAlkEjCFyebrsEc.zip (749 KB)

Artist: Jessica Bleu
Instrument Donor: Maile Ellis (Epiphone guitar)
Title: "Epiphone Rebirth Necklace"

Artist: Jessica Bleu
Instrument Donor: Maile Ellis (Epiphone guitar)
Title: "Missing in Action Necklace"

Artist: Rebecca Loveland
Instrument Donor: Pat & David Hutcherson (violin parts), Soundcheck (piano top, piano legs)
Title: "More To Nashville"

Artist: Bebo
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar)
Title: "Blues"

Artist: Susan Bennett Lopez
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (banjo)
Title: "Diving Deep"

Artist: Brooke Elizabeth
Instrument Donor: Keith Horne (peavey bass)
Title: "Catfish"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-koFvHeasoDIEshfEtBBj.zip (311 KB)

Artist:  Jessi Hoeft and Linda Lou
Instrument Donor: Joe Glaser (guitar strings); Soundcheck (miscellaneous parts)
Title: "Float"

Artist: Bill Johnson
Instrument Donor: Tim Marks (bass guitar)
Title: "Woman With Harinet"

Artist: Jamie Grubbs
Instrument Donor: Pat & David Hutcherson (violin parts)
Title: "Shake a Tail Feather"

Artist: Jamie Grubbs
Instrument Donor: Chris Luezinger (neptune electric guitar); Rich
Eckhardt/Toby Keiths band (snake end); Pat & David Hutcherson (violin parts)
Title: "Rhythm & Wreckage"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-IdFgAcDnFfabsckmFtfi.zip (408 KB)

Artist: Brian Tull
Instrument Donor: Joe Glaser (guitar)
Title: "No Strings Attached"

Artist: Sonny Ghanem Artiste
Instrument Donor: (piano bench)
Title: "Jewelry Box"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-nBhzoiiFeHEzlaAHvwqG.zip (888 KB)

Artist: Sonny Ghanem Artiste
Instrument Donor: Mic.
Title: "Round and Round"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-tbgzrpFArBiJznilFfHq.zip (798 KB)

Artist: Nancy Beardsley
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar)
Title: "Silver Roots"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-nDrEFqkIkablskoAJGaz.zip (959 KB)

Artist: John Reed
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar case)
Title: "Song of Hope"

Artist: Rosie Dykes
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar)
Title: "Sea of Love"

Artist: Ray Stephenson
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar, case)
Title: "Outside Looking In"

Artist: Nathan Barlowe-Luna Halo
Instrument Donor: Rich Echhardt (guitar)
Title: "Scary Cupid"

Artist: Marleen De Waele-De Bock
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (guitar)
Title: "Rhythm by Repetition"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-AgfgvFCaEuAaqhmnvxpJ.zip (317 KB)

Artist: Amber Gould
Instrument Donor: Brad Ruthven (guitar)
Title: "Sound Waves"

Artist: Bethany Cannon
Instrument Donor: Keith Horne (bass guitar)
Title: "Portrait of a Musician"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-FAdxgndFHiIfCzAgycIa.zip (1.16 MB)

Artist: Amanda Bennett
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (guitar case)
Title: "Making A Case"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-irxHihEqsdllyFzbyxzB.zip (646 KB)

Artist: Nancy Cooley

Instrument Donor: Michael Spriggs (acoustic Jean Larrivee body and neck, Tacoma acoustic body),  Todd Cecil (electric body),  Pat and David Hutcherson (dulcimer body and two violins), Brady Seals (two pedals and a strap), J'Nae Fincannon (rhodes keyboard parts, piano keys, miscellaneous chords, keyboard), Bill Cooley (two Galloup guitars), Kathy Mattea (guitar parts)

Title: "Corner of Cowan and the Cumberland #1"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-hHCbDzmhqpHsvsiefwBA.zip (731 KB)

Artist: Rene'e White
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (Baden acoustic guitar)
Title: "Life Springs Eternal"

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art-up-for-auction-at-anniversary-celebration-music-and-art-event-on-may-3rd-vGoeimCbxcoBGgmkJrsC.zip (621 KB)

Artist: Ginny Edwards
Instrument Donor: Keith Horne (peavey bass)
Title: "Simplicity"

Artist:  Parker W. Lanier
Instrument Donor: Soundcheck (amp)
Title: 1950's TV/Time Machine "The Porter Wagoner Show"

Artist: RaeAnne Rubenstein
Instrument Donor: Donna Long (mandolin)
Title: "Mandolin Poster"

COMMING SOON

Artist: Ray Stephenson
Instrument Donor: Peter Frampton (guitar)
Title: ""

Artist:
Instrument Donor: Ed Beaver (Baden acoustic guitar)
Title: ""

ReTune Nashville will be out on the streets of Nashville during the month of February, showcasing current auction items and selling t-shirts, posters and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. All merchandise sales go directly to uninsured musicians affected by the May 2010 flood.

Here's where you can catch the crew and show your support for Nashville's musicians:

RAW: NASHVILLE
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Time: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Venue: Mercy Lounge: 1 Cannery Row, #102, Nashville, TN
Ages: 21+
Cost: $10
Tickets: or at the door
Website: www.rawartists.com/nashville

ReTune will be set up in the back room, displaying artwork from this month's artists Amber Gould, Michael Manly and Sheri O'Neal, who will also be showcasing their own projects at this event.  

ReTune will showcase FIFTEEN original art pieces up for auction. Many of these pieces will not be shown again until the final auction in May!

SHOP IN THE GULCH AND ICON OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, February 24,  2011
Time: 5:00PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: ICON in the Gulch: 600 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN
Ages: All
Cost: FREE

Come check out end of season sales from some of the Gulch's hottest retailers and treat yourself to wine and cheese. ReTune will have t-shirts, jewelry and small items for sale and artwork on display.

THE HANG UP ART, MUSIC AND WINE SHOW
Saturday, February 26,  2011
Time: 5:00PM - 1:00 AM Venue: That's Cool: 2309 B Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN
Ages: Check with venue
Cost: $10 (includes all-you-can-drink wine, beer and margaritas)
Coming? RSVP here: http://on.fb.me/ebtoVX

Want to be the first to know when new events are announced? Sign up here to receive updates on upcoming events and important announcements.

Wariner will paint a flood damaged Brad Paisley guitar for ReTune Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Thursday, February 3, 2011) -- Hit songwriter and country music artist Steve Wariner will lend a different skill set to nonprofit ReTune Nashville when he opens his art box to turn a flood damaged Brad Paisley guitar into artwork for auction at the ReTune Nashville Anniversary Celebration on May 3.

 ReTune Nashville Founder Sheri O’Neal is looking forward to the finished piece, “We’ve been holding on to Brad Paisley’s flood damaged guitar for several months, waiting to partner with the right artist. I couldn’t think of a better visual artist to work on Brad’s guitar than Steve Wariner. This piece will capture the essence of two extraordinary guitarists and the spirit of Nashville, and it will be a piece of art to be celebrated.”

 Wariner comments on his participation in ReTune Nashville’s project to help fellow musicians, "I salute ReTune Nashville for leading this initiative to help my fellow musicians, and I'm honored that they asked me to create a piece of visual art from my good friend Brad's guitar."

 The item will up for auction at ReTune Nashville’s Anniversary Celebration on May 3, 2011 at Soundcheck.  All proceeds raised from the sale of the guitar will be distributed directly to qualifying musicians through MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund to help uninsured musicians affected by Nashville’s May 2010 floods.

 An online auction of artwork created from flood damaged instruments is online now at www.retunenashville.org.

About ReTune Nashville:
Founded as a nonprofit organization following the devastating floods in May 2010 by Nashville photographer Sheri O'Neal and members of the Nashville music and art community, ReTuneNashville exists with a mission to provide relief to uninsuredNashville musicians through the sale of artwork created from flood damaged musical gear. All proceeds are donated to MusiCaresNashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund for distribution to those uninsured musicians.retunenashville.org

 About Steve Wariner:
Steve Wariner is a four-time GRAMMY winner, having won in 1992 for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals; and in 2000 and 2009 for Best Country Instrumental Performance, before his Chet Atkins tribute earned him the Country Instrumental GRAMMY in 2010.  During his career he has charted over 30 top-10 singles, including 14 #1 hits--songs like "Some Fools Never Learn," "Small Town Girl," "The Weekend," and "I Should Be With You."  In 1998 he won the Country Music Association’s Single and Song of the Year awards for his #1 hit, “Holes in the Floor of Heaven,” which was also the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year in 1999.  He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1996.  As a songwriter he has earned 16 BMI Country Awards over the last three decades, in addition to his 15 Million-Air Awards, for songs receiving over one million on-air plays.  With 15 Million-Air Awards, Steve has reached a rare plateau achieved by only a fraction of BMI writer/artists including Chuck Berry, Stevie Nicks, Randy Owen, Hank Williams, Jr., Mike Love of the Beach Boys and Steve Winwood.  In 2002 Steve started his own record label, SelecTone Records.  He was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in 2008 and will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in April. stevewariner.com

Having what many musicians would envy as a dream career, Chris Leuzinger experienced a musician’s worst nightmare as the flood waters rose in May 2010 in Nashville, Tenn. 

Electric guitar player Leuzinger’s bio reads like a veritable who’s who of the music world. He has performed with music legends ranging from George Strait to Julio Iglesias. What he is best known for, though, is his 18-year-long career playing electric guitar on all Garth Brooks' records and CD’s. 

“Garth Brooks is the most loyal artist in music history,” Leuzinger says. “It’s wonderful being a part of him expressing himself.”

Leuzinger’s life as a Nashville musician evolved into a steady career doing what he loved. Life was pretty good. But as Nashvillians know on Saturday, May 1st, 2010, it started raining. And it didn’t stop for two days. Leuzinger had two trunks full of guitars stored at Soundcheck. 

“Guitars become more than just a tool to you - they actually are an extension of your creativity,” Leuzinger explains. “…It’s not just a piece of wood that you pick up and play.” 

By Friday the water receded enough to allow him to inspect the damage. 

“I went in with high expectations that maybe some of my cases were water tight. It was a true nightmare, people pulling guitars and amps out,” Leuzinger recalls. “But to put it in perspective, it wasn’t as much a nightmare as having six feet of water in your house…but it was still hard.” 

He ended up losing six guitars to the flood waters while salvaging 10 for restoration. 

“One of guitars I had since ‘69 has been restored. When you lose something like that or something is damaged badly, it hurts,” Leuzinger articulates. “That guitar I had played on “Friends in Low Places.” I had another guitar I had played on “The Dance,” a record that was really close to me. It was restorable but forever changed.”

Some of the guitars being restored were part of Leuzinger’s retirement plan to one day sell “a vintage instrument for a vintage price.”  Sadly, they have lost their vintage value because of the flood damage. As Leuzinger pointed out, his was not the only “musician’s IRA” stored in Nashville.  

“George Gruhn said that he doesn’t remember any other time in history, even with Katrina, that there was such a mass damage of musical equipment,” says Leuzinger referring to Gruhn’s remark at a flood fundraising event. 

So when Leuzinger heard about ReTune Nashville, he happily contributed his unrestorable guitars realizing many musicians were not as fortunate as he to have insurance. 

(download)

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garth-brooks-session-guitarist-gives-back-to-nashville-musicians-ItmIzirqxsdrBjmIhmdl.zip (1.03 MB)

“I was like ‘Wow, this is much bigger than I expected’ and the artwork was much cooler than I expected,” Leuzinger enthuses. “…Those guitars would have probably gone in a dumpster somewhere. It really touched my heart to see my guitars living on in another form. They’re not making music anymore but they’re still art. Someone on my Facebook page called them guitart.”

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Artist Pat Murphy turned Leuzinger’s guitar into a mixed media wall art piece titled “Phoenix.” The striking turquoise-colored guitar neck rises from the floodwaters, created from the undulating bodies of damaged violins, floating toward blue skies and a brighter future. It goes up for auction in February.

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“I’ve had two major blessings in music,” Leuzinger reflects. “One is being able to make my living playing music and work with the artists that I have and to be able express myself the way that I have. I’ve been doing it for 30 something years and I still love it as much today as I did when I was 20.”

Written by Alisa Welch

ReTune Nashville Launches Guitar Giveaway Contest

ReTune Nashville teams up with Paul Reed Smith Guitars to donate a brand new guitar to a musician affected by the flood

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (January 1, 2011) – Tennessee nonprofit ReTune Nashville announces today the launch of a contest in partnership with Paul Reed Smith Guitars (PRS) to donate a brand new DGT model guitar to a Nashville guitarist who lost instruments in Nashville May flood.

 All interested and eligible musicians can enter by creating a short 1-2 minute video that shares their personal flood stories. Voting will be facilitated by an online polling tool that will be available to the general public. The contest runs through the month of January, closing at midnight on January 30, 2011.

 The contest winner will be announced January 31, 2011 at 10:15 AM CT on ReTune Nashville’s Facebook page, facebook.com/retunenashville.

 The DGT PRS guitar up for grabs retails at $2,500 and is the result of more than 20 years of collaboration between Paul Smith and David Grissom. The DGT is based on the McCarty Trem with special pickups, special wiring, a neck smaller than PRS’ wide-fat neck, bigger frets and heavy gauge strings that permit beautiful rhythm and solo tone.

 For complete contest details and official rules and regulations, visit retunenashville.moontoast.com/contest.

 
About ReTune Nashville:
Founded as a non-profit organization in May 2010 by Nashville photographer Sheri ONeal, ReTune Nashville exists with a mission to provide relief to uninsured musicians in the industry through the sale of artwork created from flood damaged musical gear. The proceeds from the sale of artwork are donated to MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund for distribution to uninsured musicians in the industry.ReTune Website

About PRS Guitars:
Paul Reed Smith Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. PRS Guitars is a leading manufacturer of high-end electric guitars. Originally crafted for local guitar players, PRS Guitars have become highly prized by musicians and collectors around the world. PRS Website

Nashville Nonprofit Raises $20,000 For Musicians At Music And Art Event

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (October 28, 2010) – Tennessee nonprofit ReTune Nashville raised nearly $20,000 for musicians’ flood relief at the October 23 Benefit Concert and Art Auction Event, with nearly 500 people in attendance.

 Held at Nashville’s music storage and rehearsal facilitySoundcheck, the event welcomed attendees of all ages to a four-hour celebration of recycled flood damaged instruments turned into artwork, live music, a live and silent auction, and complimentary food and beverages until late into the night.

 Approximately 90 pieces of artwork and jewelry created from flood damaged instruments were on display throughout the evening, with seven additional items auctioned-off at the live auction.

 The first auction item, a piece by visual artist Randy Purcell, sold for $2,700, setting the precedent for the rest of the evening. Perhaps the most poignant moment of the night for many attendees and for ReTune founder Sheri O’Neal was presenting a brand new drum kit courtesy of DW Drums to Andy Zimmerman, drummer for regional reggae-rock band, The Running. 

 O’Neal shared her sentiments on the experience, “Watching a bidding war break out on the first auction item and presenting the new drum kit to Andy [Zimmerman] were absolutely the top highlights of my evening. Never did I expect this idea to reach this level. It was an emotional and rewarding experience for so many of us there that night.”

 Zimmerman, surprised by the gift, shared, “Words cannot express the level of gratitude and love I have for everyone involved with ReTune Nashville.  Receiving that drum set was a total shock and, I daresay, a life changing experience.” Zimmerman continued, “After the flood, my creativity and motivation were all but extinguished. Thanks to ReTune Nashville, the fire is raging again!”

 Congressman Jim Cooper, well known as an advocate of protection and support of Nashville’s music and entertainment community, made an appearance at the event, sharing his deep appreciation for those in attendance.

 ReTune’s reach spread outside of Nashville to people nationwide, welcoming attendees from California, Michigan, Virginia, and beyond to support Nashville’s musicians first-hand.

 “I think there were a lot of people from out of state who wanted to help restore Nashville during the May flood, but didn’t know how. They didn’t necessarily have the time or resources to donate time or money. This was a way for many of them give back while celebrating Nashville’s resiliency and directly supporting Nashville’s musicians. It was really heart-warming to see that support,” said O’Neal.

 With the help from Soundcheck, Uplight Technologies a hardworking band and crew, and an eclectic cast of performers, Music Director Rich Eckhardt created a high-quality concert experience for the attendees. “The music portion of the event really exceeded a lot of our expectations. We knew it was going to be a great show, but thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we were able to present an outstanding concert experience with a superior light show and a variety of truly talented musicians.”  Music performers included Sean Smith, Sean O’Bryan Smith, Jeremy Lister, Anthony Smith, Jamie O’Neal, Eddy Raven, Kentucky Thunder,andDerek St. Holmes.

 ReTune Nashville continues their efforts through the end of the year and into 2011 with the launch of an online auction on November 1 to continue to raise funds for uninsured musicians affected by the flood throughMusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund.

 To bid on items or for more information about ReTune Nashville, visit retunenashville.org.

 For more information or to request photos and b-roll of the event, contact Becky Lynn Street at 615.499.3561 orbeckylynn@revolutionprnashville.com.

 About ReTune Nashville:
Founded as a non-profit organization in May 2010 by Nashville photographer Sheri O'Neal, ReTune Nashville exists with a mission to provide relief to uninsured musicians in the industry through the sale of artwork created from flood damaged musical gear. The proceeds from the sale of artwork are donated to MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund for distribution to uninsured musicians in the industry.
 

CMT Insider recently spent a day documenting the progress of ReTune Nashville’s art-making process with artists Joel Anderson, Rachel Kice and me.

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guitar-gifted-by-world-leader-recovered-by-retune-nashville-wgbaFfgkuDEsnkyywIow.zip (1.27 MB)

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An interesting thing happened as cameras rolled at Rachel’s studio. When her friend, music artist Rick Monroe, noticed that the guitar she was working on looked strangely familiar. So familiar in fact, that with another look he knew it was the guitar given to him by former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Rick told us that he had performed at a private benefit for Mikhail on the U.S.S. Sequoia, and subsequently presented the Russian leader with a Martin guitar. Mikhail gave the guitar back to Rick, saying that he “would do more with it than him.”

This particular guitar was housed at Soundcheck when the May flooding occurred, and Rick assumed the guitar to be a casualty of the water—until he saw it sitting on Rachel’s workbench about to get a new lease on life.

The video of Rick explaining the guitar’s history can be seen here: 

Rachel says, “This coincidence seems to express the point that ReTune Nashville is making—it is possible to find good in everything, even a significant loss. When you put all the random details together, it causes me to realize that absolutely anything, in your past or present, can open a door unexpectedly to something new and meaningful in life."

This is just one story that one instrument holds, while ReTune Nashville helps give them a new life, a new story. If the guitars and pianos and violins could speak, what would they say? What are their stories?