Gibson Guitar Announces Cleveland Rocks!

Press release
Source: Rogers & Cowan

Gibson Guitar, the world’s premiere musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology is proud to announce CLEVELAND ROCKS!, a special arts project featuring fifty Gibson Les Paul Guitars creatively designed by local visual artists, musicians and celebrities. The fifty Gibson Guitars will be displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum beginning in mid-May.  The guitars will then be auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions with the proceeds benefiting the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.

This community arts project is a wonderful opportunity for Cleveland based visual artists, musicians and celebrities to be involved in a unique art project and an opportunity for visual artists to garner international press awareness by displaying their artistic talents on the world’s most coveted guitars.

“It was only fitting that we support the city which gave us the phrase Rock-n-Roll and  is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “Our guitars are played by numerous artists who have called Cleveland their home and we hope the Cleveland Rocks project strikes a chord with everyone.”

Chris Carmody, President of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, said, “We at the Film Commission present Cleveland’s unique features to entice film producers to bring their projects here”. We are grateful for Gibson Guitar’s support, and for giving Cleveland artists a great opportunity to show off their own unique talents.”

Local artists interested in participating in designing a guitar for CLEVELAND ROCKS! may download an application at www.clevelandfilm.com beginning Thursday, March 15, 2007.  The deadline for submissions is Wednesday,April 4.  Due to the nature of the project, there will be no extensions of the deadline.  The artwork/artists chosen will be notified on Monday, April 9, 2007 and will be chosen by a selected group at the Greater Film Commission.

Each chosen artist will receive a Gibson Les Paul guitar model base to paint and will be part of all press and promotional campaigns for the project.  Each artist will also be noted on a special plaque which will accompany the painted guitars at the Rock Hall exhibit and receive an invitation to the gala auction event.  

For more information, interested parties can also call the Greater Cleveland Film Commission at (216) 623-3910.

About Greater Cleveland Film Commission:
The Greater Cleveland Film Commission was established in 1998 to promote the increased production of film, television, video, radio, and other types of media in northeast Ohio. The film commission has brought in over $26 million dollars through film and television projects which have generated economic benefits for the region and increased training and job opportunities for northeast Ohioans. For more information go to www.clevelandfilm.com.

About Gibson Guitar:
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Gibson Baldwin Music Education, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com.