(Photos by Norman Bacon)
Roger Shultis, 85, used the particular saw he gave to Rennie Cantine when he was young on Ohayo Mountain, as did his father and his grandfather. According to Cantine, the saw that is now part of a Guitar Sculpture is at least 150 years old. “17 years ago he gave me saw blades that I wanted to do something with. I made guitar sculptures and he said he loved them so much that he had more blades for me…” Cantine says he told Shultis that he should pass the saws down to his own family. “It’s my saw blade and I can give it to whoever I want,” replied Shultis.
The sculptures, Cantine’s passion, have been part of his Woodstock Guitar Festival for years now. It’s a series of events that begins with the placing of sculptures by different artists at locations all over town, as they have been all summer.
Official ceremonies kick off 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, August 10 with an opening reception for some of the cream of the crop at Oriole9 restaurant, with artists including Woodstock luthier Joe Veillette, whose Grand Guitar is the model for the sculptures; Cantine, who’s created a number of them; Lenny Kislin, who curates the Oriole9 shows; Writer’s Festival guru Martha Frankel; photographer and artist Elliott Landy, Lee Sanna, Keira Guip Sixtus, who makes makes guitar sculptures for the Hard Rock Cafés; Conner Wenk, Meryl Meisler. And, of course, Steve Heller. Says Cantine, “Steve Heller is the only one that does not have to follow the rules. He’s just a genius and my mentor and it’s great to have him along for the ride.”
On August 17, as part of Woodstock’s gala Volunteer’s Day picnic, Rennie Cantine and friends will perform throughout the afternoon at Andy Lee Field. Performers include Joe Veillette and the JV Squad; Cleoma’s Ghost; Zumbi Sumbi; Bill Pfleging and Gordon Wemp; and Harvey Boyer and the Bennett School Jazz Band.
The Guitar Sculptures will be on display at Oriole9 and throughout town until August 24, when they will go up for auction at the Bearsville Theater, with Barry Cherwin reprising his role from last year. And after the Auction, there’ll be a concert there, featuring The Woodstock Guitar All Stars, with Cantine and Joe Beesmer; Purple Knif, and Bruce Ackerman.
“After I’d been making guitar sculptures and playing with the local luthiers, they’re always bugging me when are you going to make a real guitar,” says Cantine, “and I’d tell them, when are you going to make a sculpture?” So Joe was the first one to step up. Now I’m going to make a real one…”
For more information on the events, see www.woodstockguitarfestival.us.