Gibson's Banner Guitars Were Made By Women During WWII

The workers at the Gibson guitar factory during WWII were nearly all women (photo 1944). 

In a new book, John Thomas uncovers the story of the Kalamazoo Gals and the Gibson "Banner" guitars that were built by these women during that period.

They are some of the finest guitars ever made.

LINK to book (by John Thomas)

Voice of America Story (Tom Banse)

Thanks, T. Tex Edwards

"Please Don't Wake It Up"- performed by The Hokum Scorchers

In 1992, the Hokum Scorchers recorded the Mississippi Sheiks' "Please Don't Wake It Up" (a song from 1931). Lou Reimuller is on National guitar and I am playing a snare drum. We both sing. Have a listen.

The Art (and music) of Amy Crehore

Paintings on Walls (Crehore)

One side of the room...

...the other side of the room.

These photos show some earlier works of mine hanging on walls:  I exhibited a couple of these paintings at the Portland Art Museum (Crosscut show) and they also won "best in show" at the Corvallis Arts Center. Others were winners in Communication Arts Annual Competions or were exhibited at the Hult Center (in OR). You can see some of my vintage ukes that were painted for my Los Angeles solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes" in the top photo. At least one of these paintings has never been exhibited anywhere. And so it goes..the life of an artist.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Enjoy An Interactive Armory Show 1913, Chicago

After NYC, the historic 1913 Armory show travelled to Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago has a new website feature where you can click on the gallery map and visit each room of the Armory Show of 1913. Mouse over each painting and you can read information about it.

LINK 

Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Gauguin, Rousseau, Maurice Denis, Jules Pascin, Augustus John and many more were included in this show. Americans saw their "modern" work for the first time and many were shocked. It is so beautiful to see these photos and take the tour.

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Pietro Antonio Rotari Portraits

 

Pietro Antonio Rotari was an Italian painter (1707-1762) of the Baroque period.

Here are some of his unusual portraits of young women -shyly peeking out from behind a book or a cape, dozing and crying. There is something wonderfully modern about these compositions.

Art history never ceases to amaze me. I keep on discovering.

Out with the new and in with the old.

 



Armory Arts Week ArtSlant Feature: Amy Crehore

 

Armory Week is important to me because it is the 100th Anniversary of the 1913 Armory Show in NYC. That particular show opened American eyes to a "Modern Art" movement that was happening in Europe at the time. Organized by the Association of American Painters and Sculptors, it also travelled to Chicago and Boston. ArtSlant did a special feature on me to help me celebrate and I could not be more thrilled. Check it out!

Here's the LINK.

"Song of the Sea" was painted for my L.A. solo show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes".
I have a signed, limited edition print available: LINK
Inquire about collecting my original work: amy@amycrehore.com
 

See also: Amy Crehore ArtSlant profile.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Art of Amy Crehore

And, thanks, boing boing 

Song of the day

Shammy and Famous Ruis Family- "I'm Just A Little Girl"