Music's Collision With Art: NOVA Music Center To Host An Innovative Artist

Online, November 9, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Do you ever hear music when you look at a piece of art? Do you ever see a place or have an intense memory after hearing one of your favorite songs? Artist J. Douglas Vokes took the idea of visual music and musical art and created his ArtGuitars. After years of printmaking and working in graphic art design, Vokes had the idea to embellish actual working instruments with his creative designs. In 1999, Vokes began to create customized guitars, making "unloved" instruments into playable works of art. A fellow artist describes Vokes as "a master of both the printed image and the printing process itself, exemplifying his personalized artistic excellence."

Vokes will be bringing his stunning, innovative ArtGuitars to the DC area this December. NOVA Music Center, a full-service music store situated in Historic Clifton, VA will be hosting Vokes and a number of his creative instruments this December. Erich RussekRobbins, NOVA Music's owner, discovered Vokes earlier this year at the Summer NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in Nashville. Erich reacted immediately to Vokes's ArtGuitars. "There were a number of vendors at the show, but ArtGuitars quickly grabbed my attention with the fusion of music and visual art. My daughter thought that I should immediately stock these guitars at NOVA Music."

Now, RussekRobbins and Vokes will be joining forces in December to host a month-long ArtsGuitars Show and sale at NOVA Music. Vokes will display his guitars starting December 3rd There will be a special reception at NOVA Music on Saturday, December 3rd, from 7 to 10 PM, featuring the works of Vokes. There will be demonstrations of the guitars, as well as a chance to meet and chat with Vokes.

When asked about his ArtGuitars, Vokes said that "the idea of a customized guitar takes on a whole new meaning when there are no rules, no roads, and no gravity. My ArtGuitars are an expanding universe-not only of sight and sound-but of imagination that strive to excite all senses."

About ArtGuitars

J. Douglas Vokes, a Fine Artist and Printmaker, imagined ArtGuitar nearly a decade ago while seduced by the vibrant music scene of Chicago. "I thank the wonderful city of Chicago and it's passion for an enriched musical culture - which lit the fire for this inspired series of artworks." The idea to lavishly embellish the guitars was inspired from a trip to France and a memorable visit to the Palace of Versailles.

Rooted in Artistic Expression and Experimentation ArtGuitars embraces the evolution and hybridization an eclectic art form where there are no rules and after years of experimenting with a wide array of materials and techniques playable works of art.
Each one of his 35+ ArtGuitars is painstakingly and permanently embellished using an ever expanding variety of unique materials and proprietary processes to achieve a highly stylized and functional expression of my visual artistry.

About the Artist

Douglas Vokes, a Fine Artist and Printmaker, began making ArtGuitar nearly a decade ago amidst the vibrant music scene of Chicago. The idea to lavishly embellish the guitars was inspired from a trip to France and a memorable visit to the Palace of Versailles thus mixing "classic" Baroque French style with freewheeling "rock and roll"