Exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the exhibition features 40 iconic guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum (USA) alongside an awe-inspiring assemblage of photographs, paintings, drawings, illustrative designs, and objects.
Executive Director, National Guitar Museum (USA), Newquist said he was honoured to be bringing this exhibit on the art and evolution of the guitar to Ballarat. The far-reaching collection of classical to contemporary works on display track the history of the world’s most popular instrument from its medieval beginnings through to the guitar’s pivotal role in blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll.
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“The Art Gallery of Ballarat is the only venue this exhibition will be visiting in Australia, and we are proud to call Ballarat the home for these incredible works for almost five months over spring and summer. ‘The guitar has long been the world’s most popular instrument – it outsells all other instruments combined – and visitors to Medieval To Metal will get to experience the entire history of the guitar all in one place. With 40 different instruments that show how the guitar has evolved in various forms around the planet, this exhibition explores the guitar’s role at the centre of both pop culture and art, and why it became the definitive musical icon of the last hundred years.”
Celebrate the history and stories behind the instruments that made the stars. Experience up close rare guitars and artefacts in this epic exhibition narrating the history, evolution and design of the guitar covering all music genres and all uses. Through this all-encompassing exhibition, music lovers can trace the history of the world’s most popular instrument through a nostalgic photography collection of iconic images taken by renowned rock photographer Neil Zlozower alongside photographic works by Australian music documenter Tony Mott.
As part of the Medieval to Metal exhibition, the Art Gallery of Ballarat will host a series of classical concerts: Art Classics. A celebration of music’s Medieval origins; expect to see a dynamic display of classical performances, from an internationally acclaimed lutenist, to classically reimagined takes on Australian rock icons Cold Chisel.
The Art Talks programs brings a range of music-loving experts to Ballarat. Hear the stories of journalists who go behind the industry curtain to chart the success of rock ‘n’ roll stars, listen to intimate conversations that hit unexpected notes and enhance your understanding of the guitar’s endless dance through art history and popular culture.
Art Late is a curated series of late-night encounters at the Art Gallery of Ballarat featuring a dynamic combination of mind-blowing music and thought-provoking art, plus food and drinks by local venues. For Medieval to Metal, Rose City Band (USA) with Dayfever perform 19 October, with Melbourne’s post-punk full throttle band RVG playing 2 November with support from Pyrex. Rock darlings CIVIC hit the stage with The Hot Lemons, 30 November.
Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar is exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat, running 12 October 2024 – 2 February 2025.
