Dean guitars painted by Ozzy, Les Claypool, Billy Gibbons & more to show at Mesa Arts Center Museum

Aug. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Six-String Masterpieces is a charitable art exhibition featuring a impressive collection of Dean Electric Guitars that have been hand-painted, illustrated and sculpted by leading musicians and contemporary visual artists. The exhibit will open at Mesa Arts Center Museum on Sept. 9th as part of the "Guitars and Handlebars: Season Kick-Off Festival".

Curated by Curse Mackey and originally introduced in 2006 as a tribute to slain heavy metal guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott, Mesa Contemporary Arts has partnered with Mackey and Dean Guitars to revive this very special exhibition unveiling newly painted guitars alongside selected works from the original show.

Artists who are on board to paint guitars for this exhibit include Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Kerry King of Slayer, Les Claypool, Bret Michaels, art superstars Alex Grey, Mark Ryden and Ryan McGinness, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Mark Dean Veca, Erik Foss, Jon Davis & Munky of KORN, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, video director Dean Karr, pop surrealist Chris Mars, Shawn Barber, legendary tattoo artists Aaron Cain and Filip Leu and many more..

With over $200,000 raised thus far, Six-String Masterpieces continues to evolve as an ongoing charitable exhibition that serves to raise awareness and support for music education and carries a message of anti-violence with its dedication to one of rock music's greatest and most beloved guitar players, Dimebag Darrell Abbott. All proceeds from Six-String Masterpieces benefit LITTLE KIDS ROCK, one of America’s top music education charities.

Six-String Masterpieces debuted at the 2006 NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA and toured throughout the U.S. in 2006 and 2007. The exhibit was a popular feature of the 2006 Ozzfest and Family Values Tours with several thousands concert goers per day lining up to see the guitars. it was featured on MTV's Headbangers Ball and was the subject of a special issue of Guitar Player Magazine dedicated entirely to this groundbreaking exhibit.

The original collection of 60 painted guitars was auctioned off as part of an all-star concert event at House of Blues Hollywood in May of 2007. The auction generated nearly $200,000 in support of Little Kids Rock, one of America's highest rated music education organizations.

The opening on Sept. 9th at Mesa Arts Center Museum will be the first time that the guitar painted by Ozzy Osbourne has ever been shown in the United States. It has previously only been seen at the Museo De La Ciudad De Mexico, one of the finest museums in Mexico City.

This is a rare opportunity to see some of the biggest names in music apply their talents to a completely different medium while raising money and awareness for Little Kids Rock. The exhibit is sponsored by Dean Guitars and curated by Curse Mackey.



PARTICIPATING ARTIST LIST (subject to change)

AARON CAIN      
ALEX GREY      
ASHLEY PURDY (BLACK VEIL BRIDES)   
BEN BESHAW      
BILLY CORGAN (SMASHING PUMPKINS)   
BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ TOP)
BRANDON DUNLAP      
BRET MICHAELS      
BRYAN "MUTIE" CUNNINGHAM      
CAROLYN LAVENDER      
CHESTER BENNINGTON (LINKIN PARK)   
CHRIS MARS      
COLIN CHRISTIAN      
DALEK      
DANIEL MARTIN DIAZ      
DAVE MUSTAINE (MEGADETH)   
DEAN KARR      
DEREK HESS      
ERIK FOSS      
FILIP LEU      
GWAR      
IRON FIST    
JOE HAHN (LINKIN PARK)   
JON DAVIS + MUNKY (KORN)      
KELLY CLARKSON      
KERRY KING   (SLAYER)
KEVIN HARVICK & TEAM MEMBERS OF RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING       
KEVIN LLEWELLYN      
LES CLAYPOOL (PRIMUS)   
MARC CODY      
MARK DEAN VECA      
MARK RYDEN      
NANCY WILSON (HEART)   
OZZY OSBOURNE      
PALE HORSE DESIGN      
PHIL HOLT      
RYAN MCGINNESS      
SAGE O' CONNELL      
SCOTT IAN (ANTHRAX)   
SUCH      
TED NUGENT      
TOD JUNKER/JUNKER DESIGNS   
TORI SPELLING & DEAN MCDERMOTT      
WILLIE ADLER (LAMB OF GOD)   
ZAKK WYLDE    (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)

# # #

Dean Guitars is a Tampa, FL based manufacturer of electric & acoustic guitars and basses. Considered one of the top guitar brands in the world with a state of the art USA custom shop. Dean Guitars are sold worldwide and played by some of the biggest acts in rock music.