The Festival serves as a showcase for the quality and diversity in musical talent found among members of the Savannah Folk Music Society. Performances will span the range of traditional, old-time, blues, international, folk revival, and contemporary musical styles. All events are free and open to the public.

"The Garden" by Barbara Gentry

In support of the Festival, the Gretsch Foundation has donated fourteen Historic Series acoustic guitars that have been individually and originally painted, carved, and sculpted by some of Savannah’s most creative and talented artists. All fourteen of these Art Guitars will be sold at silent auction during the Friday and Sunday concert events at Ellis Square and Forsythe Park.

The Sunday concert will also feature a second special auction, at which a playable Gretsch guitar—signed by all the performers—will be the prize item.

“Goodnight Irene” by Joni Bishop

According to Fred Gretsch, president of the Savannah-based Gretsch Company, “Gretsch guitars have been an important element of folk music for generations. So I’m proud that fifteen uniquely crafted Gretsch guitars will be a part of this year’s Folk Music Festival.” Fred himself is currently scheduled to promote the Festival with a personal appearance on WTOC Channel 11’s Mid Morning Live program on Wednesday, October 5.

"Trumpeting the Spring" by Kathy Miller

The Gretsch Art Guitar exhibit is viewable from now until October 7 at the Ellis Square Visitor Center in downtown Savannah. The Center is open from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Photos of the guitars are also available for viewing at the Savannah Folk Music Festival’s website.

For more information about the Savannah Folk Music Festival, including performer names and schedules, go to the “Festival” page at savannahfolk.org.

Guitar Art by Lou Kregel

With the help of The Gretsch Foundation’s Guitar Art Program, musician-focused nonprofit Nuçi’s Space (www.nuci.org) presented its inaugural “Guitar Art Show and Music Memorabilia Auction” in Athens, Georgia earlier this year. The unique event raised $8,000 for the musicians’ support and resource center.

Nuçi’s Space is named in memory of Nuçi Phillips, a talented musician and student at the University of Georgia who committed suicide in 1996 after a long battle with depression. The organization’s mission is to prevent such tragedies by providing obstacle-free treatment for musicians suffering from depression and other psychological disorders, as well as to promote the emotional, physical, and professional well-being of musicians. Since opening in 2000, Nuçi’s Space has provided direct financial assistance for mental health treatment to over 1,000 musicians.

Guitar Art by Chris Gholson

The idea for the auction event was first conceived nearly four years ago when The Gretsch Foundation’s Guitar Art Program awarded Nuçi’s Space four small acoustic guitars, three full-size acoustic guitars, and a beginner-level drumset.

“Athens is the perfect home for this type of event,” says Nuçi’s Space executive director Bob Sleppy. “The music and arts scenes are so intertwined as to be nearly indistinguishable from one another. Almost every musician is an artist, and every artist is a musician. And although it took us several years to get this show together, the collection of instruments and music memorabilia we had available for auction was very impressive.”

The Guitar Art Show and Auction was an unforgettable night, filled with great music and art. Musicians Kyshona Armstrong and the Artie Ball Swing Band performed for an appreciative crowd throughout the evening. Featured “Gretsch Guitar Art” artists included Lou Kregel, Chris Bilheimer, Chris Wyrick, Chris Gholson, John Gholson, Jamie Calkin, Wes Freed, Jason McFarland, Lamar Wood, Jeff Hannan, and Wilma Pittard. Music memorabilia included items autographed by the B-52s, Kenny Rogers, Drive-By Truckers, Colt Ford, Green Day, R.E.M., Counting Crows, Kris Kristofferson, and Oscar winner Jeff Bridges (from the film Crazy Heart).

Guitar Art by Wes Freed

Since the Guitar Art program began nine years ago, Gretsch has donated over 1,000 guitars that have raised more than $400,000 in support of worthwhile programs and projects. For more information on how to apply for this donor program or to see other examples of Gretsch Guitar Art projects, visit www.guitarart.org.