In honor of the 25th celebration of JazzFest in July 2016, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues (SFJB) began the Guitar Art Project. Various South Dakotan artists contributed artwork using a white Fender Stratocaster guitar as their canvas. These works of art are now on display at the Koch Hazard Architects gallery located on 431 N. Philips Ave. until January 22nd.
Principal at Koch Hazard Architects Stacey McMahan said, “Pairing visual artists with musicians is a powerful and fun way to celebrate JazzFest 25, and we love supporting the project.”
Each artist has been sponsored by a regional business in efforts to bridge the music and art communities in Sioux Falls. The project also helps Sioux Falls Jazz and blues bring awareness to talented artists within the state while also celebrating JazzFest’s 25th year.
“This is a milestone year for the festival, and we wanted to not only find a way to celebrate all year long, but we thought about how to include visual artists into this project as well,” stated Executive Director Robert Royce. “It was exciting to take an iconic image such as the Fender Strat and give it to amazing artists and watch them transform it into another piece of art.”
The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues would like to thank the Sioux Falls Arts Council and South Dakota Arts Council for helping make this project possible. Additonally, a special thanks to the creative artsts and their sponsors. Sponsors for the artsts currently include CAPITAL Services, HenkinSchultz Creative Services, Hy-Vee, KELOLAND TV, Sanford Health, Midcontinent Communications, Townsquare Media/Results Radio, Vern Eide Motorcars, Metabank, Koch Hazard Architects, Wells Fargo, Nyberg’s Ace, Avera Health, Eide Bailly, Beth Ormseth, Face It TOGETHER, L.G. Everist, Inc., CNA Surety, CorTrust Bank, Lynn Jackson Schultz and Lebrun, Sammons Financial Group, TSP, Inc., and the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Board of Directors.
