“At Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) old violins dont die, they are reborn as visual art. Through the Art of Music project 13 violins transformed from unplayable musical instruments to three-dimensional canvases to unique artistic creations by artists: Marilyn Abel, Epiphanio, Holly Harmon, Lori Heckman, Susan Johns, Robin Lee, Pam Leonard, Georgia Munger, Ana Ordonez (student artist), Shelley Swelland, Gina Vitale Syrja, Cynthia Wolfe, and Julie Barrett Ziegler. The violins will be auctioned at a SOGO fundraiser Saturday, March 10 at Indian Summer Country Club.

Artists completed their projects in the fall of 2006 shortly after which the violins went on tour throughout Thurston County. During the month of September student artists were also invited to participate using a violin template to illustrate what they would do on the canvas of a real violin. The templates were displayed during the October Arts Walk at the Washington Center where the public voted on their favorite. Ana Ordonez, a freshman at North Thurston High School, won for her piece entitled Nocturne, inspired by a piece she was currently performing in the orchestra.

Often the cost of repairing an old violin exceeds the value of the violin itself and thus was born the idea of painting and auctioning them by orchestras nationwide. All of the Art of Music recycled violins were donated to SOGO by R.L. Ray Violin Shop (Olympia), Bischofberger Violins (Seattle) and local individuals cleaning out their closets.

Co-chairing the Art of Music event at Indian Summer Saturday, March 10 at 7 pm are Mr. and Mrs. Sam Reed with auctioneers Randy & Steve from KAOS Radio. Tickets are $25 each which includes hors d’ oeuvres, one beverage, music, silent and live auction festivities. A no-host bar will be available as well as a dessert auction. Call 360-352-1438 to reserve your tickets as there is limited seating,” quoting the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia website.

Note: The picture on their website is of Bettye Johnson’s violin, which was inspired by nature and what she has learned as a student at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment. (i.e. it has 7 strings instead of 4…)

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