Lake Stevens school auctioning art guitars to support music programs

Lake Stevens Mount Pilchuck Elementary School is hoping to find some music in old guitars by inviting people to turn the guitars into art that will be auctioned in a fundraiser for the school’s music education program.

The auction begins at 6 p.m. Friday, at the school, 12806 20th St NE, and also will run online.

“Guitars are making a difference in students’ lives,” said Mary Beth Kurtenbach, Mount Pilchuck’s elementary music specialist. “Many students are independently working on perfecting their chords in their free time. Parents are pulling out old, dusty guitars to give to their children, students are practicing their chords instead of playing video games at home … and telling me they are asking for guitars for their birthdays.”

But the school’s guitars aren’t holding a tune long enough for a whole class to learn a song. So, talented friends of the PTA have taken saws and sandpaper, paintbrushes and pens and many other materials to the worn instruments. Seven accomplished artists have donated their time to create pieces that illustrate the beauty and importance of music.

Artists participating include Jody Collins Cain, Latona Minish and Kelly DuByne from Snohomish County, Ann Heisler-Vautour from Anchorage, Alaska, and Woodinville native Tyson Chester from Portland, Oregon.

In addition, a handful of art docents and teachers are helped Mount Pilchuck students to decorate another four guitars that were prepared by North Lake Middle School shop teacher Al Henderson and his students.

Go to the GuitART Facebook page to see the art, bid, learn more or make a donation at www.facebook.com/ Guitartformusic. Anyone can bid on these unique art pieces.

Donations to help further music education at the school also are appreciated.

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