The outsider is one who identifies with the love of the outdoors, who goes against the grain of mainstream society, and as a result, demands a way of life set apart from the norm. Outsider art is defined as “any work of art produced by an untrained idiosyncratic artist who is typically unconnected to the conventional art world—not by choice but by circumstance.” -Britannica
I am an artist, a musician, and a teacher. As an artist, I have always loved the idea of functional art. As a musician and artist, the more I studied the guitar, the more I became fascinated with the functional elements of sound and design. For me, building a Cigar Box Guitar is the ultimate functional art. When I create a new guitar and give it to someone to play, they take over the creative process and keep the art alive when they make music with it. With my guitars, the player takes over the creative process and continues to spread happiness and creativity through their own personal expression.
My inspiration comes from folk art, the blues/the gospel and the great outdoors. Folk art (or Outsider art) is rooted in the cultural tradition of society. It reflects the environment, and tells the story of who, what, when, where, why, and how. It is utilitarian in nature, art of the people as opposed to the mainstream and manipulated market of high society art found in fine art galleries around the world. It tells a story and gives insight into the state of mind of the artist. Much like folk art, the blues creates an emotional story that tells about the struggles and victories of life that we can all relate to. My guitars merge the historical and visual stylings of folk art with the traditional sounds of Americana blues. In addition, the slide box guitar is lightweight, smaller than a traditional guitar and can easily be carried into nature for a hike or camping trip.
The origins of the Cigar box guitar can be traced back as early as 1840. Built using cheap and accessible cigar boxes, broomsticks or a picket fence and some screen wire, kids and adults alike were able to build their own guitars when a traditional guitar was out of reach. The evidence of these guitars were found throughout the Great Depression of the 1930’s when people repurposed items and were thrifty in their lifestyles. Many famous musicians either got their start on a cigar box guitar, or integrated them into their performances. Artist such as Seasick Steve, Hymn for Her, Muddy Waters, Lightin Hopkins, Blind Willie Johnson, and even Paul McCartney and Keith Richards played the Cigar box guitar over the years.