Flood-Damaged Instruments Being ‘ReTune’-d Into Artwork

Guitars, mandolins, fiddles, banjos -- some of them legendary, but forever silenced by the great Nashville flood of May 2010 -- are being transformed by ReTune Nashville into three-dimensional works of art to be hung on walls and beheld by the eye as things of beauty and historical significance. The finished masterpieces will be exhibited in the art community, and auctioned off to the highest bidder to benefit MusiCares Nashville flood relief and the Nashville Musicians Association flood relief fund.

Among the artists and musicians who have so far donated their flood-damaged, unplayable instruments to the nonprofit group are Rich Eckhardt (guitarist for Toby Keith) Toby's bassist, Chuck Goff and Brady Seals, who donated some pedals and a keyboard. Joe Glaser's instrument repair company -- working on flood damaged gear belonging to artists such as Vince Gill, John Fogerty and Keb Mo -- has also donated guitars not worth fixing, and says there will be many more to come.

Even a piece of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Ford Theater has been donated, which ReTune Nashville's website points out will make the perfect base for a piece of sculpture. Famed clothier, Manuel is already working with Raul Malo's guitar.

Once received, the water-damaged instruments are painstakingly cleaned and decontaminated. According to ReTune's website, over 60 instruments have been donated in the past few weeks, with donations still coming in ... and they are now ready to move on to the second stage of engaging the visual artist.

"We will be releasing the donations we have received to various visual artists to begin their creations. We will continue taking in donations, so if you are or know a visual artist who wants to participate, go to the ReTune site and fill out an artist application."

As they move into the second phase of their labor of love -- creating art from flood-damaged instruments -- ReTune Nashville is also seeking to gain sponsorship, media coverage and volunteers through their website to help plan events and auctions.