Juliana Martinez standing next to her There’s Something Happening Here mosaic guitar signed by her and Stephen Stills, inspired by the music and spirit of Buffalo Springfield.

By Fredwill Hernandez

HOLLYWOOD(Hollywood Today)2/21/13/–As part of the Gibson Foundation’s - 2012 Gibson Guitartown on the Sunset Strip art exhibition which concluded its year-long run of the 10-foot tall fiberglass art Gibson Les Paul model guitars that will be auctioned off, today hosted a private media preview day reception held at Bonhams in Hollywood, Ca., along with the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, who graciously provided coffee and pastries to attendees in support of the cause and also their 50^th year anniversary.

The media was given a chance to view the entire 2012 collection of 18 art guitars created by internationally acclaimed and local artists such as, John Kosh, Nic Adams, Shepard Fairey, Juliana Martinez, and including Los Angeles based graffiti artist RISK. The 2012 collection of art guitars celebrate musicians and artists who have influenced the Sunset Strip, including the Van Halen, Stevie Nicks, The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, and the British Rock Invasion. Some of these guitars have also been signed by influential musicians that include Peter Asher, Donovan, Zakk Wylde, Sthephen Stills, John Densmore, and by members of such bands as Bad Religion, Black Label Society, and Dead Sara.  “I am really proud to be part of it, there’s very few artists for such a big project and it’s gone all around the world. Everybody knows about it,” said artist Juliana Martinez, responsible for There’s Something Happening Here who’s Mosaic guitar is inspired by the music and spirit of Buffalo Springfield, and is signed by her and Stephen Stills. “I was at Mel’s Dinner when my guitar was there and nearly every person took their picture with something I did, what kind of compliment is that, it’s just wonderful.”

Anyone interested in the auction will have a chance to personally view the guitars on Thursday, February 21, 2013, and then on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 8 pm, the charity auction will begin which benefits the Los Angeles Fund For Public Education’s “Arts Matters,” campaign, in support of arts and music education in Los Angeles public schools. To view the online catalog, please visit www.bonhams.com/guitars.

GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip is administered by the Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic division of Gibson Guitar and is supported by the Sunset Strip Business Association, Hornburg Land Rover on The Sunset Strip, City of West Hollywood and Visit West Hollywood.

About Gibson GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip GuitarTown is a public art project that features ten-foot tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul model guitars strategically placed on the legendary Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The oversized Gibson guitar sculptures are created by local and nationally acclaimed visual artists and placed along the 1.6-mile Sunset Strip in front of the boulevard’s landmarks and businesses, including the Whisky A Go-Go, The Roxy Theatre and Sunset Marquis. Each guitar sculpture celebrates a musician, personality or artist unique to The Sunset Strip’s history and Gibson Guitar. After the guitars have completed their year-long exhibition, they are auctioned off for charity. Proceeds from the 2011 charity benefitted local charities Los Angeles Youth Network, West Hollywood Arts & Cultural Commission and West Hollywood Library. For more information, visit www.gibson.com/sunset-strip or www.thesunsetstrip.com/guitartown.

Photography: Fredwill Hernandez