Sherwin-Williams has once again sponsored and participated in Guitarmania, a public arts project tradition in Cleveland, Ohio, that has raised more than $2 million for the United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Every few years, close to 100 10-foot-tall Fender Stratocaster guitars are transformed into works of art, then clearcoated by Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes so they can be displayed – and withstand the elements – throughout Northeast Ohio.
These unique pieces are sponsored by area organizations, then designed, painted, sculpted and decorated by local artists and national celebrities. They’re then auctioned off to raise much needed monies supporting the region’s charities and the Rock Hall.
“We’re proud to support what has become synonymous as a source of community pride and fundraising in Northeast Ohio,” says Adam Chafe, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes’ vice president of marketing.
Sherwin-Williams is one of the event’s lead sponsors, along with Key Bank, United Airlines and The Plain Dealer.
“As we have in the past, we help house, transport and provide clearcoating products designed to protect these dozens and dozens of unique Fender Stratocaster-inspired works of art,” says Chafe. “This year, we used our CC931 Ultra 7000 Extreme Speed Clearcoat. Each oversized guitar will be carefully sprayed with several coats to assure their long-term durability.”
This year, the clearcoating process took place at Mayfield Collision in Bedford Heights, Ohio. Owner Tom Griffin and his professional staff volunteered to assist in this process.
“Applying the clearcoat is the final step in completing each of these works of art, but it’s a bit of a complicated procedure,” says Griffin. “We need to review and analyze each artist’s notes and details before spraying. We then make sure the clearcoat’s chemicals don’t have any adverse effect on the paint, materials or substrates utilized in the artist’s creation. That said, once completed, the clearcoat will then protect these works of art from the Northeast Ohio elements for years – just like it would on the family sedan or SUV.”
Sherwin-Williams also sponsored a guitar again, this time designed and fabricated by local artist and vocational teacher Pat Downey. Downey is an instructor at nearby Ohio Technical College and had his vocational students work with him on the design, which was inspired by a muscle car/cruising theme.
“Our ‘guitar’ has this aura of popping the hood and looking down at a classic automobile engine, all surrounded by gleaming purple fenders with some ‘old school’ flames painted along the sides,” says Chafe. “It really makes an artistic statement while coming off as a tribute to our brand and our customers’ marketplace.”
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