by Edith Cody-Rice
Almonte Luthier Linda Manzer was interviewed on CBC radio’s “q” this morning concerning the Group of Seven Guitars project currently on display at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. Linda conceived of the project upon strolling through the Group of Seven exhibit. As she explained in a presentation on guitars at the Old Town Hall in Almonte, Linda hit upon the idea of gathering six of her fellow luthiers, Sergei de Jonge, Tony Duggan-Smith, David Wren, George Gray , Grit Laskin , and Jean Larrivée to create a group of guitars honouring the Group of Seven plus Tom Thomson who died before the group was established. The Group of Seven comprised artists Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley. Each luthier chose one member of the group, researched him and created a guitar. As a last effort, the group collaborated on a Tom Thomson guitar. Linda chose Lawren Harris and researched him for three years before setting to work on the guitar.
Listen to the interview here
