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About the GuitARTISTName: Dawn Evans Scaltreto
Hometown: Watertown, MA Guitar Title/Theme: The Boston Rocks Guitar – A Tribute to the Talent and Legendary Venues of Boston and Beyond About the GuitARTThis 5-foot fiberglass electric guitar was inspired by Dawn’s life. She comes from a family that values art & music. As she was growing up, her mother was a country-western singer on the radio. She is the youngest of four children, so she was always able to learn about new music from her older siblings. Dawn started her own collection of diverse music, and would take some of her siblings’ as well. She was able to show her love of all albums and her love for bright, bold colors on this guitar.
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Please tell us a little bit about your background in art? Art school? Mediums used?
I have always created art and knew I would be an artist and musician. I attended the New England School of Art and Design in the 80’s. I love watercolor and acrylic, and much of my children’s art is created with a type of crayons. I use diverse media. Color is essential. I prefer high-frequency colors with analogous combinations, and that brilliance has come to define my art.
When did you get interested in art?
Birth! Honestly, I can’t remember a time when music and art was not the center of my existence.
What is your favorite art piece that you created?
From my website: “ Recently, a family with a desperately ill child in another state were told that there was not much that could be done for their child. This toddler had a rare heart defect that local specialists knew of no treatment or cure for. The parents refused to take no for an answer and give up hope. They turned to the internet to see if there was by some small chance any doctor who had a new treatment or procedure, and sure enough they found a doctor at CHB that was performing such a procedure. The family stayed in Boston for the duration of the child's treatment and recovery, and became very familiar with the beautiful art at Children's. As the child's strength improved, he was able to venture farther with his mom and dad, and grew to love many colorful artworks throughout the hospital. Finally, he was given the green light to go home, and his parents took him to the airport.
The child, who just a few months previous has been listless and ill, was now acting like any healthy toddler would - climbing over everything in sight at the airport, including my Art Rocks! rocking chair installed at the Kidport, the Once Upon a Time in Massachusetts chair created with help from my Watertown Middle School Mural Club kids. Filled with awe at how healthy and alive their child was, the parents wondered how they could thank the staff and physicians at Children's. The mother noticed my name on the chair, and remembered seeing my art at the hospital. When she got home, she contacted me through my website. Her e-mail actually went to my son, Jake, who at that time was my webmaster. Jake was really moved by this mother's request - could they commission me to create an artwork to thank the hospital? Even as I write this, my heart is again stirred by this particular commission. Her son loves dogs and butterflies, so through Betty (Bothereau, of L’attutude Gallery) and Jessica (Finch, of CHB), I created several artworks for the Cardiology Department.
My art may never hang in a museum, I may never be a household name in the art world, but I know without question that my art makes a difference daily to people who all need a little miracle in their life. It has great meaning to me.”
What inspires your creativity? Who are your influences?
I love art that uses high frequency color combinations. Peter Max, Maxfield Parrish and the artists who created posters for the Filmore East back in the 60’s inspire my color choices. Album covers were my first personal “art collection” and Roger Dean’s Yes album covers stand out. The Impressionists turn me on, as do graphic artists of the 19th and 20th centuries including Toulouse-Lautrec, M. C. Escher, Andy Warhol, Alphonse Mucha and Shephard Fairey. I enjoy Surrealist art by Rene Magritte and Robert Vickrey, and Jamie Wyeth is my favorite living artist.
I have always created art and knew I would be an artist and musician. I attended the New England School of Art and Design in the 80’s. I love watercolor and acrylic, and much of my children’s art is created with a type of crayons. I use diverse media. Color is essential. I prefer high-frequency colors with analogous combinations, and that brilliance has come to define my art.
When did you get interested in art?
Birth! Honestly, I can’t remember a time when music and art was not the center of my existence.
What is your favorite art piece that you created?
From my website: “ Recently, a family with a desperately ill child in another state were told that there was not much that could be done for their child. This toddler had a rare heart defect that local specialists knew of no treatment or cure for. The parents refused to take no for an answer and give up hope. They turned to the internet to see if there was by some small chance any doctor who had a new treatment or procedure, and sure enough they found a doctor at CHB that was performing such a procedure. The family stayed in Boston for the duration of the child's treatment and recovery, and became very familiar with the beautiful art at Children's. As the child's strength improved, he was able to venture farther with his mom and dad, and grew to love many colorful artworks throughout the hospital. Finally, he was given the green light to go home, and his parents took him to the airport.
The child, who just a few months previous has been listless and ill, was now acting like any healthy toddler would - climbing over everything in sight at the airport, including my Art Rocks! rocking chair installed at the Kidport, the Once Upon a Time in Massachusetts chair created with help from my Watertown Middle School Mural Club kids. Filled with awe at how healthy and alive their child was, the parents wondered how they could thank the staff and physicians at Children's. The mother noticed my name on the chair, and remembered seeing my art at the hospital. When she got home, she contacted me through my website. Her e-mail actually went to my son, Jake, who at that time was my webmaster. Jake was really moved by this mother's request - could they commission me to create an artwork to thank the hospital? Even as I write this, my heart is again stirred by this particular commission. Her son loves dogs and butterflies, so through Betty (Bothereau, of L’attutude Gallery) and Jessica (Finch, of CHB), I created several artworks for the Cardiology Department.
My art may never hang in a museum, I may never be a household name in the art world, but I know without question that my art makes a difference daily to people who all need a little miracle in their life. It has great meaning to me.”
What inspires your creativity? Who are your influences?
I love art that uses high frequency color combinations. Peter Max, Maxfield Parrish and the artists who created posters for the Filmore East back in the 60’s inspire my color choices. Album covers were my first personal “art collection” and Roger Dean’s Yes album covers stand out. The Impressionists turn me on, as do graphic artists of the 19th and 20th centuries including Toulouse-Lautrec, M. C. Escher, Andy Warhol, Alphonse Mucha and Shephard Fairey. I enjoy Surrealist art by Rene Magritte and Robert Vickrey, and Jamie Wyeth is my favorite living artist.
About the Guitar
What is your inspiration for your guitar design?
I have been a musician and artist for my whole life, so any task that combines the two has an automatic interest for me. I was immediately drawn to the GuitARTS project of Music Drives Us, and familiar with their mission. I couldn’t wait to get going on designs. I tossed several ideas around, and finally settled on two concepts. The first, Space Penguins, was just fun and meant to appeal to a young audience. I do a great deal of public art for children, and I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Much of my public art is done through Boston Children’s Hospital, so I am always thinking, “What would my BCH children enjoy?”
The concept for the guitar design that was ultimately chosen, Boston Rocks, is somewhat autobiographical. I come from a family that values art and music, and my mother was a country western singer on the radio growing up. Our house was always filled with music. I am the baby of four children, so each sibling enjoyed their own music and shared it with me. I started playing the organ at 5 years old and had my mother’s gift for singing, so I was often playing and singing along with what I tuned in on my little transistor radio. I began raiding my siblings’ record collections and starting to amass my own collection of diverse music. Pretty early on, I discovered some hometown music that truly appealed to me. Aerosmith’s eponymous first album with the hypnotic “Dream On” came out when I was 12. That summer on Cape Cod, I played that album, singing along and trying to figure out the chords on my little Wurlitzer electric piano.
I continued to discover new Boston acts. In ’76, Tavares’ hit, “Heaven Must be Missing an Angel” dominated the airwaves. Disco’s reigning queen became Donna Summer claiming a top 40 hit every year between ’75 and ’84. Right about that same time, an amazing new sound emerged. Brad Delp’s soaring vocals and Tom Sholtz’s guitar and organ work firmly planted Boston – both the band and the city – firmly on hallowed historic rock and roll ground. In the late ‘70’s, I’d but tickets in May when Cape Cod Colusseum’s box office opened for the season - $5 for general admission seats – and discovered more regional music with Billy Squire, The Cars and J.Geils Band. Once I used my own visual art skills to create an authentic looking fake ID, the clubs became my stomping ground to discover the truly innovative music coming out of Boston. Radio station WBCN was a pioneer in promoting local music, and launched the careers of Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, Til Tuesday, Mission of Burma, Dresden Dolls, John Butcher Axis, The Atlantics The Breeders and The Pixies. New Edition and New Kids on the Block pioneered the “Boy Band” genre, launching Bobby Brown and Bel Biv Devoe.
I joined my own bands, and continued to go to the clubs and see local music. I saw Extreme, the Lemonheads, Guster and other bands at Bunrattys, the Rat and Spit long before they were famous. The Channel, Mr. C’s and Uncle Sam’s each had national acts, but I loved the locals. It was a magical time, and continued to be so throughout the ‘80’s. I married the cute bass player from Major Disturbance. I think about those warm summer nights enjoying The Stompers, Lou Miami and the Cosmetics, the Del Fuegos and the Fools down on Nantasket Beach. I remember how cutting edge The Nervous Eaters, the Neighborhoods, Human Sexual Response, Private Lightning and Judy’s Tiny Head were. I loved Joe Perry Project and Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. We were the place where it was all happening, and I loved being in the center of it. I never want Boston to forget this musical heritage.
I currently play with two bands that do both Classic Rock and original music. I play keyboards and sing and my husband plays bass and sings. Both bands are professional gigging acts. Perfect Crime has been together over 8 years and plays “Killer Classic Rock”. We do songs that everyone knows with amazing, layered harmonies and exciting arrangements. Major Disturbance is a rebirth of the early 80’s band founded by my husband, David. We do his amazing original music, and what I consider “deep cuts” that no other cover band is playing. People are so surprised when we play early Cream, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, the Zombies, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull with authentic guitar chops and growling B-3 organ riffs. We would love to perform in conjunction with one of the events surrounding the GuitARTS project.
Why did you want to be a part of this public art project?
The easy answer is that I am both a musician and an artist, so it is a no brainer. A more complex answer is that I have seen how public art transforms spaces and reaches all people who encounter it regardless of their cultural background, age, gender, etc. Not everyone is going to feel comfortable walking into a museum, but they will walk up to a piece of public art on the street and interact with it.
What does music mean to you?
Everything. I had a recent serious health issue, and nothing motivated me to get back to myself more than wanting to play music with my band. I listen to music every day and can’t imagine life without it.
I have been a musician and artist for my whole life, so any task that combines the two has an automatic interest for me. I was immediately drawn to the GuitARTS project of Music Drives Us, and familiar with their mission. I couldn’t wait to get going on designs. I tossed several ideas around, and finally settled on two concepts. The first, Space Penguins, was just fun and meant to appeal to a young audience. I do a great deal of public art for children, and I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Much of my public art is done through Boston Children’s Hospital, so I am always thinking, “What would my BCH children enjoy?”
The concept for the guitar design that was ultimately chosen, Boston Rocks, is somewhat autobiographical. I come from a family that values art and music, and my mother was a country western singer on the radio growing up. Our house was always filled with music. I am the baby of four children, so each sibling enjoyed their own music and shared it with me. I started playing the organ at 5 years old and had my mother’s gift for singing, so I was often playing and singing along with what I tuned in on my little transistor radio. I began raiding my siblings’ record collections and starting to amass my own collection of diverse music. Pretty early on, I discovered some hometown music that truly appealed to me. Aerosmith’s eponymous first album with the hypnotic “Dream On” came out when I was 12. That summer on Cape Cod, I played that album, singing along and trying to figure out the chords on my little Wurlitzer electric piano.
I continued to discover new Boston acts. In ’76, Tavares’ hit, “Heaven Must be Missing an Angel” dominated the airwaves. Disco’s reigning queen became Donna Summer claiming a top 40 hit every year between ’75 and ’84. Right about that same time, an amazing new sound emerged. Brad Delp’s soaring vocals and Tom Sholtz’s guitar and organ work firmly planted Boston – both the band and the city – firmly on hallowed historic rock and roll ground. In the late ‘70’s, I’d but tickets in May when Cape Cod Colusseum’s box office opened for the season - $5 for general admission seats – and discovered more regional music with Billy Squire, The Cars and J.Geils Band. Once I used my own visual art skills to create an authentic looking fake ID, the clubs became my stomping ground to discover the truly innovative music coming out of Boston. Radio station WBCN was a pioneer in promoting local music, and launched the careers of Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, Til Tuesday, Mission of Burma, Dresden Dolls, John Butcher Axis, The Atlantics The Breeders and The Pixies. New Edition and New Kids on the Block pioneered the “Boy Band” genre, launching Bobby Brown and Bel Biv Devoe.
I joined my own bands, and continued to go to the clubs and see local music. I saw Extreme, the Lemonheads, Guster and other bands at Bunrattys, the Rat and Spit long before they were famous. The Channel, Mr. C’s and Uncle Sam’s each had national acts, but I loved the locals. It was a magical time, and continued to be so throughout the ‘80’s. I married the cute bass player from Major Disturbance. I think about those warm summer nights enjoying The Stompers, Lou Miami and the Cosmetics, the Del Fuegos and the Fools down on Nantasket Beach. I remember how cutting edge The Nervous Eaters, the Neighborhoods, Human Sexual Response, Private Lightning and Judy’s Tiny Head were. I loved Joe Perry Project and Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. We were the place where it was all happening, and I loved being in the center of it. I never want Boston to forget this musical heritage.
I currently play with two bands that do both Classic Rock and original music. I play keyboards and sing and my husband plays bass and sings. Both bands are professional gigging acts. Perfect Crime has been together over 8 years and plays “Killer Classic Rock”. We do songs that everyone knows with amazing, layered harmonies and exciting arrangements. Major Disturbance is a rebirth of the early 80’s band founded by my husband, David. We do his amazing original music, and what I consider “deep cuts” that no other cover band is playing. People are so surprised when we play early Cream, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, the Zombies, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull with authentic guitar chops and growling B-3 organ riffs. We would love to perform in conjunction with one of the events surrounding the GuitARTS project.
Why did you want to be a part of this public art project?
The easy answer is that I am both a musician and an artist, so it is a no brainer. A more complex answer is that I have seen how public art transforms spaces and reaches all people who encounter it regardless of their cultural background, age, gender, etc. Not everyone is going to feel comfortable walking into a museum, but they will walk up to a piece of public art on the street and interact with it.
What does music mean to you?
Everything. I had a recent serious health issue, and nothing motivated me to get back to myself more than wanting to play music with my band. I listen to music every day and can’t imagine life without it.
Social Media
Website
www.dawnarts.com
www.dawnarts.com