Elizabeth Ladzinski
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — The work of a very different group of "Guitar Heroes" is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Beginning Wednesday, an exhibit called Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York will showcase the handiwork of three Italian-American master guitar makers who brought their craft to the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
Featuring approximately 80 instruments, the exhibit will display the work of expert luthiers, or hand-carved stringed instrument makers, James D'Aquisto, John Monteleone and John D'Angelico.
The exhibit features everything from lutes dating back to the late 16th century, to mandolins from the 1700s and modern-day guitar masterpieces.
American guitar heroes Paul Simon, Les Paul, George Benson, Chet Atkins and Grant Green are just a few of the music greats who have owned some of the guitars on display.
The museum has created an iTunes application to accompany the exhibit. Visitors can use it to listen to musical performances, artist interviews and hear the voices of musical greats Chet Atkins, Woody Man, Steve Miller and Django Reinhardt, among others. The app, which costs $7 for non-museum members, can also be rented on the Museum's iTouch devices.
Steve Miller & Friends will perform on Feb. 12, and the John Pizzarelli Quartet will perform on March 31 at the Museum in conjunction with the exhibit.
The exhibit, "Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York," runs from February 9th to July 4th, 2011.
