Auction Includes Works By Renowned Artists SHEPARD FAIREY, JOHN KOSH, RISK, TRISTAN EATON

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The 10-foot tall Gibson guitar art sculptures that have lined The Sunset Strip will end their year-long tour on Friday, February 22 when they are auctioned for charity at a gala event at Bonhams in Los Angeles. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Los Angeles Fund For Public Education's “Arts Matter” campaign, which supports art and music education in L.A. public schools.

The auction will be open to the public, with previews on February 21 and 22 from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. each day at Bonhams (7601 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles). The charity auction will begin at 8:00 p.m. on February 22. An online catalog featuring the star studded guitar lineup is available HERE for review.

The Gibson GuitarTown on The Sunset Strip project originally launched in 2010 with a range of guitars that celebrate musicians and personalities who have influenced the boulevard. These guitars were auctioned in 2011 for charity with 100% of the proceeds benefitting local charities Los Angeles Youth Network, West Hollywood Arts & Cultural Commission and West Hollywood Library. The 2012 edition features 18 art guitars created by internationally acclaimed and local artists, including Shepard Fairey, John Kosh and RISK and celebrates musicians and artists who have influenced The Sunset Strip, including THE DOORS, BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, Stevie Nicks, British Rock Invasion and VAN HALEN, among others. The 2012 collection features guitars that have been signed by influential musicians, including Stephen Stills, Peter Asher, Donovan, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, Zakk Wylde, and members of bands DEAD SARA, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and BAD RELIGION.

"We are happy to continue our partnership with Gibson Guitar to bring this public art project to life," noted Sunset Strip Business Association executive director Todd Steadman. "The guitars provide an interactive walking tour and celebrate the history of this dynamic music boulevard. We are honored that so many local and nationally recognized artists have dedicated their time to help celebrate this history and those who have shaped it."

"On behalf of Gibson Guitar I’d like to personally thank each and every musician and visual artist who took time out to help make this one of the best Gibson GuitarTown charitable projects to date," stated Gibson Guitar Corp. chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. "I have no doubt the residents and local businesses of Los Angeles will dig deep to help raise a significant amount of money for the Los Angeles Fund’s 'Arts Matter' program, supporting music and the arts for underserved youth in the city."

The Los Angeles Fund for Public Education is a philanthropic organization dedicated to driving positive change in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Founded by LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy and philanthropist Megan Chernin in 2011, the LA Fund supports ideas that can make a dramatic and direct impact on kids’ lives and make sure those ideas have the support to be permanent. The LA Fund for Public Education recently launched the "Arts Matter" campaign to revitalize arts education in the nation’s second largest school district. Arts Matter brings together the world’s leading artists and thought leaders (celebrities, Fortune 500 CEOs, policy makers) to drive public awareness for the critical role of arts education in public schools. Each day LAUSD serves nearly 1 million students from Pre-K to adult, nearly 80% of whom live in circumstances of poverty. With more than 1,000 school sites spread over a 710 square mile attendance area, few public agencies in the world impact so many lives.

"We are grateful that the Sunset Strip Business Association and the Gibson Guitar Foundation chose the LA Fund as the beneficiary of the GuitarTown Auction," noted LA Fund executive director Dan Chang. "With our Arts Matter campaign underway, we couldn't be more proud of this partnership. With the support of the SSBA and Gibson, we will look forward to bringing the arts and creativity to West Hollywood and Los Angeles public schools."

The full list of 2012 art guitars includes:

• "Bella Donna" mosaic tile guitar inspired by Stevie Nicks. Created by Roberto Chojniak.
• "Black Eyed Peas" acrylic and photo-wrap guitar inspired by the BLACK EYED PEAS. Created by Tsipi Mani.
• "British Invasion" acrylic painted guitar celebrating British bands and musicians who have influenced rock and roll and The Sunset Strip. Created by Todd Williamson and signed by producer/signer/songwriter Peter Asher.
• "The Butterfly Effect" mixed media guitar celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Bar & Grill, a landmark that has hosted rock legends, including John Lennon, Elton John, Ozzy, LED ZEPPELIN over the years. Created by Nic Adams.
• "Cosmic Essence" acrylic painted guitar inspired by DONOVAN. Created by Grammy Award-winning artist John Kosh and signed by DONOVAN.
• "Electric Warrior" acrylic painted guitar inspired by Marc Bolan of T-REX. Created by Shepard Fairey.
• "Festival Guitar" acrylic painted guitar created by attendees at the 2012 Sunset Strip Music Festival, celebrating community.
• "Freedom" acrylic painted guitar in the expressionist manner celebrating freedom and spontaneity as well as The Sunset Strip's role in allowing musicians to blaze their own paths. Created by Lana Gomez.
• "I Feel Good" mixed media guitar inspired by the music and legacy of James Brown. Created by Miles Regis.
• “'Jack' & Jim Marshall Tribute Guitar" graphic photowrap guitar utilizing the photographs of legendary photographer Jim Marshall. The guitar features a photo session with THE ROLLING STONES. Created by Signature Creative.
• "Jersey Devil" acrylic painted guitar inspired by guitarist Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY). Created by John Irwin and signed by Zakk Wylde.
• "Moms Not Bombs" mixed media guitar that references The Sunset Strip, the birthplace for the artist, as well as celebrates the artist's mom, Gillian Eaton. Created by Tristan Eaton.
• "The Music Machine" acrylic painted guitar that pays homage to VAN HALEN by utilizing the red, black and white colors of Eddie Van Halen's iconic guitar. Created by Stephen M. Taylor.
• "Nothing's Shocking" acrylic painted guitar inspired by JANE'S ADDICTION Nothing’s Shocking album as well as the band’s self-titled album recorded live at The Roxy Theatre in 1987. Created by Ryan McCann.
• "People Of The Sun" mixed media guitar inspired by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's song of the same title. Created by Edgar Pasten.
• "Roadhouse Blues" acrylic painted guitar inspired by the music and legacy of THE DOORS. Created by RISK and signed by John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek.
• “Sunset Strip Music Festival Autographed Guitar” graphic-wrapped guitar celebrating the 2012 Sunset Strip Music Festival. Signed by members of DEAD SARA (Emily Armstrong, Siouxsie Medley, Sean Friday, Chris Null), BLACK LABEL SOCIETY (Zakk Wylde, Nick Catanese, Chad Szeliga) and BAD RELIGION (Jay Bentley).
• “There’s Something Happening Here” mosaic guitar celebrating the music and spirit of BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD. Created by Juliana Martinez and signed by Stephen Stills.

For additional information, please visit:
www.gibson.com/sunset-strip
www.gibsonfoundation.org
www.bonhams.com