Woodstock Guitar Sculptures: Musician, Woodworker Hammers Out Hometown ‘Love Letter’

The first time I ever saw Levon Helm perform in Woodstock was probably in 2002, at the old Landau Grill at the crest of Mill Hill Road. 

The occasion was the Woodstock Guitar Festival, and Levon performed with Woodstock native Rennie Cantine, the festival’s founder. Rennie is known far and wide for his musical prowess, his master carpentry skills, the band Sabrina & the Gems, and those iconic wooden guitar sculptures that punctuate the streets of Woodstock annually. 

When I was watching Rennie and Levon perform oh so many years ago, I considered myself an established journalist who tackled everything and feared little. But I surprised even myself when I looked down to see my legs and feet shaking in my boots. I was too scared to approach Levon and introduce myself. It was just too overwhelming for this fan of The Band. There he was, right there, Levon Helm. Oh, my.

I was shocked at my inability to walk up to the man from Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, stick out my hand, and introduce myself. I was, after all, the same guy and journalist who just a few years earlier had left a designated area for the press at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, crashed the tarmac, approached President Bill Clinton, and asked him a question before he boarded Air Force One for his trip back to the White House. 

The hilarious thing here is that not long after that gig at the Landau, I started attending Levon’s Midnight Ramble house concerts, got to know him and his team very well, and ended up collaborating with him on a book. Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble chronicles Levon’s triumphant final chapter and is based on recordings of conversations I had with him over the years. 

And—I still can’t believe this—Cantine, the very same guy who played that gig with Levon so long ago, has taken the cover of my book, along with some text, and immortalized both by featuring them on one of his wooden guitar sculptures. This is an amazing tribute to Levon and myself. I am honored, bedazzled and speechless. I’m a behind-the-scenes guy, and this is just, wow. 

But, the guitar sculpture also illustrates how Rennie Cantine is able to fuse his passions for art and woodworking and use both to honor the Town of Woodstock’s legacy as a worldwide artistic anchor that harnesses creativity and expression as an economic engine. 

Cantine’s wooden guitar sculptures feature the instrument’s body and neck emblazoned with paint, art, images and text. Included in the 2024 guitar collection are wooden replicas of the instrument with a wide range of designs, including:

• An image of Gloria Steinem, suffragettes, and the words, “We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For”– with the “O” in “For” replaced by the gender symbol for women, a circle above a cross. 
• The 1969 Woodstock festival tagline, “Peave, love and music,” with an oversized peace sign carved into the guitar body. 
• Peter Max-like art with the phrase, “Roots, Rock, Reggae—Music: The Only International Language.”  
• The names of 220 creatives who are Cantine’s friends, mentors and fellow musicians from Woodstock
• The Beatles song title, “Tomorrow Never Knows,” along with a rainbow and psychedelic art and the phrases, “Take Care of Yourselves” and “Take Care of Each Other.” 

These two phrases embody Cantine’s generous spirit. Anytime I run into Rennie, he’s positive and upbeat and leaves me feeling the same. He’s also always in the midst of an artistic project that celebrates Woodstock’s musical legacy, like the keys to the town he crafts and presents to notable musicians who live locally. 

An aspect of Cantine’s artistic endeavor that demands the attention of the community—musicians, artists, business owners, public officials, local residents and tourists—is the auction of the guitar sculptures.

2024 Woodstock Guitar Sculpture Exhibition and Auction
Saturday, October 5th
The Woodstock Pub, 17 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY
Preview & Live Music 2:00–3:30
Auction Starts at 4:00 pm
All proceeds will benefit the John Herald Fund.
The Exhibition runs throughout Woodstock from September – October 5th

Providing the live music will be Sabrina & the Gems, which, in addition to Cantine, features Sabrina Sa, Alana Orr, and Mike Dubois. This entire guitar sculpture project is dedicated to the late Woodstock musician Jesse Gress, who, according to Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony Foundation, toured and recorded with Rundgren for 30 years and was a member of the Grammy-nominated Tony Levin Band, as well as other bands. A performer, music educator, and former music editor of Guitar Player magazine, Gress has hundreds of transcription folios and magazine articles to his credit, as well as five reference books: Guitar Licks of the Texas Blues-Rock Heroes; GuitaRevolution – Lessons from the Groundbreakers & Innovators; The Guitar Cookbook; Guitar Lick Factory; and Guitar Licks of the Brit-Rock Heroes. 

Administered by Family of Woodstock’s Walk-In Center, the John Herald Fund for Musicians and Artists honors the legacy of the late local musician who was respected far and wide for his musicianship, kind personality and warm spirit. I was extremely fortunate and humbled to see Herald and Garth Hudson of The Band perform a duo show at the Rosendale Cafe on Dec. 10, 1999, the very day that Hudson’s bandmate, Rick Danko of The Band, died. There was no mention of Danko’s passing at the show, but it was very special and carried tremendous meaning for those of us lucky to be in attendance. That evening so long ago comes into sharp focus in light of the guitar sculptures. 

According to Family of Woodstock, Herald was among many musicians who, over the years, performed at benefits to support the organization. Following his death in 2006, Herald’s friends established a fund in his name to provide financial assistance with seemingly small items and crises that some may consider minor, but which can easily derail a life—things like a car repair or emergency prescription. Click here to donate to the John Herald Fund.

‘This,” Cantine said of the guitar sculpture project, and the auction to benefit the John Herald Fun, “is my love letter to Woodstock for raising me.” 

The origins of the guitar sculptures date back to 2002 when the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce & the Arts had an idea to do a guitar sculpture competition. The plan was to pick 10 professionals out of several hundred applicants to fabricate 10-foot-tall sculptures for display in town in advance of an auction for a local charity.  Cantine was asked to help plan the event’s kickoff concert, but being a woodworker, he wanted to submit a design and build one of the sculptures as well. Rennie’s submission was accepted. His concert was a success. The next year, he was put in charge of the whole shebang. He made 12 sculptures honoring those he looked up to, including the late Michael Lang, the man behind the 1969 Woodstock festival. The undertaking picked up momentum over the decade that followed and can currently be seen in its finest form around Woodstock. The art installation illustrates the civic impact of art in public places and emphasizes the philosophy that many artists and musicians embrace—that art is for all to enjoy as a community.

“The guitars create a treasure hunt around town,” said JoJo Ans, owner of Shop Little House on Tinker Street, which features “gifts and supplies for modern pioneers with a mix of modern and vintage housewares, books and art,” according to the store’s website. “They are curiosities that feature the work of a local artist and convey the musical spirit while supporting a good cause.” 

About the Woodstock Guitar Sculpture Exhibition and Auction 
Fiftyfive years ago…

the Woodstock festival stirred up global interest in our small town. As a result, flocks of young people seeking the mythical Woodstock Nation began arriving. Most came unprepared,  in need of food, shelter, clothing, medical assistance and guidance. Sensing the need, a small group of volunteers formed a contact number made available 24/7 for anyone to call for help. Family of Woodstock was officially founded in 1970 and will mark its 55th anniversary in 2025. “Any problem under the sun” was and still is the agency’s motto – offering help without judgement to all who seek it. The original number for Family’s 24-Hotline has remained the same for 54 years, and is also the number for Family’s newest program, textmeback.org – 845-679-2485.

“2024 Woodstock Guitar Sculpture Exhibition is dedicated to Jesse Gress, the wisest guitarist I’ve ever played with” – Rennie Cantine

In honor of the 55th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival and the upcoming 55th of Family of Woodstock, Mill Hill Road/Tinker Street in the village has been lined with a 40 guitar sculpture display. The guitars will be auctioned with proceeds going to Family of Woodstock’s 24-Hour Hotline & textmeback.org, the John Herald Fund and the artists.

2024 Woodstock Guitar Sculpture Exhibition and Auction
Saturday, October 5th
The Woodstock Pub, 17 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY
Preview & music 2:00–3:30
Auction starts at 4:00 pm
The exhibition runs from September – October 5th

SEE YOU AT THE AUCTION!