Woodbury-Middlebury|Local Event
Show Your Support Torrington High School at a mano Gallery
Event Details
The Art of the Guitar
A Collaborative Exhibition of Student-Built Instruments and Community-Created Art
at a Mano Gallery
Torrington, CT — a Mano Gallery is pleased to present The Art of the Guitar, an exhibition that brings together student craftsmanship, creative exploration, and community collaboration.
At the center of the exhibition are guitars built by students from Torrington High School. Under the guidance of wood shop teacher Jared Sheikh, students spend months constructing fully playable electric guitars by hand. Through this process, they develop technical skills while gaining experience in problem solving, patience, and the act of creating something functional from start to finish.
In total, more than 30 guitars will be made.
As the work progresses, students move beyond function and into a more creative phase, transforming their instruments into Art Guitars. Using paint, texture, and experimental approaches, each piece becomes a unique expression that reflects the student’s perspective while still holding its identity as an instrument.
Expanding beyond the classroom, the exhibition also includes contributions from local artists connected to a Mano Gallery. Artists are working with donated guitars and cases, each choosing their own starting point. Some transform instruments, while others approach the case itself as an object for artistic interpretation. The resulting works range from playable pieces to sculptural forms that push the idea of what a guitar can be.
These artist-created works will be raffled during the exhibition. Proceeds will support the continued collaboration between Torrington High School, local artists, and a Mano Gallery, making it possible to present the work at full scale and expand opportunities for future projects.
The Art of the Guitar highlights the value of hands-on learning, creative exploration, and the role of community in supporting the arts. By bringing student work into a gallery setting and connecting it with contributions from working artists, the exhibition creates a space where education and artistic practice meet.