Voodoo Guitar "Marie" made by Don Moser with debris from Hurricane Katrina

Created by

Moser, Don, American

Date

2005

On View

Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

Medium

Wood, copper, brass, tin, and plastic with fabric and rhinestone

Dimensions

H x W x D (guitar): 41 3/4 × 13 3/4 × 2 3/8 in. (106 × 34.9 × 6 cm)

H x W x D (Wood box): 5 x 47 7/8 x 17 in. (12.7 x 121.6 x 43.2 cm)

Description

The Voodoo Guitar (.1) used by Don Moser of Swampkat. The 6-string electric guitar is wooden with metal-plated head and body. A plaque on the head features text that reads [KATRINA - AUG - 29- 2005]. Metal letters are adhered along one side and the bottom of the head, following the curve [NEW ORLEANS / VOODOO]. Multiple "windows" were built into the guitar head. Contents include objects such as a voodoo doll and rhinestone fleur de lis brooch. At the center of the head, a figurine is attached atop the strings. It is shaped like a cross. Its top half is black, while the bottom is white and covered with multi-colored beads. Brown hair-like fibers extend out of the top and two arms. A handwritten letter (.2) on white paper with rough, burned edges is attached under the strings. It visually blocks part of the head and reads [DEAR KEVIN, / THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU AND / YOUR TEAM HAS PUT INTO THE VOODOO GUITAR / PROJECT. / I'VE ENJOYED EVERY MIN. OF THE JOURNEY. / THIS IS THE VOODOO GUITAR. PLEASE TAKE / EXTRA CARE OF HER, I GROWN QUITE FOND OF HER! / THE GUITAR IS SET UP AND PLAYS GREAT, SHE SOUNDS / LIKE THE DEVIL MOVING FURNITURE! / BLESSINGS / DON]. The back of the neck is light-colored wood, and the back of the head is dark wood. A gold-colored metal plaque situated at the base of the neck features engraved text that reads [KATRINA / YOU THOUGHT / YOU COULD KEEP / THE OL BIG EASY / DOWN BUT WE / STILL HEAR OUR / BRASS BANDS / BLOWIN OH WHAT/ A BEAUTIFUL / SOUND]. A clear plastic cylinder is attached to the underside of the head. It has a metal top & bottom and contains a fuzzy object.

Place made

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Classification

Musical Instruments

Type

musical instruments

guitars

Topic

Art

Communities

Folklife

Music

Musicians

Ornamentation

U.S. History, 2001-

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Musician/Artist Don Louis Moser

Object number

2015.119.1-.2

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Usage

CC0

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd566bb8fd6-5701-455d-b559-f25cd490a8a8