Voodoo Guitar "Marie" made by Don Moser with debris from Hurricane Katrina
date: label: Date
content: 2005
name: label: Created by
content: Don Moser, American
notes: label: Description
content: 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: label: Place made
content: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Art
label: Topic
content: Communities
label: Topic
content: Folklife
label: Topic
content: Music
label: Topic
content: Musicians
label: Topic
content: Ornamentation
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 2001-
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Musical Instruments
label: Exhibition
content: Musical Crossroads
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Musician/Artist Don Louis Moser
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2015.119.1-.2
objectType: label: Type
content: musical instruments
label: Type
content: guitars
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Wood, copper, brass, tin, and plastic with fabric and rhinestone
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (guitar): 41 3/4 × 13 3/4 × 2 3/8 in. (106 × 34.9 × 6 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (Wood box): 5 x 47 7/8 x 17 in. (12.7 x 121.6 x 43.2 cm)