Charity Auction to Benefit Art, Music Education

West Hollywood businesses, the city and Gibson Guitar Corp. have teamed for a guitar sculpture auction to benefit art and music education, the Sunset Strip Business Association announced last week. The event is scheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 22 at Bonhams in Hollywood.

Proceeds go to the Los Angeles Fund for Public Education's "Art's Matter" campaign, according to the association. GuitarTown has raised more than $54,000 for causes that include public art on the Sunset Strip and the West Hollywood Library.

The Gibson GuitarTown auction features artistically decorated 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.

The 2012 collection consists of 18 guitars created by internationally acclaimed and local artists 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.

"We are grateful that the Sunset Strip Business Association and the Gibson Guitar Foundation chose the L.A. Fund as the beneficiary of the GuitarTown Auction," L.A. Fund Executive Director Dan Chang said in a statement. "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."

Click here to see the guitars up for bidding. They will be at Sunset Boulevard locations until Feb. 17.

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