March 15, 2021 I Philanthropy
Yamaha Cares Upcycle Program Turns Musical Instruments into Works of Art
Able ARTS Work Founder Helen Dolas with Yamaha's David Jewell
The Yamaha Cares Upcycle Program has announced it is taking slightly blemished musical instruments and turning them into works for art to raise money for Orange County, California, not-for-profit organizations. The first results of this initiative are now on display at the Able ARTS Work Gallery in Long Beach, California.
Upcycling is a creative reuse of products into new materials or products of better quality and environmental value. Buena Park, California-based Yamaha Corp. of America donated more than 200 “upcycled” musical instruments — slightly blemished guitars, cellos and violins — to four Orange County not-for profit organizations, which then collaborated with local artists and students to transform them into new works of art.
The organizations — Able ARTS Work, Anaheim Elementary School District, Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park and KatrinaKures/CHOC — are now putting their creations on full display at the Able ARTS Work Gallery, encouraging their supporters to purchase them, which raises funds for the organizations in new, innovative ways.
Upcycled guitars sent by Yamaha to the Anaheim Elementary School District were turned into new pieces of art by families, the Muzeo Art group, as well as teachers and employees. Some chose to paint scenes on the guitars, while others chose to transform and repurpose their guitars into other useful or decorative items.
One Muzeo artist, Robert Holton, not only created a Disney-themed guitar for the Anaheim Elementary School District, but he also crafted a commemorative Dodger-themed guitar for KatrinaKures/CHOC, which will be on display at the Able ARTS Work Gallery.
“Instead of crushing these instruments, the Yamaha Cares Upcycle Program provides an innovative way for organizations to raise funds for their art and music programs,” said David Jewell, partnerships and alliances manager, Yamaha Corp.of America. “In addition to promoting and funding the arts and music education, part of our corporate social responsibility mission is to reduce the amount of waste that Yamaha sends to a land fill.”
Able ARTS Work artists will receive a 50% commission on any work they sell, with the other half supporting the organization’s “A Home of our Own” capital campaign, which plans to purchase a permanent building and gallery for its adult day program for adults with disabilities. The other three organizations will receive 100% of the proceeds from the sales.
“Through this generous partnership with the Yamaha Cares UpCycle Program, we have been able to provide our Boys & Girls Club members with an opportunity to be creative individually, while involving their families in a collective art project,” said Todd Trout, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park. “Whether new to fine arts or steeped with artistic talent, these members have been brought into the endless world of art through UpCycle.”
“The medium of making art on a guitar allows people to identify a new and accessible experience in their journey of creative and personal expression,” said Able ARTS Work Founder and CEO Helen G. Dolas. “It’s a dynamic force. The pieces on display are created by students of our day programs. The Upcycle project gives them a productive purpose to create artwork for our gallery, while promoting and empowering marginalized artists.”
