(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- A 24-foot guitar, named “Gigantar" by its creator - sculptor / world-renowned Artist Shannon (MacDonald), born and raised in New Jersey, has chosen The Stone Pony in Asbury Park as the place of unveiling before it takes its five-state journey from New Jersey to Illinois… where its final destination and permanent home will be on the great wall of the “Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66”.
Ron Romero of The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum commissioned world-renowned artist Shannon to create the 24-foot tall sculpture. Ron and Shannon started putting the project together back in 2019. The finishing touch came together when, dear friend to Shannon, and no stranger to The Stone Pony... Jim Babjak, guitarist of the New Jersey based band, The Smithereens, agreed to unveil Gigantar with Shannon.
The event will take place in the Stone Pony Summer Stage parking lot beginning at 2:00pm.
Shannon is no stranger to large projects and has done so since 1994. In 1998 she jumped an ocean over to Liverpool, England’s celebrated Fab Four Hotspots: The Cavern Club, Strawberry Fields, The Beatles-themed Hard Day’s Night Hotel, Liverpool Beatles Museum, and Stuart Sutcliffe’s Sefton Park Hotel. In 1999, at a private party celebrating the USA's Yellow Submarine Postage Stamp unveiling, Shannon was approached by CEO of The Beatles’ Apple Corp, Neil Aspinall. Shannon was the entertainment at the private bash and painted a portrait of John Lennon. Mr. Aspinall congratulated her saying, “If I wasn’t here to see it for myself - I would have thought it to be a photograph.” The rest has been Beatle-history for Shannon as this year will be her 25th working within The Fab Four environment.
Other establishments Shannon has worked with include Elvis Presley’s Graceland; The James Dean Foundation; The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Warner Bros; MGM; IGPC (Postage Stamp Company); Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund; The Rosie O’Donnell Show; an array of casinos from Atlantic City, Vegas, and Aruba; Rock’n Vodka’s branding team; Sylvester Stallone; Cheap Trick; Aerosmith; King Features Syndicate; and many more.
Shannon stated, “Working with The Cavern Club in Liverpool, the establishment where The Beatles started and played over 200-times, always reminded me of my own musical roots here in (New) Jersey. The Stone Pony is much like The Cavern Club with its extremely deep seated roots in Asbury Park. It echoes the sounds of Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, The Smithereens, Cheap Trick, Blondie, The Stray Cats, Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren, Joan Jett, Dickie Betts, Ace Frehley, Johnny Winter, David Johansen, Dion, Ronnie Spector, Graham Parker and the list goes on… and on. This is why Ron Romero and I chose the Stone Pony as the place to unveil the 24-foot guitar sculpture. Since the guitar has been created right here in New Jersey, with my fabrication team in a secret place in Farmingdale, it seems quite relevant to unveil it at the most famous club on the east coast… perhaps in the USA.”
“Gigantar will become the museum’s icon,” said Ron Romero, Executive Director of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum. “We are thrilled with the work Shannon has done and we can’t wait to show it to music lovers throughout Illinois and the world.”
Gigantar, estimated at close to a half million dollar art project, will be loaded onto an open flatbed truck and cross New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana before reaching its final destination in Joliet, Illinois. Its tour will be GPSed on the internet for all to follow. Its journey will make pertinent stops at historical musical landmarks. When Gigantar reaches its new home, guitarist Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick and long time friend to the artist Shannon, will flip the switch at the lighting ceremony with Shannon and Ron. The celebration in Joliet will take place on January 20th at 5:00pm and is open to the public.
The Stone Pony is located at 913 Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. EIN 82-2293229. The Museum exists to preserve the history of musicians and bands with ties to Illinois while educating visitors about our rich music history. Our mission will meet our goals through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves and exhibits artifacts of artists who have reached national and international recognition, and by providing enlightening educational programs.
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