Jonathan Waldo, musician and maker of stringed instruments, will have a solo retrospective exhibit during the Wiscasset Art Walk on Aug. 26 in the Hasenfus Gallery, 64 Main St., Wiscasset Village. Waldo will demonstrate the instruments, including the Arabic oud as seen in the photo, and talk with visitors. Photo by Roxanne Rollins
WISCASSET — Selected pieces from Jonathan Waldo’s 42-year career in making musical instruments, furniture and art is scheduled to be on display from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, in the Hasenfus Gallery, 64 Main St., during the Wiscasset Art Walk.
He will demonstrate some of the instruments during the evening.
“My instrument making starts with creating the design, and then I build the instrument from scratch. Except for the tuning machines, I create all the components of the instrument,” said Waldo, according to a news release from Wiscasset Art Walk.
Waldo says he feels joy when making an instrument because he’s being of service to the musician, the music, and the materials. “Each step in the custom musical instrument making process is critical to creating a fine world class instrument. I make only one to two instruments at a time so that I can give my full attention to each step in the process. My intent is that each instrument be an extension of the musician and a beauty in itself,” said Waldo.
Waldo, who grew up in Washington, D.C., lives and works in Mid-Coast Maine. He has been a featured musician during many Wiscasset Art Walks where his artistry playing classical guitar and the Arabic oud has complemented local gallery exhibitions and delighted viewers. Waldo has also taught at the Art Van Program of Bath, several middle schools in Mid-Coast Maine, and assorted workshops. As well as running his own workshop making musical instruments and furniture, he works with the Von Huene Workshop of Brookline, Massachusetts.
In addition to the upcoming Wiscasset Art Walk exhibit, Waldo has exhibited at the Corcoran School of Art, the Boston Early Music Festival Exhibitions, and the Amherst Early Music Festival Exhibition.
Wiscasset Art Walk 2021 is made possible by lead sponsors Donna and Frank Barnako, the Maine Arts Commission, and First National Bank. Major sponsors are Ames True Value, Big Barn Coffee, Carriage House Gardens, Cod Cove Inn, Fogg Art Restoration, Industrial ME, J. Edward Knight Insurance, Newcastle Realty, Peter H. Eaton Antiques, Red’s Eats, Rock Paper Scissors, Sarah’s Café, and Sherri Dunbar/Tim Dunham Realty.
Wiscasset Art Walk is a program of Wiscasset Creative Alliance.
For more information, visit wiscassetartwalk.org or email wiscassetartwalk@verizon.net.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
