MENDELSON JOE, AND A SWEET LITTLE GUILD GUITAR - MUSIC HISTORY AND CANADIAN ART IN ONE SPECIAL PIECE

The Kahshe River along Sparrow Lake Route D

 

A beautiful winter scene along the Kahshe River in Kilworthy on a very crisp Friday afternoon in Muskoka.  Once used to transport logs to the mills further down stream, now is a perfect setting for artists and photographs who wish to capture it’s beautiful natural rock outcroppings and majestic white pines.  Fred Schulz Photo

A SUNNY MORNING ENJOYED IN THE SNOWY ONTARIO WOODLANDS - A FAMILY ADVENTURE - BEST ONE YET

-TO PICK UP A RELIC OF CANADIAN MUSIC HISTORY


     I DO FEEL GUILTY ON DAYS LIKE THIS! I CAN'T HELP IT! WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE WORK, AND THE GRID-IRON OF TURNING A PROFIT, IS TOO MUCH FUN TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT. I'VE TRIED TO EXPLAIN THIS BEFORE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF I MADE MYSELF CLEAR. IT'S ABOUT THE ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE PROFESSION GENERALLY. WE GET THIS RUSH, YOU SEE, WHEN CIRCUMSTANCE (FATE) PREVAILS UPON US, REALLY NEAT OPPORTUNITIES. I COULDN'T COUNT A DAY LIKE TODAY AS WORK, OR MUCH MORE THAN A TYPICAL BUSINESS EXPENSE OF TIME AND MONEY. WHAT WE GET FOR OUR INVESTMENT, IS THE RARE EXPERIENCE OF ADVENTURE ROLLED INTO DISCOVERY; AND IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'VE HAD HANDS-ON CONTACT WITH SOME REMARKABLE TREASURES. AND BY THIS, I DON'T EQUATE THAT WITH CASH VALUE OR QUICK PROFIT. BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN OUR PROFESSION, AS OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR DECADES, EVEN TEMPORARY POSSESSION OF CULTURAL ANTIQUITIES, RELICS OF A BYGONE ERA, ITEMS WE ADORED IN CHILDHOOD...BUT IT TOOK REACHING ADULTHOOD TO AFFORD THEM; MEMORABILIA THAT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY, BECAUSE OF ITS PROVENANCE, AND PIECES OF NATIONAL HISTORY YOU GET TO STUDY, AS CLOSE AS YOUR OUTSTRETCHED ARMS, EVEN IF ONLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THIS CAN HAPPEN EVERY DAY AND SOMETIMES TWICE TO THREE TIMES. IT MIGHT COME IN THE FORM OF MINT CONDITION, RARE COUNTRY RECORDS, OR IN THE BAGS OF OLD BOOKS WE'VE ACQUIRED. A FIRST EDITION "GONE WITH THE WIND," ISN'T OUT OF THE QUESTION. ONE DAY WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO SECURE A 1940'S LIONEL TRAIN SET, AND THE NEXT, A PUMP ORGAN FROM AN HISTORIC MUSKOKA RESORT.
     MANY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO, OR HOW WE GATHER OUR INVENTORY. AT TIMES WE HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING OUR OBSESSION WITH THE PAST, AND AS FAR AS HOW WE GATHER VINTAGE ITEMS, MOST OFTEN THESE ARE TRADE SECRETS WE CAN'T POSSIBLY SHARE.....IN CASE YOU HAPPEN TO BE A COMPETITOR. WE WILL OFFER YOU THIS! IT'S A DREAM JOB. WE GET TO RUN A MUSEUM A BIT. PLAY WITH THE STUFF, NOW AND AGAIN, SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, LIKE SOME OF OUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND THEN SELL PIECES TO THOSE WITH PASSION LIKE OURS......WHO WISH TO OWN A LITTLE HISTORY AS WELL. WE CAN FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES, WHEN WE SEE A CUSTOMER LEAVING OUR SHOP, TOTING ONE OF OUR ANTIQUE PIECES. OF COURSE WE WANT IT ALL TO GO TO GOOD HOMES. WE'RE VERY POSSESSIVE, SOMETIMES REFUSING TO SELL HISTORIC ITEMS, IF WE SUSPECT AN ORIGINAL FINISH, LET'S JUST SAY, ON A GUITAR, IS GOING TO BE STRIPPED OFF INSTEAD OF PRESERVED. WE ARE STEWARDS OF ORIGINAL FINISHES. SO THE STORY BELOW, WILL EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE OVER ZEALOUS ABOUT PROTECTING ORIGINAL FINISHES AT ALL COST. IF WE'RE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IT.....WELL SIR, IT WON'T MAKE IT OUT FOR SALE. EVER!
     TODAY'S BLOG HAS A LITTLE GUILT ATTACHED, BECAUSE WE HAD ONE OF THOSE INCREDIBLE DAYS OUT ON THE HUSTINGS, DOING WHAT ANTIQUE HUNTERS ARE BEST KNOWN FOR.......WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, ENJOYING THE VERY FINE COUNTRYSIDE ALONG THE WAY. THESE OUTINGS REMIND ME OF THE OPENING CHAPTERS OF "ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE," BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS A PEAK OF SENSORY STIMULATION, SEEING MUSKOKA AND AREA, IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT, OVER THE FOUR SEASONS. IT'S A SORT OF "AWAKENING" AND LIBERATION, EACH TIME WE VENTURE OUT, WITH OUR TYPICALLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS, OF WHAT WE MIGHT FIND, AND THE NEAT PEOPLE WE MAY MEET ALONG THE WAY. THIS WAS OUR DAY FOR REDISCOVERY. I HOPE YOU'LL APPRECIATE HOW CRAZY-HAPPY WE CAN GET, BEING "US.".....FOLKS WHO COLLECT THINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

     THERE'S AN UNMISTAKABLE ENERGY IN OUR SHOP TODAY, THAT'S KIND OF HARD TO EXPLAIN, UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THAT AN OLD GUITAR POSSESSES QUALITIES OF ITS FORMER OWNER, AND ALL THE CULTURAL HISTORY IT HAS BEEN EXPOSED. NO, THAT'S JUST FOR SENTIMENTALISTS AND POET / PHILOSOPHERS. I'M NOT SURE IF REALISTS AND LIVE-FOR-THE-MOMENT VISITORS HERE, WOULD SENSE THIS AURA OF DISPATCHED KARMA, UPON THE WILLING SOUL. MAYBE. MAY BE NOT. I HAVEN'T HEARD SUCH RUGGEDLY HEWN GOOD HUMOR IN THIS PLACE, ALL YEAR, AS HAS BROKEN OUT BETWEEN STAFF AND CUSTOMERS, AT THIS TIME OF WRITING....WHO ARE MORE LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED GOOD NEIGHBORS; THEY'RE HERE SO OFTEN...ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS SPECIAL GUITAR ARRIVED. THERE'S NO DENYING IT HAS INSPIRED A LOT OF CONVERSATION, DEBATE, AND MUSIC PHILOSOPHY, ABOUT THE ARTS BEING GOOD FOR THE SOUL. I WON'T CHALLENGE THIS. I LIVE IT EVERY DAY. IT'S WHY I LIKE WRITING IN OUR COMFORTABLE, ART-LINED MUSIC STUDIO, IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST. I'M SURROUNDED BY INSTRUMENTS WITH SOUL. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT. NOW WE HAVE ENHANCED IT SOME MORE, WITH A UNIQUE ADDITION TO THE CURRIE COLLECTION, OF WHICH WE ARE IMMENSELY PROUD.
     WHEN I WRITE ABOUT OUR MUSIC AND ANTIQUE BUSINESS, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO THINK OF US AS "HORN BLOWERS," TO THE EXPONENT OF TEN. I'M PRETTY SURE, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO READ THIS BLOG, WHO DISBELIEVE MY CLAIMS ABOUT FAMILY SEEK-AND-DISCOVER MISSIONS, AND ANTIQUE HUNTING ADVENTURES. FOR THOSE, MY SUGGESTION, IS TO ARCHIVE BACK TO YESTERDAY'S BLOG, ABOUT THOSE WHO WRITE PROPAGANDA, AND EMBELLISH STORIES TO ELEVATE THEMSELVES. APPARENTLY THE TRUTH DOESN'T DO THIS "SET ME FREE THING" FOR EVERYONE. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND IT LIBERATING. SO AS THE GUY WHO WROTE THAT TOME, I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T CONTRADICT MYSELF ONE DAY LATER. SO HERE IS A STORY FOR YOU, THAT I WILL CALL OUR REMARKABLE VISIT TO EMSDALE, ONTARIO, AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY GALLERY, OPERATED BY OUR KINDLY HOST, KAREN ROBINSON. IF I CALLED HER FOREST RETREAT A "HEAVEN ON EARTH," THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION. SO I CAN GET AWAY WITH IT!
     THE PHOTOGRAPHS ABOVE, WILL HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THE STORY-AWAY BY NOW. IT'S THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR BELIEVING PHOTOGRAPHS TELL THE TALE MORE EFFICIENTLY..... THAN ANYTHING A WORDSMITH CAN HAMMER INTO THE SAME SPACE. WE ATTENDED THE FOLKSY HINTERLAND GALLERY, TO PICK UP AN IMPORTANT, (AT LEAST BY OUR DETERMINATION OF CANADIAN MUSIC HERITAGE), 1969-70 GUILD GUITAR (MODEL M-20), OWNED, PLAYED, AND ENJOYED BY WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED CANADIAN MUSICIAN, MENDELSON JOE, FORMERLY OF THE POPULAR LATE 1960'S GROUP "MAINLINE." THE BONUS, OF COURSE, IS THAT WE MADE AN ART PURCHASE AT THE SAME TIME. YOU SEE, MENDELSON JOE, IS ALSO ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S HIGHLY REGARDED ARTISTS, AND THE GUITAR ISN'T JUST FOR PLAYING (BUT IT DOES SOUND AMAZING); IT'S AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE MUSICIAN / ARTIST'S (LATE 1970'S) CREATIVE FORAY WITH PAINT....AND WE ARE CONSUMED BY THIS AMAZING ART PIECE THAT YOU CAN ALSO PLAY. ANDREW HAS JUST NOW PUT IT DOWN, AFTER PLAYING IT FOR THE PAST HOUR, AT THE GRAVENHURST STUDIO; AND CO-OWNER, BROTHER ROBERT, HAS PICKED IT UP, ADMIRING THE CHARACTER OF THE NOSTALGIC INSTRUMENT, WITH ITS WHACK OF MEANINGFUL ADORNMENTS. HE'S PLAYING IT NOW AS WELL, AND BY THE EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE, HE'S PICKING UP ON THE VIBES FROM THE MUSIC HISTORY, HE AND HIS BROTHER REKINDLE EVERY DAY IN THEIR SHOP AND STUDIO. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR VINTAGE MUSIC BUSINESS, YOU'LL APPRECIATE JUST HOW PERFECTLY THIS ARTFUL PIECE WILL FIT INTO, THE LEGACY THEY'VE BEEN BUILDING THEMSELVES, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.
     THE BOYS WERE EXCITED TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, OFFERED TO THEM BY MENDELSON JOE HIMSELF, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AND ANDREW HAS BEEN GLOWING EVER SINCE. IN THEIR STUDIO THEY HAVE NUMEROUS "NEVER WILL SELL" INSTRUMENTS, SOME BECAUSE OF RARITY, OTHERS BECAUSE OF WHO PERFORMED WITH THEM PREVIOUSLY; SUCH AS A GUITAR ONCE OWNED BY COUNTRY SINGER, SMILEY BATES, AND ONE OTHER, A GIBSON, THAT WAS USED BY A STUDIO MUSICIAN ON THE POPULAR CHILDREN'S SHOW, "ROMPER ROOM." REALLY! OF COURSE, INCLUDED ON THE "PROTECTED LIST," ARE  INSTRUMENTS AND AMPLIFIERS THEY USE FOR RECORDING AND PERFORMING THEMSELVES. WE HAVE THIRTY OR SO ANTIQUE VIOLINS, MANDOLINS AND EARLY 1900'S GUITARS HUNG ON THE WALL, AND WHEN THERE ARE MUSICIANS JAMMING, EACH OF THE VETERAN PIECES, RESONATE WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE VIBRATIONS, ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION, ADDING TO THE AUDIBLE MAGIC OF THE DIGS.
            WHAT MENDELSON JOE CALLED "THE LITTLE MAHOGANY GUILD," IS NOW PART OF THE STUDIO'S PERMANENT COLLECTION, AS BOTH A FINE INSTRUMENT TO PLAY, AND A REALLY INTERESTING ART PIECE TO VIEW AND WONDER ABOUT. DEPENDING ON THE LIGHT, AND ITS POSITIONING, THE TEXTURED FINISH CAN LOOK THREE DIMENSIONAL ONE MINUTE, TRANSLUCENT THE NEXT. THEN THERE'S THE HISTORY CONNECTED TO THE VINTAGE GUILD, AND PART OF THIS CAN BE VIEWED IN AN ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPH, OF MENDELSON JOE, IN HIS BIOGRAPHY, ENTITLED "ALIEN," HOLDING UP THE SAME GUITAR, MINUS SOME OF ITS LATER ART WORK,... WHILE ON STAGE AT MASSEY HALL, IN TORONTO, WHERE HE OPENED FOR PATTI SMITH. IN THE PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY ART USHERSON, THE PERFORMER IS SHOWN HOLDING THE GUITAR, HIGH OVER HIS HEAD, WITH THE BACK OF THE GUITAR VISIBLE TO THE AUDIENCE. THE WORDS "BYE BYE" ARE PAINTED ON THE BACK. ON CLOSE INSPECTION, UNDER OUR STUDIO LIGHTS, THE PASTORAL SCENE OF THE COWS GRAZING, WAS PAINTED OVER THOSE ORIGINAL WORDS, BIDDING FAREWELL TO THE AUDIENCE. WHAT A TREASURE. NO ONE IS GOING TO STRIP OFF THIS FINISH, LET ME TELL YOU.
     IN MENDELSON JOE'S OWN WORDS, "THE LITTLE MAHOGANY GUILD," WAS WELL SUITED TO HIS STYLE AND THE SOUND HE DESIRED. IN A COMPANION NOTE, WITH THE GUITAR, HE NOTES, "I BOUGHT IT NEW AROUND 1970 WHEN I WAS STILL PLAYING IN THE BLUES-ROCK GROUP CALLED 'MAINLINE.' IT SOUNDED GREAT AS AN ACOUSTIC, AND WITH AN ELECTRIC PICK-UP, IT SOUNDED EVEN GREATER THROUGH AN AMPLIFIER. I HAD OWNED A COUPLE OF GUILDS BEFORE, SO WHAT DREW ME TO IT WAS THE NECK. THE PARLOR SIZE WAS ALWAYS PERFECT AS ONE WHO PLAYS SEATED.
    "I'M ONE WHO PLAYS ALMOST DAILY. I USED FINGER PICKS BACK THEN AND PLAYED HARD AND SWEATY. AFTER I LEFT THE GROUP IN '72, I USED THIS LITTLE GUITAR; LATER DECORATED IT WHEN I BEGAN PAINTING IN '75, AND USED IT (MY ONLY INSTRUMENT PLAYED DAILY) UNTIL IT BEGAN TO COLLAPSE IN THE EARLY '80'S. ME THINKETH THAT COLLAPSE WAS PRECIPITATED BY AIR CANADA HANDLERS (THEY HAD DESTROYED MY L3 A COUPLE OF TIMES). IN 1982, I FOUND A LITTLE CEDAR TOP MADE BY J.D. MACKENZIE. HE TRADED IT FOR TWO PAINTINGS. I PLAY THE 'J.D.' TO THIS DATE AND I LOVE IT."
    AS WE HAVE QUITE A FEW TRAVELLING MUSICIAN PASS THROUGH OUR SHOP EACH YEAR, TO AND FROM GIGS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AND BEYOND, WE OFFER THEM A STUDIO-RESPITE, FOR SOME COOKIES AND A BEVERAGE (ON SATURDAYS).....A LITTLE JAM IF THEY'RE UP FOR IT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AROUND WITH SOME RARE AND UNIQUE INSTRUMENTS IN OUR PRIVATE, BUT SHARED STOCK. WE GET A LOT OF SATISFACTION, SEEING THESE INSTRUMENTS BEING ENJOYED AND CELEBRATED; ESPECIALLY BY MUSICIANS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CANADIAN MUSIC, AND ITS RICH CHRONICLE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE ARE SO PROUD, AS A FAMILY, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER MENDELSON JOE'S WELL TRAVELLED, WELL USED, GALLERY ART PIECE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PATRONS, WHO WOULD OTHERWISE, NEVER GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SUCH A NICELY CONSERVED PIECE OF NATIONAL MUSIC, AND ART HISTORY. IN ONLY TWO HOURS, BACK IN THE SHOP, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THREE VIEWINGS, AND SUBSEQUENT INSTRUMENT FONDLINGS, FROM OUR VISITORS....WHO SHARE OUR RESPECT FOR THE WORK AND MUSIC OF MENDELSON JOE. THROUGH TWITTER, MORE COMMENTS.
     IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK, AND A TURN, ON THIS LITTLE GEM, DROP IN AND SEE US. IF IT'S ON A SATURDAY, CHANCES ARE GOOD YOU'LL ALSO GET A FRESHLY BAKED COOKIE, FROM MOMMA CURRIE'S KITCHEN.
     BUT YOU KNOW, THE GREAT PART OF THE DAY FOR ME, THE CHAUFFER, WAS THE FABULOUS VIEW I HAD, AT KAREN ROBINSON'S GALLERY, ON THE STAR LAKE ROAD, IN EMSDALE (NORTH OF HUNTSVILLE), AWAITING ANDREW, ROBERT AND SUZANNE, WHO WERE VISITING WITH THE GALLERY OWNER. I HAD THE VERY GREAT BENEFIT OF THE BEST VIEW ON THE PROPERTY, BACKED, THIS MORNING, BY CBC 2'S SUCCESSION OF SYMPHONIES. I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED, SO MANY BIRDS AT A FEEDER, THAN ON HER GALLERY PROPERTY. THERE HAD TO BE THIRTY OR MORE CHICKADEES, AND TWO OF THE PLUMPEST BLUE JAYS I'VE EVER SEEN. THE SNOW AMIDST THE EVERGREENS, THE BEAUTIFUL PLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, IN A MOST ENCHANTING FOREST; I MUST ADMIT, IF I'D SAT THERE FOR HOURS ON END, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, MOST SINCERELY, A JOY ON EARTH. SO FOR OUR FAMILY, WITH NARY A WORD OF EMBELLISHMENT, IT WAS CERTAINLY A DAY FOR THE FAMILY ALBUM, YET IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE  A BUSINESS TRIP. THIS IS WHY I LOVE MY PROFESSION. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT. AND THAT'S THE ALLURE!
     THANK YOU SARAH UNGER, FOR CONNECTING US WITH MENDELSON JOE. THANK YOU KAREN ROBINSON, FOR INTRODUCING US TO HIS FASCINATING, STORIED ART WORK. AND THANK YOU, MENDELSON JOE, FOR PASSING-ON THIS SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF CANADIAN MUSIC HERITAGE, THAT SO MANY OF OUR VISITORS, MUSICIAN GUESTS, AND STUDENTS OF OUR MUSIC INSTRUCTION, WILL BENEFIT FROM LONG INTO THE FUTURE. WE ARE PROUD TO BE ITS STEWARD.
     SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, AS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WELFARE OF MIND AND BODY, YOU JUST HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP, AND THE HOME REGION, AND EXPLORE THE ONTARIO COUNTRYSIDE. WE LIKED WHAT WE SAW. WE JUST NEED TO DO IT MORE OFTEN.
     ROBERT JUST ARRIVED IN THE STUDIO TO SEE ME. "DAD, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE THIS. A GUY JUST CAME IN AND ASKED IF WE HAD ANY "MAINLINE" ALBUMS. I HAD TO TELL HIM THAT WE WERE SOLD OUT, BUT WE HAD THE GUITAR THAT WAS USED BY A MAINLINE MEMBER....AND HE DIDN'T BELIEVE US....UNTIL WE FLIPPED OPEN THE GUITAR CASE (WHICH WAS ALSO DECORATED BY MENDELSON JOE). HE SAID, 'I'VE GOT GOOSEBUMPS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THIS HAPPENING?'  IN OUR STORE SIR, VERY LIKELY. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT'S THE WORK OF THE RESIDENT SPIRITS I THINK." COINCIDENCES AND SPIRITUAL STRANGENESS. WE COULD WRITE A BOOK ABOUT ALL THE WHACKY PARALLELS THAT HAPPEN AROUND HERE, BUT YOU'D PROBABLY THINK IT WAS JUST A STRANGE FICTION. IT'S ALL JUST THE PATINA AND CONNECTED PROVENANCE OF RUNNING A HAUNTED VINTAGE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP.
     DROP IN SOME TIME FOR A CHRISTMAS SEASON VISIT. YOU MIGHT SEE THE GHOST OF OLD FEZZIWIG HIMSELF, IN THE SPIRIT OF CHARLES  DICKENS, BECAUSE YOU SEE, THIS "CHRISTMAS CAROL" CHARACTER, IS THE ROLE-MODEL BY WHICH WE DO BUSINESS. YES INDEED, THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN MONEY. MERRY CHRISTMAS.