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Gunnar Schonbeck's Giant Instruments Find A Home At MASS MoCA

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Musician Mark Stewart plays a giant banjo created by Gunnar Schonbeck. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Musician Mark Stewart plays a giant banjo created by Gunnar Schonbeck. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

There’s a trove of musical instruments on display at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams in an installation titled “No Experience Required.” The installation encourages everyone to play the franken-instruments created by beloved Bennington College professor Gunnar Schonbeck.

When Schonbeck died in 2005, his collection needed a home.Mark Stewart, who is also Paul Simon’s music director, helped bring it to MASS MoCA.

Musician Mark Stewart with Gunnar Schonbeck's giant banjo at MASS MoCA. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Musician Mark Stewart with Gunnar Schonbeck's giant banjo at MASS MoCA. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Detail of an instrument by Gunnar Schonbeck at MASS MoCA. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Detail of an instrument by Gunnar Schonbeck at MASS MoCA. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Detail of an instrument by Gunnar Schonbeck at MASS MoCA. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Detail of an instrument by Gunnar Schonbeck at MASS MoCA. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

This segment aired on July 31, 2017.

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Andrea Shea Correspondent, Arts & Culture
Andrea Shea is a correspondent for WBUR's arts & culture reporter.

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