Vermont Instruments

In 2006 Vermont Instruments went into partnership with Canadian businessman Danny Fonfeder, and Balinese woodcarver Wayan Tuges, to begin Blueberry Guitars, a new company, formed to make world class, hand-made guitars in Bali, with highly detailed and beautiful designs carved into every part of the instrument.   A workshop was built, workers hired and trained, and sources for tools and wood established. Now, two years later, the shop produces about 25 hand-made instruments each month. They are shipped to Montreal from where they are distributed to dealers and stores.

The Balinese are second to none when it comes to woodcarving. Their island is crowded with artists and craftspeople of all kinds, blessed with a long heritage of traditional work, passed on from one generation to the next. This work is considered a sacred activity, with the process and product as prayer and offering. Each piece is imbued with spirit and must be as perfect as possible to please the god and to help keep the world in balance. It has been a wonderful opportunity and an honor to work on this project, and to learn craft all over again from this most spiritual of perspectives.

The photographs on this page bear witness to the work of these fine artists.  More photos and information about this project can be found using these links:

blueberryguitars.com

picasaweb.google.com/vermontinstruments