I made this musical wall sculpture for James Crawford, co-owner of Chickadee Karaoke Rooms in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Broken guitars, a snare drum, a violin and old speakers became a piece of wall art for a place where music brings people together.
A pile of broken music gear can look like the end of something. For this build, it became the starting point. I brought guitar pieces, a snare drum, a violin, old speakers and drumsticks together into a musical wall sculpture. None of it needed to play again. It just needed to belong together.
Watch the full broken-instrument wall sculpture build on YouTube to see the welding, fitting, safety wiring and changes of plan that turned the pile into wall art.
A steel frame for a pile of possibilities
I started with a frame made from 1×1 square tubing and welded expanded metal across its face. The tubing gave the piece structure. The expanded metal gave me plenty of places to attach parts without having to plan every hole in advance.
Building the backing was straightforward compared with arranging what went on it. Random and intentional are annoyingly different things. I wanted movement across the frame, with layers and depth, rather than a collection of instruments that happened to be hanging near each other.
The snare drum set the rhythm
The snare gave the sculpture a strong focal point. Once it was attached, everything around it had to respond to that big round shape. Broken blue guitar pieces brought in color, while the guitar necks and violin helped carry the eye through the composition.
Attaching all of those different materials took some figuring out. Thin instrument wood, metal hardware and awkward drum pedals each needed their own approach. Screws and safety wire let me secure the parts while keeping large brackets from taking over the front of the piece. An old speaker grille added texture and helped cover a few places that still needed work.
Finishing with drumsticks and smaller parts
The main instruments gave the sculpture its shape, but the small pieces made it feel finished. Speakers filled gaps, pedal parts added detail, and the drumsticks brought long lines into a piece full of circles and broken shapes. Their placement helped connect one area to another.
The result still does not play music, but it has a rhythm of its own. It is a different kind of build from my usual welded metal sculptures, and a good reminder that reclaimed materials do not have to lose their history to become something new.
Wall art for Chickadee Karaoke in Easthampton
Chickadee Karaoke Rooms is at 24 Cottage Street in Easthampton. The venue offers private karaoke rooms, and it occupies the former Rhythm Section Music Shop. A sculpture made from old instruments fits that continuing connection to music.
The Reminder’s story about Chickadee’s opening features the instrument artwork and shares James Crawford’s vision for the space. To learn about the karaoke rooms or plan a visit, visit Chickadee Karaoke’s website.
Tools from the build
If you are curious about the equipment, these are two tool links from the video description.
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Watch the transformation
Watch “I Turned Broken Guitars and Drums Into a Wall Sculpture” on YouTube and let me know which part catches your eye first. Subscribe to Hercworx for more sculpture builds and the decisions behind them.
For more finished pieces, explore the Hercworx portfolio. Have an idea for a custom sculpture? Get in touch about a commission.