Lifestyle

Austin Mom Uses Guitar Picks of Famous Musicians to Create a Stunning Piece of Art

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Austin mom Lauren Ward is a cancer survivor, a mother, and now a critically acclaimed artist. Lauren’s ability to persevere shines through with her eclectic, creative creation. Lauren was inspired by warrior princess armor.

Lauren, who has actively participated in the four previous Art Bra Austin events (which support the Breast Cancer Research Center), was looking to top her previous bra art medium that was comprised of a thousand paper cranes she and her children had folded for months. This time, she desired to create something that someone would buy for a lot of money. Lauren’s finished magnum opus was, according to the Breast Cancer Research Center, the most unique and must-have piece of the night.

Guitar PicksPhoto courtesy of Flashbx23

Lauren was inspired by large plastic pieces that looked like dragon scales. To Lauren, the dragon scales looked like guitar picks. When she shared her idea of using the guitar picks as her medium to construct the bra, her friends suggested that she ask local musicians for them. She ended up sharing her request for guitar picks on Facebook, unsure of what she was doing. However, Lauren’s social media posts were shared and retweeted.

By November, she began receiving envelopes with guitar picks in them. To name a few, Pat Green, Melissa Etheridge (breast cancer survivor), Sara Hickman, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, Brian Setzer, and Willie Nelson sent in picks. Lauren collected guitar picks from more than 150 various artists, from ten states, and spanning 4 countries. Lauren had all but considered herself a soccer mom by day and a crafter on the side until a stranger purchased this iconic art piece. Lauren, being a cancer survivor herself, is an inspiration in her own right. Her brilliant and inspirational masterpiece connected over 100 distinct artists globally and in doing so unified us all.