Carlee WrightMost people recognize Tim Knight as the guitar guy. But in addition to being the owner of Guitar Castle in downtown Salem, Tim is an artist, deep in the world of painting and music.
“I’ve always been involved in one or other,” he said.
Although Tim has been painting for a long time, he didn’t take it seriously — Create a painting, give it away. He just had a need to paint and that need continues.
“I don’t know what I’m going to paint. It just happens and I go with it,” he said.
The current inspiration behind his art comes from love and kindness or sometimes the lack of both. Tim sums it up as people — the people we meet.
“My work is darker than it ever was before, but I think that’s the way it is in America. Things are darker than the way it used to be,” he said.
You will find Tim’s painting on display at The Kitchen on Court Street, Taproot Lounge and Cafe and for July and August (2019) in Salem Art Association’s Bush Barn Art Center.
On the other side of the coin is music.
Tim has long been a fixture in the Salem music scene. He’s an encyclopedia of knowledge on guitars, and something of a musical historian for the area, too.
When Tim opened the original Guitar Castle in the ‘90s on State Street, he imagined it would be a “Ma and Pa” guitar store. The kind of shop that was a staple in the community for offering lessons to kids and where you buy your basic supplies. He was wrong.
“The music scene in Salem in the 90s was amazing. The number of acts that played here…”
His shop became the go-to place for visiting musicians and bands on tour and as Tim developed a knack for discovering vintage guitars and gear — the supplies people were looking for — he also developed friendships with many of the touring artists. Tim’s got stories of hanging out with some notable musicians but “that’s business,” he said.
Of course, Tim’s connection to music is not just limited to selling guitars and gear, he’s also been in a handful of local bands, from rockers Hundred Dollar Jayhawks to the chamber ensemble Bohemian Enclave, and contributed to two albums for John Fahey.
“I’m lucky to have spent four years playing music with him,” said Tim. “It was a huge learning curve for me. All I knew before was rock ‘n’ roll. There is a lot of music beyond rock ‘n’ roll.”
Complementing the art of playing music, Tim has the art of writing music.
“I write a lot of songs,” said Tim. “That just happens by sitting down and playing. I don’t think ‘I’m going to write a song in A Minor.’”
The most important thing for Tim with his music is simplicity. He wants the listener to understand where he is coming from.
Tim’s current band is a trio called The Paintings. A name Tim told his bandmates “sounded confusing” recommending they change it, but they wouldn’t have it. The name stuck.
And to top it all off, Tim has joined his two arts by creating art guitars. The first was a commissioned work, but then he created more. They are roughed up guitars that he repairs, cleans up and decoratively repaints.
See Tim’s paintings (the art not the band) on display July through August (2019) at the Salem Art Association or at his store, Guitar Castle, 431 Ferry St. SE. And if you want to see The Paintings (the band) just keep your eyes — or ears — out, especially on Make Music Day.
This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 3 (Oct/Nov 2018)
The Instigator
