By Shane Blatt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Duluth has painted the town in violins — literally.

Enlarge photo

Shane Blatt, sblatt@ajc.com Anna, Dixie and Buddy Huthmaker in the exhibit area of their shop, Huthmaker Violins, on Main Street in downtown Duluth. Dixie Huthmaker helped orchestrate the French government-sponsored exhibit of more than 100 rare instruments and bows coming to the city on Friday.

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For weeks, locals have painted, made mosaics and decoupaged about 200 violin-shaped wood composites to adorn shops and outside walls throughout the historic district.

“They’re all hanging there dancing in the wind,” said organizer and mosaic artist Jennifer Freeman. “Some of them are really works of art.”

The faux fiddles bear a striking resemblance to everything from the Eiffel Tower and Duluth City Hall to gun-toting gangsters and pink-nosed gray cats.

The public art hoopla comes as the city gears up for Friday’s start of a weeklong French government-sponsored exhibit featuring more than 100 string instruments and bows valued at more than $500,000.

The instruments — from a Castagneri cello dating from the 18th century to contemporary Baroque violins and bows to neolins (a modern variation of a violin resembling an electric guitar) — hail from throughout France and will be on display at Huthmaker Violins in Duluth.

‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” said store co-owner Dixie Huthmaker, who has organized the rare exhibit since January. “They have sent some of the best of the old stuff. We will have violins that are 50 to 100 years old.”

Called La Fête des Violons, the event also will feature eight French luthiers, or string instrument makers, who will mingle and answer questions.

Other highlights include a French cocktail party Friday night. On Saturday, Duluth High School’s orchestra will play the French national anthem. And on Sunday, in what’s being called a “French Taste Test,” visitors can ask musicians to play any of the displayed instruments and then grade the quality of the sound.

Nationwide, Duluth is one of three host cities for the exhibit, the goal of which is to educate music enthusiasts and promote French instrument makers. After it leaves this Gwinnett County municipality of 28,000, the exhibit moves on to Wilmington, Del., and finishes up in Boston in mid-October.

Huthmaker said she has been rousing support for the exhibit for the past six years, writing proposals and meeting with French officials and instrument makers in cities such as Annecy, Toulouse, Le Mans and Mirecourt. To publicize it, she organized a seven-state mailout, sending 3,000 postcards to musicians, teachers and “anybody that knows anything about instruments,” she said.

City officials say they welcome the French with open arms.

“We are looking forward to having these people in our community,” Duluth City Administrator Phil McLemore said. “I guess you could say, ‘Vive la France!’”

If you go

What: La Fête des Violons, an exhibit featuring the work of some of the best luthiers and bow makers from France.

When: Sept. 11-20

Where: Huthmaker Violins, 3140 Main St., Duluth

Cost: Free