If you’re like me, you get so caught up in the exuberance and rhythm of the music that you don’t give the instruments from which the sound emanates a second thought.

But, luthiery—the construction, repair and restoration of string instruments—is essential to the music, and an art in itself. Missouri, as an exhibit now on display through November at the Library Center points out, has a rich history of musical styles and customs, musicians and the luthiery skills that supported them.

The museum-quality display, sponsored by the Republic Arts Council, produced by ExhibitsUSA, a national program of the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and funded by the Missouri Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, is eight panels of 24 photographs by Rita Reed plus several clear cases of the fiddles, dulcimers, violas and mandolins made by six contemporary Missouri luthiers, all accomplished musicians themselves, passionate about their music and their work of building stringed instruments.

Two luthiers in the exhibit are from this area: John Wynn from Ozark and Don Graves from Lebanon. Wynn works from a converted red barn, teaches students to build mandolins and leads a band, the South Wynns, with his wife, sons and granddaughter.

Graves, who will display, discuss and play his hand-crafted walking-cane dulcimer, at a free program at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday [November 8] at the Republic Branch Library, learned to hand carve the instrument from his father, Bill. For more than 50 years, Graves and his sisters, Daisy and Vivian, performed old-time ballads and gospel tunes with their father until he died six years ago.

The exhibit, entitled “Work is Art and Art is Work: The Art of Hand-crafted Instruments,” was adapted from a business card distributed by the late Cope Ashlock, a luthier who once operated The Violin Shop in downtown Columbia.

You can, of course, still buy mass-produced string instruments, but luthiery remains a living art form in Missouri. As Wynn says, “I make every part and decorative feature of my mandolins from beginning to end. I take pride in the quality of my work.” And that’s something you can’t always buy in a store.

Jeanne C. Duffey, community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, can be reached at jeanned@thelibrary.org.