The local community art league opened its 2019 exhibition season with a competitive show entitled “Gluttony” as its theme. How does a banjo builder address this visceral subject when the available canvas is a 2 x 26 inch fretboard and peg head? Decades ago when the BRC founder and spouse lived in the Sunshine State, backwoods Floridian restauranteurs would speak fondly of “cooter” soup. A nickname for turtle, these dishes were a delicacy in colonial times, and canned terrapin meat for stew or soup is still available online for those who have cultivated a palate for this historical entree.
Traditional cookbooks in the southeastern US still offer such recipes for the adventurous chef. Accordingly, the BRC workshop fashioned a banjo entitled “Soup de Jour” emblazoned with mother of pearl cooters on the peg head which were presumably destined for the serving dish.
The fretboard featured terrapins swimming to and fro- perhaps hoping to evade the stewpot?
A 16 inch snowfall postponed the exhibit`s opening reception, and the rescheduled gala was cancelled because of a subsequent wind-whipped winter storm with bitter temperatures. By happenstance, the gallery had its annual fund-raising “Let Them Eat Art” food fest showcasing local chefs at the end of the month. What overly indulgent event could serve more ideally as an occasion for the “Gluttony” exhibits`s overdue awards ceremony? Eager patrons, albeit weary of winter, hungrily gathered at the festive culinary benefit and puzzled over the unlikely 5-string entry that was stationed among watercolor and oil paintings depicting a gustatory array of edibles. Turtle soup was not among the gourmet cuisine offered to the guests.
With his son on bass, the BRC founder avoided the risk of overindulgence on the banjo by setting down his 5 stringer and playing a rollicking harmonica tune on the blues harp at a recent Farmer`s Market. Tips were donated to the Children’s Hospital.
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