This week, two foxes have been busily trotting back and forth by the backdoor of the BRC workshop each morning. Neighbors report that the dog (or tod,  male) and vixen (female) have a brood of 9 newborn kits to feed. The collective noun for a group of foxes is: a skulk, a leash, or a troop. Might there be a phrase for a plurality of 5-stringers? Options could include: a melee of banjars, an opus of open backs, a posse of 5 stringers, or a holler of banjos.

Pictured is a recent collection of 4 BRC banjos which some pundits might describe as: 3 banjos too many.

The springtime community art show had “Icon” as its vexing theme, so only one of the above pictured banjos was submitted to the juried contest. The BRC`s entry “St. Paddy`s Partita” was centrally stationed in the exhibit hall among a gallery of 80 diverse works displaying eclectic iconography. At the award ceremony during the gala opening reception, the banjo garnered a ribbon to the pleasant surprise of all assembled.

While curious patrons closely study the `Partita` in the foreground, other visitors in the background examine the “Modern Worship” oil and cold wax painting by the BRC founder`s wife. The `Partita` was purchased by a women who reported that it was the third art show 5-stringer that she had acquired, as she wanted a BRC banjo for each one of her children. Three banjos too many?                                                                                   

The Celtic-themed fretboard presented alternating pagan and Christian symbols, and the peg head iconically alluded to the snakes that were driven from Ireland by St. Patrick.  If a cluster of serpents were to be called a knot, on the green isle they would likely be a called a not.

Last weekend was a convergence of fact versus fake. Our university town was flooded with visitors attending the annual True/False Film Festival, and the Columbia Art League simultaneously presented its “Truth?” exhibition. Fearlessly entering the fray of this communal examination of reality, the intrepid BRC founder submitted his “Cadmus` Dragon” banjo to the juried art show. Amidst 80 works accepted in the competition, his 5-stringer was serendipitously hung in the gallery adjacent to his wife’s “Climate Change” oil painting as pictured below.

In Greek mythology, Cadmus was a dragon slayer who harvested the teeth of these fire-breathing monsters to plant them, and from these seedlings grew fierce warriors. So, what’s not to believe about this story?

Seeking respite from the study of fact versus fiction, local Bluegrass musicians clustered together at a nearby yogurt shop to jam on the eve of what proved to be a surprisingly bitter late winter storm that fell upon the Show-Me state with icy snow and sub zero temperatures- a grim realty check for all.

Not easily apparent in the group photo, the BRC founder is holding a small birthday cake made of a brownie festooned with Gummi worm candy which was warmly presented to him in a plastic cup by his fellow musicians. Truth be told, he has played the banjo now for 59 years and should be a better picker than he is- after all this time.