Musician, storyteller, and avid gardener William Ritter will give a music and humor-filled presentation on the heirloom seeds and old songs he has collected first-hand in North Carolina and beyond. In addition, William will bring seeds to share, and give a demonstration on the finer points of saving seeds.
About the Speaker
William is a native of Bakersville, NC, and an alum of Western Carolina University. He graduated with a degree in Technical Theatre, but spent most of his time in school studying the musical folk traditions of Western North Carolina. Recently, William received his MA in Appalachian Culture and Music from Appalachian State University. William plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, and other "string-ed things." He is particularly interested in old apple trees and mountain humor--ever eager to swap lies, half-truths, jokes, and seeds. William's parents always kept a big garden, and (whether he liked it or not) he had the opportunity to learn the finer points of gardening from his father Richard. Over the past few years, William has collected a freezer-full of old timey family seeds that have been passed down in Appalachia and elsewhere for generations.
Thursday Art and Culture (TAC) Talks bring collegiate level lectures to your museum. Featuring scholars from around the country, the lectures are selected to provide supplemental information on our current exhibits, or highlight the history and heritage of the mountains.
Beginning at 6 pm these events have an hour-long lecture with an audience question and answer session at the end. Unless otherwise posted, all TAC talks are free for members and $5 for non-members.