Recognized for their artistry, craftsmanship and performance, Bart Reiter Banjos were one of 26 select Builders included in the North American Banjo Builder Series. The series - filmed entirely on location by Craig Evans - will become a permanent part of the Smithsonian Folkways "Instrument Builder" Collection in late 2013. Enjoy the following short excerpt from Craig's interview with Bart in May, 2011, at the banjo workshop. Many thanks to Laura Boosinger for the beautiful banjo music. (Guest cameo from Mia "the destroyer.") Most of all, a huge thank you to Craig Evans for embarking on this labor of love -- to seek out and record for posterity the banjomaking community.
Bart Reiter from Craig Evans on Vimeo.
Where
it's at . . .
Bart Reiter at his
East Lansing, Michigan workshop.
Over 25 years working in the swamp and
still no indoor plumbing but great wildlife viewing.
Time clock/phone shrine and more "Bart Art"...
Random notes . . .
Early luthier days dulcimer polishing (1970's)
Hey Ted, let's rock! (1971)
Starving guitarmaker (1970's)
Elderly Instruments shop (left). Head repairman Bart (group photo, back row on right) unplugs his belt sander and picks up the bass with the Elderly Instruments "Pretty Shakey" in-house string band. (1978)
Bart Reiter and Mike Ramsey (Chanterelle banjos) pay homage to the Virginia burial site of 5-string banjo developer, Joel Walker Sweeney (circa 1810-1860).
1980's banjo stylin'.
Banjo apprentice daughter Eva crafting fine firewood (left). Fifteen years later, Bart celebrating with MSU mechanical engineering student, Eva (who was overheard stating, in the words of Dilbert, she would "rather staple a skunk to her forehead" than make banjos for a living.)
Bart cutting firewood 70's-style.
"Stihl" cutting firewood... Saw races, winter of '09
EZ Reiter with banjo
shipment ready and waiting for the friendly brown trucks.
The sun sets on Bart and cat, "Mia the Destroyer", at the end of another long but fun-filled day at the banjo shop.