The President Carter Legacy Collection

demetrios
demetrios Posts: 98,322
edited October 2020 in The Porch

https://worldtree.info/presidentcarterlegacycollection/



Thanks B! :)

During his time in the White House, the 39th President of the United States was a strong advocate for both environmental sustainability and music, hosting Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, and Cher, among many others. He famously said, “If you have a voice and an instrument, you are welcome in my home.”

This year, with COVID restrictions curtailing President Carter’s plans to celebrate his 96th birthday, a select group of musicians returned the favour with a truly unique birthday tribute. Unable to be welcomed into his home, they filmed themselves in their homes playing instruments made from the Empress (Paulownia) trees President Carter planted 15 years earlier.

Empress is the world’s fastest-growing hardwood; a tree that reaches maturity in 10-12 years and, remarkably, regrows from the stump up to 7 times after harvesting without replanting.

President Carter was an early proponent of this renewable timber resource.

In the fall of 2018, he contacted World Tree, the largest grower of Empress trees in North and Latin America. Together they decided to recruit independent luthiers (artisans skilled in the building of string instruments) to build a unique collection of instruments that would then be auctioned for charity.

To honor the man who first put solar panels on the roof of the White House, who pioneered the growing of Empress trees, and whose solar field powers half the town of Plains, Georgia, the collection has been named The President Carter Legacy Collection.

The President Carter Legacy Collection is comprised of: 4 acoustic guitars, 2 mandolins, 2 ukuleles, and 4 electric guitars. They were lovingly handcrafted by luthiers: Bryan Galloup (Big Rapids, MI), Jason Kostal (Phoenix, Arizona), Jake Maclay (Wheeling, WV), Bernie Funston (Sidney, British Columbia), Beau Hannam (Grand Junction, CO), T. Drew Heinonen (Grand Marais, MN), Silvan Küng (Relish Guitars, Switzerland), and Emerald Guitars in Ireland.

The instruments were then paired with a select group of artists to create a birthday tribute like no other. Chosen for their championing of environmental causes, Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Tom Dumont (No Doubt), Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (The Indigo Girls), Jake Shimabukuro (ukulele virtuoso), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Sierra Hull (bluegrass singer-songwriter, mandolinist), and Kristian Bush (Sugarland) filmed themselves each playing an instrument in the collection.

For his 96th birthday, President Carter got to hear what a renewable resource sounds like.

Happy birthday, President Carter. Thank you for your undying commitment to building a sustainable future and a better world for all of us.



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Comments

  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322

    At 95 years young, the former president and his wife were delighted and overjoyed with the presentation of this gift designed to honor this man that has dedicated his entire life to serving his community, his nation, and humanity as a whole. During his time in the White House, President Carter was a strong advocate for both environmental sustainability and music, hosting Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Cher, and many others — and famously said, "If you have a voice and an instrument, you are welcome in my home." The collaboration is bringing together exceptional guitar and ukulele makers (luthiers), music industry veterans (and military veterans) from all over the United States, along with renowned Swiss guitar makers, Relish Guitars! This unique partnership was created to help shine a light on environmental challenges as they relate to guitar craftsmanship and production, and how World Tree's Eco-Tree Program may be the solution.



  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322

    15 years ago, the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, planted 15 acres of Empree (Paulownia) trees on his farm in Georgia.🌳

    He contacted @worldtree_ecotree to harvest the lumber from his matured trees. It was there that the President Carter Legacy Collection was born... A series of 12 musical instruments utilizing his very own lumber. Sustainably designed instruments including guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins were created by expert luthiers to experiment with a renewable timber resource in an industry where tonewoods are becoming rare.

    Luthiers @t.drewheinonen, @beauhannamguitars, @kostalguitars, @hiveukuleles, @funstonguitars, @relishguitars, and @emeraldguitars crafted beautiful instruments for the Collection, will be shown in museums, and auctioned in the New Year.🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

    Recently the instruments were played by musicians in a wonderful 96th birthday tribute for President Carter💚

    Link in bio to find out more about the #presidentcarterlegacycollection ⬆️

    #ukulele #guitar #guitarmaking #guitarmaker #luthier #woodworking #craftmanship #whatsonyourbench #design #functionalart #boutiqueguitars #collector #fingerstyleguitar #guitarporn #jimmycarter #president #honor #paulownia #worldtree #impactinvesting #investors #ecotimber #timber #sustainability #pclc #empress #trees


  • Tristelune
    Tristelune Posts: 318
    Made my day, thanks for sharing!
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322

    President Carter Legacy Collection Ukulele Played by Eddie Vedder








    Donated by: World Tree

    Bid to win this beautiful tenor ukulele from The President Carter Legacy Collection, played by Pearl Jam frontman, Eddie Vedder, for President Carter's 96th birthday. It comes with a hard case and certificate of authenticity signed by President Carter. The ukulele is also signed by Eddie Vedder. 

    Handcrafted by Colorado-based luthier Beau Hannam from Empress (Paulownia) wood grown on President Carter's farm in Plains, Georgia, and with a spruce top, is one of only two ukuleles in The President Carter Legacy Collection. 

    As the first person to play the instrument, Eddie Vedder was so impressed with the quality of the sound, he wrote a note to luthier, Beau Hannam, stating:

    "Just wanted to say how much I appreciated playing this incredible uke. It was obviously made with deep care and fine artistry. You could feel it in the hands and hear it in the tone, blend, and balance. And the design, impeccable.” - Eddie Vedder

    The President Carter Legacy Collection of 8 stringed instruments, made from the trees grown on President Carter’s farm, was created to honor the 39th President of the United States’ ongoing commitment to building a sustainable future. Not only was he the first man to put solar panels on the roof of the White House, he pioneered the farming of a non-invasive variety of Paulownia in the United States. Paulownia is one of the world’s fastest growing hardwoods; a tree that reaches maturity in as little as 10 years and regrows from the stump multiple times without replanting, making it a truly renewable resource. As the stringed instrument industry faces increasing shortages of traditional tonewoods, farmed Paulownia is primed to become a viable alternative tonewood in the future. President Carter remarked, when presented with the completed collection:

    “It is my hope that these instruments bring happiness to all who both play them and hear them and that they inspire us all to pursue a more sustainable future.” Jimmy Carter.

    In this clip, President Carter gets to hear, for the first time, what a renewable resource sounds like. The collection received the Presidential Seal of Approval.  

    Proceeds from the auction will benefit two charities very close to President Carter’s heart: Farm Aid, founded by his long-time friend Willie Nelson, which advocates for fair farm policies that promote resiliency, sustainability, equity, and diversity across our food system, and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Albany, an organization that enables young people (especially those who need it most) to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.


    Body Shape: Tenor ukulele

    Scale length: 17”

    Top: Sitka Spruce 

    Back/Sides: Paulownia grown by President Carter

    Rosette: Half Herringbone 

    Bindings: Rocklite

    Purflings: Black – maple - black

    Bridge: Ebony

    Neck: Paulownia grown by President Carter

    Fingerboard: Rocklite 

    Position Markers: Mother of Pearl

    Headstock: Rocklite

    Tuners: Waverly Nickle Tuners with Ebony Buttons

    Nut: Polished Bone

    Saddle: Tusq

    Fretwire: 0.080” Nickel-Silver

    Finish: Nitro Gloss Sunburst

    Additional Lot
    Details
    • Includes a certificate of authenticity signed by President Carter, and from Farm Aid.
    • Each certificate will have its own number (1-8) specific to the guitar purchased. 
    • Ukulele is in new condition but was played by Eddie Vedder at President Carter's 96th birthday. 
    • Ukulele will come in a hard case. 
    Lot #2269606
    Rules & Regulations
    • In condition as donated.
    • Cannot be returned or exchanged.
    • Additional shipping charges may apply based upon the location of the winner.
    About
    the Charity
    Lot page thumb
    Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany - Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Unit
    To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
    Explore the full auction
    Lot page thumb
    President Carter Legacy Collection
    Explore the full auction


  • darwinstheory
    darwinstheory LaPorte, IN Posts: 7,600
    That is one sweet looking uke!
    "A smart monkey doesn't monkey around with another monkey's monkey" - Darwin's Theory
  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,619
    Very cool. Thanks for sharing. 
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • mfc2006
    mfc2006 HTOWN Posts: 37,491
    Very cool
    I LOVE MUSIC.
    www.cluthelee.com
    www.cluthe.com
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    JimmyV said:
    Very cool. Thanks for sharing. 

    No problemo! 

    Current bid $5,250.
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    Hopefully they will add Ed's video up over @ https://www.worldtree.eco/president-carter-legacy-collection/ .

  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    Bump!
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322

  • darwinstheory
    darwinstheory LaPorte, IN Posts: 7,600
    It was mine...for 2 or 3 days.  ;) Too rich for my blood for sure.
    "A smart monkey doesn't monkey around with another monkey's monkey" - Darwin's Theory
  • bigbiggzy
    bigbiggzy Posts: 846
    Purdy….
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    bigbiggzy said:
    Purdy….

    Indeed!
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    20 hours left. Current bid $6,750.
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    3 hours left. Current bid $13,250!!!
  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    It's @ $20,250 right now!

  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    Ended @ $21,250!

  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322

  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 98,322
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ADT0YY7pMU

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