CONWAY — Set sail for the Field Memorial Library on Saturday, July 16, to learn nautical tales and sing along to historical sea shanties.
In “Sea Songs and Stories: From Shore to Deep Water,” the Field Memorial Library invites Davis Bates — a Shelburne Falls-based storyteller with 40 years of experience in local oral history and folk arts projects — to teach people ghost ballads, sea shanties and other folk tales. The event is free thanks to Cultural Council funding, and will be held at the library, located at 1 Elm St., at 2 p.m.
“We’re talking about a unique time in history,” commented Library Director David Whittier. “It’s gonna be interesting.”
Whittier said people can expect to hear some Native American stories and other tales in between singing sessions, which will be performed by Bates, Whittier and the Library Family String Band.
“I play the fiddle and it just happens that I had learned some sea shanties for the memorial service of my brother-in-law, who was a big sailor,” Whittier said, adding that he has always felt a connection to the sea because he is from the coast of Maine. “When I saw Davis’ proposal, I thought, ‘Oh wow, that would be great, I can accompany him on a couple of tunes.’”
Additionally, Whittier and library staff are setting up maritime and sailing displays to enhance the experience. Families are encouraged to attend and sing along with Bates, while learning about history and the power of the ocean.
“We’re sort of going all out,” Whittier said. “We’re trying to make it fun … and add to (families’) summer plans without having to travel.”
“Sea Songs and Stories: From Shore to Deep Water” is the first of back-to-back weekends of programming for the Field Memorial Library, which will celebrate its 121st birthday on July 23.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.