individual offers antique piano, accordions

If anyone is interested in the following donation offer of a piano or accordions, please communicate directly with Ms. Palma at e-mail address or phone number at the bottom of the post.

From Ms. Rosemarie Palma:

I am the owner of a 135 year old upright piano by Decker and Sons, and also have two antique accordions made in Italy, with original cases.

I would like to donate these to a museum in the North Carolina Area or whereever you think would best utilized.

The piano is in excellent condition and so are the accordions. I do not want them destroyed; they have been in my family for a long time, but I can no longer house them. My family is growing and our space is limited.

Please forward this to anyone that you think would benefit from these instruments.

Thank you, Rosemarie Palma, High Point, NC 27265 - Phone: 336-307-2702 - E-mail: hiya2007@aol.com

NC Museum Week is May 18-24, 2008

As was the case last year, the North Carolina Museums Council has worked with Governor Mike Easley to have a week in May declared ‘MUSEUM WEEK.’

In 2008, the week runs from May 18-24.

N.C. MUSEUM WEEK is a perfect opportunity for every museum in North Carolina to promote the impact we have on our respective communities. Consider distributing a press release and writing to your government representatives extolling the virtues of your museum. Then encourage your members and volunteers to write similar letters describing how much your museum means to them.

To assist you in this endeavor, NCMC has just posted a copy of the Governor’s proclamation and a sample letter with talking points created by NCMC President Troy Burton on the NCMC website. To view the information, click here and look for the news item in the third (right-hand) column, or go directly to the NC Museum Week page. Either way, we hope you join us in using Museum Week to let our constituencies know how important and meaningful our work is throughout the year – and its positive impact on the economy and lifestyle of North Carolina.

1). Mint Museum of Art: Beginning May 17th, the Mint Museum of Art will originate a major traveling exhibition of more than 100 rare and unique works by British-born artist and writer Clare Leighton. This collection of Leighton’s work, assembled and donated to the Museum by Charlotte resident Gabby Pratt, is one of the largest in the country and includes more than 180 of the artist’s finely-detailed engravings, drawings and watercolors, spanning Leighton’s career from 1923 to 1965.

2). Bellamy Mansion Museum presents “Letters and Diaries: Patriotism and Hope” as part of Confederate History Day, May 24th. Learn about the lives of women during the War Between the States though their letters and diaries. Vignettes throughout the house will be presented by members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter Number 3. Re-enactors will be dressed in fashions of the 1860s, reading from memoirs and correspondence of the time. This will be part of the regular tours of the house from 1 to 4 p.m.

3). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens has again achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. Tryon Palace was initially accredited in 1989. All museums must undergo a re-accreditation review at least every ten years to maintain accredited status.

4). The Cape Fear Museum presents “Community Conversation: Colonial Experiences Everyday Goods and the American Revolution” on Tuesday, May 13, 6:30 p.m. What was the connection between everyday household goods and political resistance on the Eve of Independence? Timothy Breen, director of the Center for Historical Studies at Northwestern University, will explain how everyday goods were linked to the mobilization of ordinary Americans through boycotts of the consumer marketplace.

5). Old Salem Museums & Gardens will host "From Fleece to Felt," a Spring Festival where sheep will be the highlight on Saturday, May 24. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will include washing and scouring wool, home dyeing, spinning and carding wool, and much more. Join Old Salem for a day of fun for the whole family.

6). The North Carolina Museum of History presents “Three Centuries of American Military History” on Monday, May 26 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Celebrate Memorial Day in all-American style. See patriotic displays and enjoy activities on the grounds of the State Capitol. Then visit the museum to view the exhibits “A Call to Arms, Everybody’s War: North Carolina and World War II” and “A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans.”

7). The Greensboro Children’s Museum will kick off plans for its new Edible Gardens and Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE) with a spring fundraiser, “Rock the Garden.” The event will take place Saturday, May 17, 2008, from 7-11 p.m. at the Greensboro Children’s Museum. This adults-only party will feature Mexican food, retro dance music by The Party Nuts, and a live and silent auction of hand-painted garden furniture, custom-built sandboxes and other garden-related items.

8). Port Discover: Preschoolers will explore the wonders of the solar system during Port Discover’s Toddler Time, “Solar System Adventure,” set for Thursday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. Children will learn about the planets and the sun and create their own solar system model. A fee of $5 per family and reservations are required. Program is for 3 – 5 year-olds and parents or guardians must accompany the child.

9). North Carolina Humanities Council: The N.C. Humanities Council is bringing Museum on Main Street, an exciting traveling Smithsonian exhibit, to six N.C. museums in 2010. “New Harmonies: American Roots Music” offers opportunities for communities to collect and celebrate their music traditions. The exhibit may inspire concerts and sing-a-longs, radio programs featuring music and interviews with musicians, film and reading discussion programs, and even music writing contests. The exhibit is comprised of eight free-standing structures with audio and interactive components, banners and instruments and artifacts mounted in cases, required at least 1,000 sq. feet of display space with an eight foot ceiling. A complete description of the exhibit is on the website listed above. Darrell Stover, the NC Statewide MoMS Coordinator is available for questions: dstover@nchumanities.org

1). The Museum of the Albemarle presents “Life on an Albemarle Colonial Homestead” on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. See what life was like for the Albemarle’s first settlers as re-enactors and interpreters demonstrate a pre-home encampment complete with cooking, clothing, and more. Try your hand at candle dipping and butter making and even try on clothing of the colonial period. Learn about the different crops and animals that early settlers would have raised and discover what it took to become a successful colonial farmer in the Albemarle region.

2). The Cape Fear Museum presents “OCEAN Perspectives: Running the Blockade” on Tuesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m. What was the importance of the Union blockade and blockade running during the Civil War? Chris Fonvielle, historian and UNC Wilmington assistant professor, will discuss President Abraham Lincoln’s strategy and implementation of the naval blockade, the Confederacy’s response, the ensuing maritime trade between the South and Europe (especially Great Britain), and effects of the blockade. Special attention will be paid to blockade running at Wilmington, the lifeline of the Confederacy between 1863 and 1865.

3). The Newbold-White House: Perquimans County native and local historian Charlie Skinner will give a brief discussion on the Town of Hertford, and surrounding Albemarle areas during the Civil War, specifically with reference to conditions here on the home front from 1860-1865. Mr. Skinner will give this discussion on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 pm inside the Visitors Center of The Newbold-White House in Hertford. This education series is sponsored by the Perquimans County Restoration Association and is one of the many free community programs they offer.

4). Greensboro Historical Museum: Eight students from UNC-Greensboro’s public history program are making sure that the stories of Greensboro’s seniors get heard. This spring the students conducted 25 interviews with seniors at the Greensboro Senior Center. The stories they gathered are the centerpieces of a new exhibition at the Greensboro Historical Museum: “Hear’s My Story: Senior Voices in Greensboro” and an accompanying publication. The exhibit, showcasing photographs, quotations, and audio excerpts, will be on display at the museum from May 6 through August 31. A free public program featuring the seniors and the students will celebrate the exhibit opening on Tuesday, May 6 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.

5). The High Point Museum presents “Caring for Your Treasures” on Thursday, May 8, 6:30-8:30 pm. Come learn how to care for your family treasures, preserving them for generations to come. Jennifer Burns, Curator of Collections, will lead you through the basics of storage. Recording the stories associated with the objects also will be discussed. Participants will gain hands-on practice in storing and cleaning their objects. Each participant will receive take-home pamphlets and catalogs of products to assist them in their preservation projects. $7 Members; $12 Non-members

6). Reynolda House Museum of American Art founding president Barbara Babcock Millhouse will discuss her new book, “American Wilderness: The Story of the Hudson River School of Painting,” on Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at Reynolda House. Millhouse will be joined by Wake Forest University Charlotte C. Weber Professor of Art David Lubin. A book-signing and reception will follow their conversation. Admission is $8, $5 for members and students.

7). Asheville Art Museum: ”Let It Pour: Contemporary Craft Pitchers from the James Goode Collection” opens to the public Friday, May 2 and an opening reception for the exhibition will be held Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m. at the Asheville Art Museum. This reception will also serve as the Museum’s annual public meeting. This event is free and open to the public.

Events from around the state:

1). The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh has partnered with Burt's Bees and the City of Raleigh for “Planet Earth Celebration 2008,” one of the largest and most exciting educational festivals focused on sustainability. The free event on April 19th begins at 11 a.m. and runs through 7 p.m. both inside the Museum and outdoors along our plaza and the State Capitol grounds.

2). Asheville Art Museum: During a guided tour on Friday, April 25 at 12:00 p.m., Asheville Art Museum Adult Programs Manager Nancy Sokolove will lead a discussion designed to help visitors understand the artists’ philosophies and motives on view in the exhibition “Time is of the Essence: Contemporary Landscape Art.”

3). SciWorks: Join Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning documentary film maker Larry Lansburgh for this compelling presentation in SciWorks Auditorium on April 28th at 7:00 pm. This is a FREE presentation but reservations are required – 714-7110 or dgentry@sciworks.org. Using sequences from his documentary film "Dream People of the Amazon," Larry's presentation focuses on the Achuar, indigenous people who live in a part of the Amazon rain forest that has hardly changed in a thousand years.

4). The Hickory Museum of Art is pleased to announce a presentation by Ann Oppenhimer of the Folk Art Society of America, publisher of the “Folk Art Messenger.” Oppenhimer will be at the Hickory Museum of Art on Saturday, May 3rd to give a talk about Howard Finster, a renowned folk artist who passed away in 2001. The speaker, who knew Finster personally, will talk about the art and life of this passionate creator. The presentation is free and open to the public. Advance registration is appreciated but not required. For those who do register in advance an optional box lunch is available for $8.00.

5). Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum: David M. Sokol, art history professor emeritus and director of museum studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will present a lecture titled “Otto Neumann and the Modern German Tradition of Art and Literature” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in Room 130 of the Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University. Sokol’s lecture will trace Neumann’s artistic development and concentration on the human figure. The lecture is free and open to the public.

6). The Greensboro Children’s Museum is celebrating Earth Day 2008 in a number of fun ways for children and families. We have made the theme of our new Community Center exhibit “It’s Easy Being Green!” for the whole month of April, which promotes Earth friendly changes families can do in their lives to help go green and be more environmentally responsible. Specifically for Earth Day, we have planned a planet-pleasing day of fun that includes special stories, a puppet show (3:00 pm) and a creative art workshop called Trash Treasures (3:30 pm). In the workshop on April 22nd, children will use what some may consider trash to create unique and art and even their own puppets!

7). The High Point Museum you to ”Furniture, What’s Up: Monthly discussions on the furniture business in North Carolina.” The third in this series will be held Tuesday, April 22 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the String & Splinter, 305 W. High St. High Point. This month’s topic is “Meet the Boss: Contemporary Styles in Managing North Carolina’s Furniture Companies.” This event is free and open to the public. It is one of the programs that is leading up to our furniture exhibit which will open May 2009.

Events from around the state:

1). Asheville Art Museum: Japanese-American avant-garde modern dancers Eiko & Koma will perform their original choreography “Mourning” at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 12 at Lipinsky Auditorium on the campus of UNC-Asheville. Eiko & Koma are the recipients of many awards and honors including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship.

2). Reynolda House Museum of American Art presents a poetry reading by W.S. Merwin, one of the most widely read poets in America, on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. He is the winner of the 1970 Pulitzer Prize along with many more awards. The reading is part of the Kenan Writers’ Encounters, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and Wake Forest University’s Dillon Johnston Writers Reading Series. For further information and to reserve seats, please call 336-758-5150. Admission is free; a cash bar reception follows.

3). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will hold its Planet Earth Celebration on Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Burt's Bees presents a greatly expanded Earth Day celebration. The event will feature live bands including Donald "The Junkman" Knaack, kids’ activities from the Scrap Exchange and Marbles Museum, the NC Sustainable Building Design Competition and much more! Enjoy a presentation by Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods;" visit Burt’s Bees mobile tour experience and warehouse gift sale; listen to speakers from Al Gore’s Climate Registry; shop for goods and services at the Green Bazaar and Boutique. For more information, contact Steve Popson, 919.733.7450 x379. Part of Earth Day Raleigh 2008.

4). The Kings Mountain Historical Museum would like to invite you to spend a special evening with John Connor, local geologist, on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Mr. Connor will speak on “The History of Mining in the Kings Mountain Area.” After his presentation there will be time for “ROCK ID.” If you have an interesting example and you want to know what it is, bring it along.

5). The North Carolina Transportation Museum will host their annual Rail Days Festival on April 26 & 27, 2008. The event runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

6). Western Carolina University will present the opera “The Barber of Seville,” produced by the Asheville Lyric Opera, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in the main performance hall of the Fine and Performing Arts Center on Western’s campus. For more information, contact the Fine and Performing Arts Center box office at (828) 227-2479 or visit http://wcutheatre.ticketsxchange.com.

7). Duke Homestead State Historic Site: On Sunday, April 20, 2008, from 2 to 4 p.m. costumed staff and volunteers will interpret a 19th century church revival on the steps of the original 1852 farmhouse of tobacco farmer and businessman Washington Duke. After a service featuring a circuit-riding preacher on horseback, a traditional southern Sunday dinner will be available to visitors who provide a small donation of their choice, and local musicians will perform live music.

8). High Point Museum: Each month, the Museum presents “Pastimes in the Park”, an educational series that explores aspects of the daily lives of early European settlers to the greater High Point area. These programs, sponsored in part by the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation, feature demonstrations and hands-on activities representing tasks carried out in the late 18th and the early 19th centuries. Candle wicking will be held April 12 from 10 am to 4 pm and April 13 from 1 pm to 4 pm in the Historical Park.

9). Port Discover: Find out how it is “Easy to Be Green,” on Saturday, April 19. Join the Port Discover Junior Volunteers for a day of hands-on-activities. What can you make out of dryer lint? Can you make a rocket out of recyclables? What is the best way to compost? Try your hand at making plant pots out of newspaper. With Port Discover’s Junior Volunteers as your guides, play Green games, take Earth Day quizzes, and learn how it’s “Easy to be Green.” “Easy to be Green” programs are ongoing from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. No reservations needed.

Events from around the state:

1). The Ackland Art Museum presents an exhibition of new works by the graduating class of Master of Fine Arts students at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "New Currents in Contemporary Art" (April 12 - May 11, 2008) includes paintings, sculpture, installation, video, and color photography by emerging artists noted for their fresh perceptions of contemporary life, innovative use of media and techniques, and attention to craftsmanship.

2). Greensboro Children's Museum : Stop by our Community Center on Friday, April 11th (3-8pm) & Saturday, April 19th (10-3pm) to meet local artist Virginia Kassay. Virginia has an 8-year old daughter, Emily, who is autistic. Through her paintings, Virginia has found a special way to communicate with Emily. She will be exhibiting some of her paintings, as well as working on an original piece.

3). N.C. Museum of History presents "Cherokee Pottery: People of One Fire" from April 11-July 27, 2008. Presenting artifacts from 4,500 years ago to the present, "Cherokee Pottery" documents continuity and change in the Cherokee pottery tradition. The exhibit is a collaboration among the Cherokee Heritage Center in Oklahoma and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Cherokee Potters Guild, and Research Laboratories of Archaeology at UNC-Chapel Hill and Western Carolina University in North Carolina. "Cherokee Pottery" showcases past and present North Carolina potters and their efforts to connect with and assist the Western Band of Cherokee Indians in the revitalization of traditional pottery methods.

4). President James K. Polk State Historic Site: Historian Walter Borneman author of "Polk: The Man who Transformed the Presidency and America," will discuss his book on Thursday, April 10 at the site in Pineville. From 7-8 p.m., Borneman will trace the 11th president's life and career, emphasizing how he became a decisive statesman whose near doubling of America's boundaries and broadening of executive powers redefined the country, as well as its highest office. Afterward, the author will sign copies of "Polk." This public program is free though pre-registration is required by April 1. It is a N.C. Department of Cultural Resources "Telling Our Stories" event.

5). Hickory Museum of Art presents Gallery Talk, Thursday, April 17, 6 - 7:30 PM, at the Hickory Museum of Art's Shuford Gallery. Doug Marlette's KUDZU comic strip wrestled joyfully with what it means to be Southern today. Join curator Dr. Tom Hanchett in an exploration of Marlette's work as featured in "Comic Stripped: A Revealing Look at Southern Stereotypes in Cartoons" - an exhibition on display at Charlotte's Levine Museum of the New South through May 25. Presented in conjunction with HMA's exhibition "Doug Marlette: His Art and His Words - From 'Kudzu' to 'The Bridge.'"