News and photos from the recently-completed NCMC Annual Meeting in Fayetteville, including the winners of the annual Professional and Multi-Media Awards, can be found on the NCMC web site at http://www.ncmuseums.org/.

Events from around the state, compiled by Jeff Bockert, NCMC Public Relations Chair:

1). The Museum of the Albemarle: Rose Leahr Bowen, a New York-based opera singer and recitalist, will appear in a benefit concert, entitled "Opera on the Pasquotank," at the Museum of the Albemarle. The concert, sponsored by The Guild of Museum Friends, will be held on Saturday, April 19, at 7:00 pm in the Museum of the Albemarle’s Gaither Auditorium. A Champagne reception with the artist will immediately follow the performance.

2). The Ackland Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill presents "The Pursuit of Learning: Images of Study, Scholarship, and Education," on display in the Museum's upstairs gallery from March 5 – May 18, 2008. Featuring artists who have turned their eyes to the human effort to acquire wisdom, "The Pursuit of Learning" covers a wide stylistic range and features works by Albrecht Dürer, Pieter Bruegel, Francisco Goya, Winslow Homer, and Diego Rivera, among others.

3). The Kings Mountain Historical Museum’s current exhibit is "Minerals and Gems of North Carolina." The exhibit will run through April 26, 2008. Exhibited are private collections of minerals and gems from local "rockhounds" as well as from the National Park Service. Also featured is a wonderful display on mica mining from Kings Mountain Mining, Inc. Don't forget to visit our Gift Shop and check out our new web site.

4). The Greensboro Historical Museum presents "Evolution of a City: Greensboro, North Carolina" on March 16th from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. See the face of Greensboro’s through the lens of neighborhood development – who came to live where and why, including information about the economic, racial, ethnic, and other reasons Greensboro grew as she did.

5). Cape Fear Museum of History and Science on Saturday, March 29 presents at the Learning Center: "Under the Sea: What is an aquanaut?" Discover the answer to this question and more as you explore ocean science. Learn why the ocean is salty and rivers are not. Play a fun shell match game and make your own sand dollar. Find out why starfish are not fish at all. Use magnification tools to examine sea life up close. Appropriate for children ages 5 to 10. Parental participation is required.

6). The GREGG Museum of Art & Design at NC State University is pleased to present "Pamela and Vernon Owens: Potters of Jugtown" from March 27 – July 6, 2008. A reception will take place on Thursday, March 27, from 6 – 8 pm. This exhibition will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pam and Vernon Owens’ ownership of the Jugtown Pottery.

7). Reynolda House Museum of American Art presents a gallery talk by Heather Williams, quilt artist and professor at UNC - Chapel Hill, on the symbols and meanings of African American quilts. The gallery talk will be held on Tuesday, April 1 from 5: 30 to 6:30 pm. A cash bar reception follows the talk. For information please call 336-758-5150; cost is $5.

8). The Arts Council of Henderson County announces the opening of "The Art of Our Children," an exhibition that features the work of local elementary-aged students. The opening night reception takes place Friday, March 14th, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, and is free and open to the public.

9). The Bellamy Mansion Museum presents "African American History Days" on March 15 from 10 am to 1:30 pm. Come and experience the Bellamy Mansion with a focus on 19th century African American History of the area. The Bellamy household included not only the eleven Bellamy family members, but also nine enslaved African Americans who lived on the site and worked throughout the house. Learn about their lives as well as those of the free blacks and hired-out slave artisans who built this grand house, the carriage house, and slave quarters.

10). Cameron Art Museum: "Robert Delford Brown: Meat, Maps and Militant Metaphysics" opens at the Cameron Art Museum on March 28 and remains on view through August 3, 2008. This is the artist’s first solo museum exhibition.

11). Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest University: In conjunction with the MOA’s current exhibit "Ties that Bind: Wedding Customs from around the World," Dr. Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz will present "Intercultural Weddings: Communicating Cultural Identities through Ritual" at 7:30 pm on April 3rd at the Museum. She will discuss what occurs when the signs and codes of different cultures come into contact and influence each other, using intercultural weddings as her focus.

12). Hickory Museum of Art: The works of nationally-acclaimed editorial cartoonist, author and North Carolina native Doug Marlette will be featured at Hickory Museum of Art, March 20 through September 14 in an exhibition sponsored by Corning Cable Systems. The exhibit emphasizes Marlette’s connections to the South and to his novel The Bridge, this year’s book selection for The Big Read, the community-wide reading and study of one book.

13). Asheville Art Museum: Stephen Fletcher, UNC-Chapel Hill North Carolina Collection photo archivist, will showcase several previously unseen images by historic Asheville photographer Nace Brock during his discussion about the artist's work at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 14 at the Asheville Art Museum.