ncmuseums

An occasional list of exhibits, programs, and events at North Carolina museums. Sponsored by the North Carolina Museums Council.

Friday, May 30, 2008

1). The Fine Art Museum of Western Carolina University: The Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University will exhibit a portfolio of regional photographs by Ken Abbott that it recently acquired as part of its permanent collection. “Hickory Nut Gap Farm Portfolio: Photographs by Ken Abbott” will run from Tuesday, June 3, to Saturday, June 28, at the museum, in WCU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center. The exhibit is free and open to the public, with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 5. (The reception also is for a concurrent exhibit featuring the fine furniture of three regional artists.)

2). Reynolda House Museum of American Art: Sunday, June 8, 2008, 2 – 4 p.m. – “Beat the Heat Tour.” Reynolda House Museum of American Art takes visitors behind-the-scenes to rooms normally closed to the public. This “Beat the Heat Tour” will feature kitchens, laundry and mechanical rooms, ice-block air conditioning rooms, the squash court, and areas below the swimming pool. Visitors will even climb to the former roof garden for views across the lawns. The tour is on Sunday, June 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. For information, please call 336.758.5150. Cost is $12, $10 for members and students.

3). Cape Fear Museum presents “Summer Shorts: Pirates Ahoy!” beginning Tuesday, June 10. Uncover the secrets of pirates who once lurked along Cape Fear waters. Examine artifacts from local shipwrecks, discover the meaning of pirate symbols and design your own pirate emblem and flag to take home. “Summer Shorts” are hands-on adventures for groups of 10 or more children and their adult chaperones. Appropriate for children ages 5 - 14, these 60-minute programs are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 910.798.4362.

4). Greensboro Children’s Museum will be celebrating its 9th birthday on Saturday, May 31st, 2008 from 10 am to 3 pm. In honor of this milestone, we are inviting you to the Museum’s party: “Luau Wow!” There will be festive luau and birthday party music, special craft activities, face painters, limbo, a water balloon toss, a parade, food and a special birthday cake to celebrate!

5). The Mint Museum of Craft & Design: Showcasing the work of six young North Carolina studio craft artists, “Possibilities: Rising Stars of Contemporary Craft in North Carolina,” running from June 7 – November 30, 2008, illustrates the vitality and diversity present among a new generation of artists. The exhibition features works by Vivian Beer (metal), Devin Burgess (glass), Cristina Cordóva (ceramics), Anne Lemanski (paper), Brent Skidmore (furniture) and Jerilyn Virden (ceramics), all of whom are creating extraordinary and distinctive work that is quickly gaining national attention.

6). The North Carolina Humanities Council invites museums to consider hosting “New Harmonies: American Roots Music,” a Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit. The call for proposals can be found on the web site or via dstover@nchumanities.org .

7). The Museum of the Albemarle pays tribute to Newspaper Editor W.O. Saunders with their latest exhibit entitled: “The Independent: A Century of Progress.” The exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of editor W.O. Saunders’s newspaper, “The Independent,” and features photographs, typesetting “leads,” ink, and a few of Saunders’s publications. Saunders was responsible for the idea of the Wright Brothers National Memorial, and was instrumental in making the production of the Lost Colony a reality. The exhibit will be open through July 13, 2008.

8). Ackland Art Museum, “Flowing like Water: The Art of Liquidity” (June 8 - August 17, 2008), a special collection installation at the Ackland Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explores how the liquid materials of painting, drawing, and even sculpture have provided analogies to the flow of water. Installed in the Museum's upstairs gallery with artwork drawn predominantly from the Ackland Collection, “Flowing like Water” features works by James Abbott McNeil Whistler, Otto Dix, Minor White, Henri Matisse, and Willem DeKooning, among others.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

1). Reynolda House Museum of American Art hosts a talk by Charlie Lovett, author of “Onward and Upward: A History of Summit School” on Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. Summit School is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, and Lovett will discuss the school’s evolution as it moved from the West End to its current site on Reynolda Road, which was once part of the Reynolda Estate. The talk is part of “Book Talk: Ninety Years of Education at Reynolda.”

2). Asheville Art Museum: Friends of the Museum and downtown residents will open the doors of their homes on Thursday, May 29 for the 2008 Asheville Art Museum Urban Loft + Art Tour. This popular guided walking tour allows visitors into Asheville urban homes to see how each incorporates art and city living. Tours will begin at 5:00 p.m. with groups of 20-25 visitors starting the downtown route in 15 minute increments. At the conclusion of the walking tour participants will enjoy a special reception at the newly renovated S&W Building, Asheville’s art deco landmark by architect Douglas Ellington.

3). The Orange County Historical Museum and the Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross will celebrate Memorial Day with a tribute to the Red Cross and its support of the military on Friday, May 30, 2008. From 6-8 p.m. Georgia Kyser, widow of bandleader Kay Kyser of Chapel Hill, will autograph posters from World War II that feature her likeness. Proceeds from the sale of these posters benefit the American Red Cross. After leaving the Museum, be sure to visit the Emergency Response Vehicle parked at the Town Annex. There will also be cake! Music by Billy Sugarfix. Free.

4). The King’s Mountain Historical Museum is pleased to announce the opening of our newest exhibit, “A Stitch in Time: Quilts and Needlework Pre 1960.” The exhibit features decorative as well as utilitarian quilts dating from the 1840s. Needlework examples include embroidery, crewel, crochet and needlepoint. It runs through August 23, 2008.

5). Reynolda House Museum of American Art: A new exhibition, “Early American Portraits,” is on view through August 31, 2008 in the West Bedroom Gallery of the historic house. Works in the exhibition date from the 18th and early-19th centuries, and include portraits by John Singleton Copley and Charles Willson Peale.

6). SciWorks: SciWorks’ PhysicsWorks Gallery, closed for the past several weeks, will reopen on May 31st with all new exhibits! With funds received through SciWorks “SciVision” capital campaign, PhysicsWorks has been transformed into a laboratory of sorts, with several stations of hands-on exhibits – each explaining a concept of physics, which is the scientific study of the interaction of matter and energy.

7). The North Carolina Humanities Council invites museums to consider hosting “New Harmonies: American Roots Music,” a Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit. The call for proposals can be found on the web site or via dstover@nchumanities.org.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

1). The High Point Museum presents a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the Historical Park on Saturday, May 24, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, May 25, 1 pm to 4 pm. Come watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome. FREE.

2). Asheville Art Museum: Visitors to the Asheville Art Museum will explore expressive styles and figurative imagery in the works of Sigmund Abeles and Jerome Witkin beginning Friday, May 23, 2008 when the exhibition “Uncommon Expressions: The Drawings of Sigmund Abeles and Jerome Witkin” opens to the public. Abeles’s work includes domestic scenes ranging from personal to staged images, while Witkin’s work includes images of everyday life and more expansive images relating to the Holocaust. The works of both artists will be celebrated in a special reception at the Museum on Friday, May 29, 2008 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with Mr. Abeles in attendance. This event is free to Museum Members and to guests with Museum admission.

3). Cameron Art Museum presents the Winard Harper Sextet on Sunday, May 18 at 7:30 pm. Internationally renowned drummer and balafon virtuoso, Winard Harper, combines world-influence and the spirit of jazz legends on jazz standards and hard bob favorites.

4). The Ackland Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill presents a special exhibition of works of art that call attention to the unique styles developed through the centuries to represent and interpret garden imagery. “In and Around the Garden: Perspectives East and West” (May 24 - August 31, 2008), the Ackland's major summer exhibition explores a sequence of garden-centered themes.

5). Reynolda House Museum of American Art: The Ken Rhodes Trio will perform its special blend of jazz standards and original compositions at Reynolda House Museum of American Art on Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. Pianist Ken Rhodes will be joined by bassist Matt Kendrick and percussionist John Wilson in concert in the auditorium of the Mary and Charlie Babcock Wing. Admission to the concert is $12, $8 for museum members and students. Tickets will be available at the door, or in advance by calling 336-758-5150.

6). Cameron Art Museum: John Coffey presents “Worshipful Art: The Judaic Art Collection of the North Carolina Museum of Art,” a lecture on the Judaic Collection of the North Carolina Museum of Art. The lecture will take place on Sunday, May 18 at 3:00 pm. Admission is by donation.

7). Western Carolina University: The exhibit “Bartram’s Journey: The 1775 Journey of William Bartram to Western North Carolina” is on display through the end of August on the ground floor of Hunter Library on the campus of Western Carolina University. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

8). Cameron Art Museum presents “Robert Delford Brown: Meat, Maps and Militant Metaphysics,” March 28-August 3, 2008. This is the artist’s first museum exhibition following an active career of 50 years. A catalogue accompanies the exhibition, designed and authored by artist-writer Mark Bloch, (NYC) who served as the exhibition's guest curator. Brown has remained in the vanguard of art since his arrival in New York in 1959, participating in Performance Art, Fluxus, Pop Art, Happenings and Correspondence art movements while formulating his own, unique creative vision.

9). NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher presents “Aquarist Apprentice” on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Find out what it is like to be responsible for the aquarium critters. Join staff on a behind-the-scenes tour, learn about our animals and their diets, and assist our staff in the preparation of food and feeding of some of our animals. This limited opportunity is only open to 10 participants. For ages 10 and up. Ages 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $20.00 per participant. Aquarium admission included. Pre-registration required.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

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

Monday, May 12, 2008

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.

Friday, May 09, 2008

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