NCMC Events From Around the State… November 23, 2009

1). Ackland Art Museum invites families to spend the day after Thanksgiving at the Museum! Community Day, on Friday, November 27, is a day-long exploration of art and ideas from around the world. Muralist Michael Brown will lead an art-making workshop, UNC-Chapel Hill art students will help screen-print your own t-shirts, gallery teachers and docents will lead guided tours, and several other programs and events offer something for the whole family.

2). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum, celebrating its 60th anniversary, examines the role of popular film in exposing regional cultures, values, and traditions. At 2:00 p.m. each day, on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2009, the Museum will screen the cult classic “The Last of the Mohicans”. The film is held in conjunction with the Asheville Art Museum’s exhibition "Cherokee Carvers: Tradition Renewed”, which examines different aspects of late 20th and early 21st century Cherokee carving.

3). High Point Museum presents 26th Annual Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 6, 1 pm to 4 pm. This annual event has become a tradition with local families. Come for a day of special reenactments, music, demonstrations, refreshments and hands-on activities like candle dipping! Fun for all ages!

4). N.C. Aquariums at Fort Fisher The North Carolina Aquariums are actively pursuing the development of three educational ocean fishing piers, one in the geographic vicinity of each state Aquarium. This effort is being undertaken to address the loss of ocean fishing piers and the fishing and beach access historically provided to North Carolina citizens and visitors. Through these venues, the Aquariums also expect to educate visitors about conservation and appreciation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments.

5). Museum of the Albemarle will host a holiday open house I’ll be Home for Christmas on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. This year’s celebration will highlight the impact of the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II on family holiday celebrations. As part of the event there will be a matinee viewing of the holiday movie “Mr. Christmas” at 3:00 pm during the holiday open house. “Mr. Christmas” is a period film set in 1941 just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

6). Aycock Birthplace A festive feast of chicken, collards, biscuits and plum pudding will blanket the dining room table at Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site during the Christmas season. The typical late 19th century spread will be shown during free tours on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Thursday, Dec. 3, 6:30-9 p.m. Gospel music, a shadow play, open hearth cooking, and costumed guides will reflect the post Civil War era when Gov. Charles Aycock grew up.

7). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts the final offering of its Charles Darwin Lecture Series on Tuesday, November 24 — the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s landmark publication of “The Origin of Species.” Join Museum paleontologist and science historian Paul Brinkman for a free presentation titled Charles Darwin’s Beagle Voyage and the Origin of ‘The Origin.’

8). The Bascom Regionally acclaimed artisans Myra Hunt and Alice Mason will come to Highlands next week for two free community demonstrations at The Bascom. Fiber artist Hunt will demonstrate her technique of spinning wool and other fibers into yarn, a centuries-old tradition done now on a modern loom on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 2-4 p.m. Then, on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1-4 p.m., Mason will weave wood strips to create her finely crafted baskets.

9). NC Connecting to Collections The Exploring Cultural Heritage Online project surveyed our state’s cultural heritage institutions and found that collections preservation and disaster preparedness are universal concerns. In response, the NC Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from an IMLS Connecting to Collections Grant, has partnered with other agencies to help our archives, museums, library special collections, and historic sites care for the state’s valued collections. NC Connecting to Collections is hosting three regional forums to bring together staff and volunteers at these cultural heritage repositories to hear your concerns and explore ways that the project can assist you in collections care. The first forum will be held at the Pack Place Education, Arts, and Science Center in Asheville on December 7th. The registration fee is only $10.00.