ncmuseums

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

Monday, December 28, 2009

NCMC Events From Around the State… December 28, 2009

1). President James K. Polk State Historic Site presents Movie Night at the Polk Site on January 5. This is the first in a series of movie nights present by the President James K. Polk State Historic Site and the Polk Memorial Support Fund Inc. Our first movie screening will feature the 2004 version of “The Alamo.” This film is rated PG-13 and admission is free.

2). Greensboro Children’s Museum presents New Years Rockin' Eve ‘Eve Party’ with Big Bang Boom! on Wednesday, December 30 at 11:45am. Let's romp and stomp with some creative noise makers in creation station, parade down GCM's Main Street and rock out with Big Bang Boom! We will countdown to "Noon" Year's Eve Eve! Don't miss this last chance to party in '09 at the museum! Free with admission/membership.

3). Port Discover How do planes stay in the air? Faculty from Elizabeth City State University’s Aviation Science Program will answer this question and demonstrate the mysteries of flight at Lift Off!, Port Discover’s Second Saturday Science, January 9, at 11 a.m. Through demonstrations and hands-activities that illustrate Bernoulli’s Principles and Newton’s Laws, children will learn about the principles of flight. The program is geared toward 1st through 5th graders. Second Saturday Science is free, thanks to the program sponsor, Gateway Bank. Reservations are required.

4). High Point Museum presents Blacksmithing Demonstration in the Historical Park on Saturday, January 16, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, January 17, 1 pm to 4 pm. Come watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome. Free.

5). N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Rare books, precious quilts and historic documents are among the many materials in libraries, archives and museums that are too valuable to lose. Yet when disaster strikes, that sometimes happens. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is holding a workshop at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at Joyner Library at East Carolina University in Greenville to help employees of cultural organizations prepare to meet disaster and discuss how best to care for their collections. Cultural Resources received the Connecting to Collections Statewide Planning Grant from the national Institute of Museum and Library Services.

6). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents Garden Lecture: Kermit Was Wrong – It IS Easy to be Green (at least in the garden) with speaker Felder Rushing on Saturday, January 23, 10am. Sponsored by the Harold H. Bate Foundation Felder Rushing, the Gardening Guru, will explain how historic gardening techniques that made a lot of sense back then, relate to modern-day gardening. Then he’ll add some fun new “green” additions for the twenty-first century.

Monday, December 21, 2009

NCMC Events From Around the State… December 21, 2009

1). Museum of the Albemarle The Museum of the Albemarle will show the newly produced film Friends in Liberty: North Carolina in the American Revolution on Sunday, January 3, 2009 at 2:00 pm in the Gaither Auditorium. The film is produced by the North Carolina Museum of History and funded by the State Officers Club, North Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

2). Joel Lane Museum House The Joel Lane Museum House is proud to present a lecture by Gwen Mays, descendant of Joel Lane's brother, Jesse, who will speak about Women of Joel Lane's Family. The talk will take place at 7 pm on Thursday, January 21, 2010 in the Visitors Center at 160 South Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh NC 27603. Admission will be $15 for the public and $10 for members of the Joel Lane Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, and reservations are required.

3). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher Diane L. Perry’s exhibit in the Spadefish Gallery at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher evokes a passion for wetland wildlife and a deep love for art. On display December through February, Perry’s art is a collaboration of acrylic and pastel paintings and woodblock printings. She now resides in North Carolina where she continues to create nature inspired art. Her art can be found in several private and public collections throughout the world, including the United States, France, Germany and England.

4). Greensboro Children’s Museum presents Culture of Color Celebration all day on January 16, 17 & 18. Join us as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as well as the traditions, the history, and the art of African-American culture.  We’ll have special stories, activities and programs! Free with admission/membership.

5). Ava Gardener Museum In the May 2010, the Ava Gardner Museum will unveil a new exhibit, The Most Photographed Woman in the World. At the height of her film career, Ava Gardner was the most photographed woman in the world with MGM sending out over 3,000 photos of her weekly. Due to the large number of photographs in the Ava Gardner Collection, the Exhibits Committee has decided to create a multi-media exhibit in an effort to display as many photos as possible while considering space constraints.

6). Asheville Art Museum Join artist Kenn Kotara on a guided tour of the exciting exhibition Ruth Asawa: Drawing in Space on Friday, January 15, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Art Breaks are free with Museum Membership or admission. Asheville-based artist Kenn Kotara, known for his kinetic installations, drawings and paintings that share interesting connections to works on view, takes us on a personalized, guided tour of the exciting exhibition on the special January 15th Art Break.

7). Port Discover Port Discover has added the Experimentation Station to its interactive discovery gallery.  Experimentation Station provides visitors with an opportunity to conduct a lab-based inquiry experiment.   The experiments will change monthly.  They are free and during Port Discover’s normal operating hours. December’s experiment features Saltwater Circuits. 

8). Fort Fisher State Historic Site Three hundred costumed soldiers will clash in a Civil War re-enactment of the 2nd Battle of Fort Fisher on Jan. 16-17, 2010.   History will unfold as the Fort Fisher State Historic Site marks the 145th anniversary of this major battle. The anniversary event will kick off Friday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. with a panel discussion “Black Men Bearing Freedom: U.S. Colored Troops and their impact on North Carolina” at the Fisher Student Center at UNC-Wilmington.  A staged battle, lantern light tours and an evening firing of the site’s 32-pound rifled and banded cannon will add excitement. 

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

NCMC Events From Around the State… December 14, 2009

1). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher aided in the rescue of a loggerhead sea turtle on December 7. After receiving a call about a lethargic loggerhead floating in the Carolina Beach boat basin by Harbor Masters Restaurant, Aquarium staff pulled the turtle from the water and transported the animal to the Aquarium.

2). N.C. Transportation Museum A deeper look into the history of the Wright Brothers will join railroad and automotive exhibits at the N.C. Transportation Museum this December. The World Aloft – 1908: The Year the Airplane Went Public, features the history of efforts to make powered flight known worldwide. A full size replica Wright Flyer, period artifacts, models and pieces of the original Wright Flyer, with an amazing history of their own, will all be displayed. The exhibit opens December 17.

3). Museum of Anthropology presents Only Skin Deep? Tattooing in World Cultures, exhibit running from January 5 to August 28, 2010. In this exhibit, student curators explore why ancient mummies, members of traditional societies, and Wake Forest students are tattooed and with what designs. The traditional implements, historic illustrations, and contemporary photographs on display will excite tattoo aficionados and those just curious about a widespread custom. Admission is free.

4). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents A Regency Twelfth Night Celebration on Wednesday, January 6, 6:00 p.m. $8 Adults. Stanly House. The Stanly family cordially invites you to attend their grand Twelfth Night party. Join in the festivities with traditional entertainments followed by light refreshments. Who knows, you may even be crowned the King and Queen of the evening! This event is designed for adults; reservations and prepayment required by January 4. Payments received after December 18 by credit card only.

5). Port Discover Preschoolers will go on a Food Chair Adventure during Port Discover’s Toddler Time, Thursday, December 17, at 10:00 a.m. Through stories and activities, children will learn all about terrestrial and aquatic food chains. Children will also create a model of a terrestrial food chain to take home. Toddler Time is a science program just for preschoolers, ages 3 – 5. Cost for the program is $5 per family and reservations are required. Parents or guardians must accompany the child.

6). Cape Fear Museum Lower Cape Fear residents have been going to the movies for more than 100 years. They’ve watched films in large tents, on the beach in their bathing suits and in the comfort of stadium seating. A new temporary exhibition at Cape Fear Museum of History and Science examines the history of a century of movie-going in our region. Going to the Movies explores where people have gone to the movies in our region, and how those venues have changed and migrated through the years. “Going to the Movies” runs through November 7, 2010. The exhibit is free with Museum admission.

7). Cameron Art Museum presents Gallery Talk: Architects in the Galleries with Charles H. Boney on Sunday, January 10, 2-3 pm. The final in the series of AIA, Wilmington Chapter informal gallery talks and the last day to view the exhibit “GWATHMEY SIEGEL: Inspiration and Transformation”. The ongoing series gives visitors the opportunity to see through an architect's eyes. Charles H. Boney is an award-winning designer with a long-standing interest in architecture as a social instrument of change.

8). Museum of the Albemarle The museum will commemorate the Battle of Elizabeth City, fought on February 10, 1862 with its Civil War Living History Days on February 5 and 6, 2009. Interpreters from the Civil War re-enactor community have enthusiastically volunteered to present two days of programming. Friday’s event will be open for school group reservations. Saturday will be open to the public. Demonstrations, mustering of the troops and artillery firing will occur on The Green. Many exhibits of personal collections of Civil War era artifacts will be on display in the Lobby.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

NCMC Events From Around the State… December 7, 2009

1). Historic Halifax Colonial Christmas traditions, including rag dolls and caning chairs, are among the quieter aspects of the holiday celebration at Historic Halifax on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Costumed re-enactors of the 5th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line will bring a bang with lively firings of 18th-century muskets and a swivel gun. Other depictions of life for Revolutionary War era soldiers include a military drill, campfire cooking and other demonstrations outside Halifax’s Tap Room. Authentic 18th century foods will be prepared.

2). Asheville Art Museum Join a member of the Asheville Art Museum’s Curatorial Staff on a guided tour of the exciting exhibition Lorna Blaine Halper: The Space Between on Friday, December 18, 2009 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Art Breaks are free with Museum Membership or admission. The work of Lorna Blaine Halper (1924 - ), who studied at Black Mountain College, is featured in this solo exhibition.

3). Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield presents the 147th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Goldsborough Bridge just south of Goldsboro off US117 on December 12-13. Program will feature living history interpreters representing Civil War Union and Confederate infantry, cavalry and artillery. All activities take place on the original battlefield. Dedication of monument will take place on site at 1:00pm on December 12.

4). Museum of the Albemarle presents Gates County Day on Sunday, December 13, 2:00pm-5:00pm. Artifacts in the "Our Story" exhibit from Gates County will be highlighted. The featured artifact will be the "Nixon/Lassiter Log Cabin Quilt." Guest Speakers include Edith Seiling, Ray Freeman, Linda Hofler and Cynthia Nixon Mastro. Light refreshments will be served.

5). N.C. Transportation Museum A visit from the “Jolly Old Elf” is an annual tradition at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer. Santa Claus will park his sleigh each weekend before Christmas and instead ride the rails, as “Santa Train” and “Cookies and Cocoa with Santa” move down the tracks. “Jingle Bell Express,” especially for school groups, also rolls out this week.

6). Catawba County Historical Association presents Christmas at the Lyerly: A Victorian Holiday Tea. The CCHA will be hosting a Holiday tea party at the Lyerly House (The Hickory History Center) on Sunday, December 20, 2009, from 1:30pm to 4:00pm. The Lyerly House will be adorned in Christmas cheer with lights, decorations, and greenery, offering visitors a magical glimpse into the past. Guests will be treated to delicious Victorian food and beverages, live holiday music, and a tour of the impressively decorated Harper House. A photographer will also be available to record your special day.

7). The Bascom Art lovers have one more week to view three top-notch exhibitions at The Bascom, a center for the visual arts. The Bascom offers education programs year-round on the ground floor of its main building, but exhibitions, the shop and the first and second floors of the building close Dec. 18 until the spring. Exhibitions include “American Art Today, Juried Works,” “The Shopping Bag: Exemplary Art and Design," and “Enchanted Forest,” featuring creations by The Bascom’s youth art students.