ncmuseums

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

Sunday, January 31, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 1, 2010

1). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents The Palace by George from Saturday-Monday, February 20-22. Discounted admission will be offered to visitors named “George.” (ID required.) This weekend is focused on George Washington’s southern tour in 1791. The dancing assembly held in his honor will be interpreted, as well as assorted Washington-related artifacts, including a letter written by George Washington.

2). Reynolda House Museum of American Art presents Video Screening: William A. Christenberry, Jr.: A Portrait on February 18, 25, Noon. This insightful, hour-long documentary follows artist William Christenberry as he travels to his home of Hale County, Alabama. He discusses the influences and genesis of his creative practice, describing his photographs, sculpture, and installation pieces as parts of one cohesive body of work rather than as separate entities.

3). N.C. Department of Cultural Resources When disaster strikes, rare books, precious quilts and historic documents are sometimes casualties. Planning can protect these and many other materials that are too valuable to lose in libraries, archives and museums. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources will hold a meeting on Monday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m., at the Greensboro Public Library to help employees of cultural organizations prepare for disaster. Even ordinary concerns like mold or humidity will be addressed.

4). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to present Nouns: Children’s Book Artists Look at People, Places and Things from Saturday, February 13 to Sunday, July 11, 2010. The public is invited to an Opening Reception held in conjunction with the simultaneous opening of the exhibition “Limners to Facebook: Portraiture from the 19th to the 21st Century” Sunday, February 28, 2010 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

5). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Check out the newest special exhibit, Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived, opening Saturday, February 13. At 60 feet long and more than 100 tons, “Carcharodon megalodon” was the most powerful fish that ever lived and a dominant marine predator. Visitors enter “Megalodon” through a full-sized sculpture of the creature’s massive jaws and discover this shark’s history and the world it inhabited, including its physiology and diet, relatives and neighbors, evolution and extinction. “Megalodon” runs through May 9, 2010.

6). Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) will present the exhibition From BMC to NYC: The Tutelary Years of Ray Johnson (1943-1967) beginning February 19th, 2010, and running through June 12th. In addition, we will host related programs, including a guest lecture, a film screening of the popular documentary “How to Draw a Bunny”, a collage workshop by Washington DC collagist Krista Franklin and an opening-night performance by Graham Hackett and Poetix Lounge. An exhibition catalogue will be available for purchase.

7). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents Genealogy Class on Tuesday February 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 6. This course, taught by local genealogist Esther Johnson, will be a five-part series designed for the individual who is interested in researching his/her family tree. The first two classes will be held in the Museum Classroom from 7 - 8 pm.

8). SciWorks Celebrate Winter at SciWorks with WinterFest Saturday, February 13th, 11am - 5pm. Enjoy make-and-take craft activities, animal interviews, Planetarium Shows - lots of special activities featuring the science of this wonderful time of year - Winter!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 25, 2010

1). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents African American Lecture: Liberty & Justice for All: Black Voices from the Past. Guest Speaker: Reginald Watson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English at East Carolina University, Thursday, February 18th, 7:00 p.m. Free. Dr. Watson will introduce us to a Black History Play entitled “Black Voices from the Past” performed by at least three Thespian members. The play will depict various scenes that trace African and African American historical events from our past. Scenes will be tied together by music and dance. There will also be some poetry recitations to highlight the importance of African American creativity and resilience.

2). High Point Museum presents Blacksmithing Demonstration in the Historical Park on Saturday, February 6, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, February 7, 1 pm to 4 pm. Come watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome. FREE.

3). Discovery Place presents SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure now through January 31. Featuring hundreds of priceless artifacts and treasures recovered from deep-ocean archaeological excavations, “SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure” plunges guests beneath the sea to uncover the mysteries of some of the world’s most-famous shipwrecks. Through interactive, multimedia experiences, guests can experience the world of deep-ocean exploration and the thrill of uncovering history and treasure buried - but not forgotten. The highlight of the exhibition takes guests 1,700 feet below the Atlantic Ocean to the wreck site of the SS Republic, the greatest shipwreck treasure of the Civil War era.

4).N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Come see the big picture — of the Universe — as the Museum hosts its 20th annual Astronomy Days event on Saturday, January 30 from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, January 31 from noon to 5pm. Check out Mars in 3-D, view the sun safely through solar telescopes, meet live animals of the constellations, and launch your own rocket! Free.

5). Rocky Mount Arts Center The Rocky Mount Arts center announces the opening of five new exhibits with a community reception on Friday, January 29, 2010 from 6:00pm-9:00pm. The exhibits include: wood bock prints by Master Artist Keiji Shinohara, wood sculptural vessels by Stuart Kent, the Arts Center’s annual national juried Handcrafted exhibition, Landscapes from the Permanent Collection, and Ceramics from the Permanent Collection. The January 29th reception is free and all visitors are welcome.

6). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum welcomes author, historian and documentarian Kevin Duffus for his program, The Lost Light: The Mystery of the Cape Hatteras Fresnel Lens. Duffus will present this fascinating Civil War era story Jan. 30 in the Bob Julian Roundhouse. The program starts at 1 p.m. and is free to public.

7). Museum of the Albemarle The Museum of the Albemarle will feature three lectures on Saturday, February 6th during the Museum’s Civil War Living History Day. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. Bruce Long: will present The Destruction of the "Mosquito Fleet". The small force of lightly armed Confederate vessels that helped defend the North Carolina coast and inland waterways that were all but destroyed during the Union’s Burnside Expedition.

8). SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) and Krankies Coffee are partnering to present a film series called Art Grind. This free series will present documentary and independent films that reflect upon the nature of art, music, creativity, ingenuity and the human spirit. The series will be held on the first Thursday of every month beginning Feb. 4. Screenings will be held at 7 p.m. at Krankies Werehouse located at 211 East Third Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 19, 2010

1). Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Mint Museum of Craft + Design will close to the public on February 7, 2010 to prepare to move its collections to the new Mint Museum Uptown. Opening in October 2010, the Mint Museum Uptown will house the Mint Museum of Craft + Design collections, as well as significant collections of American Art, Contemporary Art and a selection of European Art in a new five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility located in the heart of Charlotte’s business district. The Mint Museum of Craft + Design Shop will remain open for several more months, with a firm closing date to be announced later this spring.

2). High Point Museum The third annual Kickoff to Kindergarten: Parent Days will be held January 25 at the High Point Museum and February 22 at the Greensboro Children’s Museum. The free, drop-in resource fair will be open from 11 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm at both locations. Representatives from Guilford County Schools will be available to answer questions regarding school-choice, pre-K options, transportation, school health & nutrition, after-school options, and kindergarten curriculums. Also on hand will be representatives from local libraries, Family & Health Services, Reading Connections, and other important community resources that support the important transition into kindergarten.

3). Orange County Historical Museum On January 31st at 3pm at the Central Orange Senior Center at Meadowlands in Hillsborough, the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County and the Central Orange Senior Center will host Stores and Stories: How Businesses in Hillsborough Have Changed. Participants will talk about businesses in Hillsborough from 1940-1975. Visitors are encouraged to bring along photos of downtown businesses during this era to share.

4). Mount Airy Museum The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History will present a 3-day event titled White Liquor and Dirt Tracks: the Origins of NASCAR on Friday Jan. 22, Saturday Jan. 23 and Sunday Jan. 24. Featured events will be a vintage race car show, racing memorabilia and souvenir vendors, autograph sessions with drivers past and present, a panel discussion on early racing plus a downtown cruise-in. Also racing author Sharon McCrumb will speak about her NASCAR series of books, two screenings of the film "Thunder Road" will be held,a concert by Nashville recording artist Matt Dylan plus a new temporary racing exhibit will open at the Museum.

5). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents Tryon Palace Free Day: Building New Bern on Saturday, February 6, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Harold H. Bate Foundation in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Come enjoy all that Tryon Palace has to offer free of charge! Tour our lovely gardens and the first floors of our historic buildings. Join in on hands-on crafts, games, and activities for the whole family.

Monday, January 11, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 11, 2010

1). Museum of the Albemarle The Museum of the Albemarle will hold Pre-Schooler Time on Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 10:00 am until 10:45 am. Participants must be between the ages of 3 to 5 years old and must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-Schoolers will learn that rescuing people in trouble is one of the many important jobs performed by the United States Coast Guard. Read a story about a rescue, learn about some of the equipment used in rescues and participate in a hands-on activity.

2). Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site Advance tickets are now available for purchase for the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina’s largest Civil War re-enactment, slated for March 20-21 at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site. Advance tickets — purchased before March 1 — are $8 for adults and $4 for children aged 7-12. After March 1, tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children 6 and under attend free.

3). Greenville Museum of Art The Greenville Museum of Art announces the opening of Rhythm, The Sculptures of Andrew Fullwood, an exhibit with a community reception on Friday, January 15, 2010 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. With five generations of highly skilled furniture makers before him, working with wood was a natural outlet for Andrew Fullwood’s artistic energies. His sculptures are created from single pieces of wood found in the natural world and honed to completion through the use of chainsaws, chisels, files, rasps, and fine grade sand paper.

4). Asheville Art Museum Join Cole Hendrix, Assistant Curator, on a guided tour of the exciting exhibitions Ruth Asawa: Drawing in Space and Lorna Blaine Halper: The Space Between on Friday, January 29, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Art Breaks are free with Museum Membership or admission.

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 meeting on Friday, January 15, at 10 a.m. at Joyner Library on campus 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.

6). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Saturday, January 23rd, behind-the-scenes exploration of un-restored areas of the Battleship. The guided tour includes the bow (officers’ country and boatswain locker), third deck (Radio II, brig, after gyro, storage rooms, ammunition handling, Engineer’s office, torpedo area), engine room #1 or #3, the reefers, and up inside the fire control tower to the top of the ship. The Azalea Coast Radio Club will be in Radio II to explain their work on the ship’s radio transmitters. The tour is limited to ages 12 and above with no exceptions. Registration deadline is January 15th. There won’t be any walk-up tickets.

7). N.C. Maritime Museum Dingbatters, whales, watermen, a doomed ship and the Civil War will be featured at the N.C. Maritime Museum this winter. These and other programs will brighten the winter blahs, and most are free. The colorful phrases of Outer Banks natives, the hard work of a skipjack captain, the local legend of the vessel "Crissie Wright", and underwater Civil War battles are a few of the entertaining and informative programs to be enjoyed Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m. -- Hoi Tide on the Sound Side. Find out why “dingbatters” get “mommucked” when they hear about this accent unique to the Outer Banks from Museum Educator Laurie Streble.

8). Cameron Art Museum presents Toying with Art November 13, 2009-March 28, 2010. "Toying with Art" is an exhibition of toys designed and fabricated by artists. More than 50 artists from around the country have created toys in a wide variety of sizes, themes and styles for this exhibition. Running through the holidays, "Toying with Art" is sure to be fun for kids of all ages.

9). Mebane Historical Society The Mebane Historical Society, Inc. announces a Gala Event celebrating the re-opening of the Mebane Historical Museum on Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 2-4 pm. The featured exhibit, "Mebane, NC: The Biggest Little Town on Earth," tells the story of Mebane's early prosperity and growth. Music by Joe Thompson and Mebanesville will be part of the afternoon program and light refreshments will be served. The Museum is located at 210 W. Lee St in Mebane, NC. 27302. Inclement weather date is January 30.

Monday, January 04, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… January 4, 2010

1). Weatherspoon Art Museum The Weatherspoon Art Museum at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is pleased to present the exhibition Existed: Leonardo Drew, opening February 6. This major mid-career survey exhibition examines the artist’s ongoing mediation of minimalism and African-American history through fourteen major sculptures, eight works on paper, and a special on-site installation in the Weatherspoon’s atrium. Artist Talk and Opening Reception on Friday, February 5, 6-9 pm.

2). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum, its volunteer docents and the Asheville Area Section of the American Institute of Architects are pleased to announce the annual Western North Carolina Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Regional award recipients will be honored at a ceremony on Sunday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Diana Wortham Theatre and the exhibition of their artwork will be on view at the Pack Place Community Gallery from January 22 to February 14, 2010.

3). Cameron Art Museum presents Gallery Talk: Architects in the Galleries with Charles H. Boney on Sun. Jan. 10, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Hughes Wing. 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.

4). Kings Mountain Historical Museum Seventh Annual Trains, Trains, Trains Exhibit is happening through Saturday, January 9, 2010. The Piedmont 'S' Gaugers will have their interactive trains running for everyone to enjoy. Several train collectors from the area will exhibit their prized possessions along with great railroad memorabilia.

5). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents New Bern the Revolutionary Town: Marching to the Music of the Revolution on Sunday, January 24, 3:00 p.m. Musicians were an important part of the 18th-century military. Fifes and drums played from sunrise to sunset, and served as a primary mode of communication from commander to troops during battle. Tryon Palace has undertaken the exciting task of recreating a colonial fife and drum corps, which plays at numerous events throughout the year in New Bern and beyond. Come learn more about the music of the 18th century military, and experience it for yourself in this educational concert.

6). Joel Lane Museum House The Joel Lane Museum House is proud to announce a celebration of Black History Month with a lecture by the renowned African-American historian, Earl Ijames, on Slavery in 18th-Century North Carolina at 7 pm on Thursday, February 4 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.