ncmuseums

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

Monday, May 24, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… May 24, 2010

1). SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) has received a $75,000 grant from The James G. Hanes Memorial Foundation. The funds will be used to transform the McChesney Scott Dunn Auditorium into a 21st century learning environment. On May 4, SECCA received a $50,000 grant for the same purpose from The John Wesley and Anna Hodgin Foundation.

2). Outer Banks History Center You can write your own autobiography, save old family photographs, and learn to conserve quilts or oil paintings through the popular History in Your Hands preservation workshop series offered by the Outer Banks History Center. Bring your notebooks and questions to sessions from May 25-Oct. 26, on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 10 a.m., and experts will answer “how to” for family heirlooms, memorabilia and history.

3). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Visiting artist & guest lecturer Nihad Dukhan, Ph.D. presents Before Your Eyes: History and Styles of Arabic Calligraphy on Thursday May 27, 6-7pm. This lecture covers the history, development, techniques and styles of the art of Arabic/Islamic calligraphy. The lecture includes an extensive presentation of numerous prime examples of the different styles from different periods and different regions.

4). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher Surfing has come a long way since Europeans first observed it in the Pacific Islands in the 1700s. While surf culture continues to evolve, one thing remains the same: respect for the ocean. The art of surfing, called he’enalu in Hawaii, is the focus June 5-6, when the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher debuts Surf It, Save It: Aquarium Surf Festival.

5). Bentonville Battlefield Grab a camera, bring a sketchbook and pack a picnic, and head out to the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site’s free Summer Living History program, A Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier, on Saturday, June 5, from 10 a.m.− 4 p.m. Period-costumed living historians from the 18th NC/53rd PA and 1st NC/11th NC will demonstrate how soldiers made meals, maintained their weapons and uniforms, and trained for battle.

6). Asheville Art Museum
Join the Asheville Art Museum for a guided tour of the exhibition Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia, Photographs by Tim Barnwell led by Tim Barnwell himself during an Art Break Friday, June 11, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Art Breaks are free with Museum Membership or admission.

7). Cameron Art Museum presents Forgotten Rural Black Women: What Happens When the Farms and Men Are Gone? with Ella Joyce Stewart on Sunday, June 13, 2:00 pm. Fifty years ago when NC’s agricultural landscape was flourishing, African American women were surrounded by strong-spirited black men who loved the land and their children. Now, all across NC, the farm equipment stands silent and there are echoes in the barns. Where did the farmers go?

8). Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Reynolda House Museum of American Art will present a gallery talk designed to give visitors a more detailed understanding of a single work in the Reynolda House fine art collection on Thursday, May 27 at noon. Postdoctoral Fellow Jennifer Raab will lead a discussion of Worthington Whittredge’s well-loved masterpiece, “The Old Hunting Grounds” (1864). The gallery talk is free for members, and included in the cost of admission for non-members.

9). The Bascom World-renowned artist Patrick Dougherty is building a monumental outdoor site-specific sculpture at The Bascom beginning June 2, and he is welcoming volunteers interested in assisting him with his installation using small tree saplings. Work days are June 2-18 (or until installation is completed). There will be two shifts per day: 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Multiple time slots are available.

Monday, May 17, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… May 17, 2010

1). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents The State of Classical Music in Europe around the Time of New Bern’s Founding on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00pm. Dr. Kevin Moll will present a lecture focusing on the state of art and music during the period of New Bern’s founding, often referred to by historians as the later Baroque style. Tryon Palace Visitor Center Auditorium. Free.

2). Museum of the Albemarle The Museum of the Albemarle will hold History Tales: Make It, Take It on Tuesday, May 18 from 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Elementary age students accompanied by an adult will discover how people welcomed warmth, the light of spring and summer by dancing around the May Pole and participate in a hands-on activity. The program is free to the public. Call 252-335-1453 for more information.

3). Hunter Library Digital Collections The Cherokee Preservation Foundation awarded $50,000 to Western Carolina University to continue the Hunter Library’s documentation of Cherokee material culture for inclusion in its online Craft Revival collection. Under the direction of Associate Professor Anna Fariello, this third year of the project will focus on 20th century Cherokee carvers. The project includes research on collections at the Museum of the Cherokee and at Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual; assistance with collections care, inventory, and training; and uploading of digital images to the web.

4). Town Creek Indian Mound The final Astronomy Night at Town Creek Indian Mound before the summer break will feature one of the last great dark sky sites in the Piedmont. On Saturday, May 22, at 8 p.m. participants will be able to observe Earth’s largest satellite, the moon, during its waxing gibbous phase at the site.

5). Ackland Art Museum Museums rely on the generosity of donors and the Tyche Foundation gift represents one of the most significant contributions in the history of the Ackland Art Museum. This collection of fifty-one works of art will be unveiled in its entirety in the special exhibition Fortune Smiles: The Tyche Foundation Gift (May 23 – August 29, 2010). These works of art add new depth to the Ackland Collection. Accompanying the exhibition is an illustrated catalogue featuring art historical commentary on each piece, as well as nine original works of fiction by acclaimed author Allan Gurganus written in response to selected pieces.

6). Ava Gardner Museum In 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. The exhibit will be unveiled at an opening reception, scheduled Thursday, May 20th from 5-7pm. The reception is free and open to the public.

7). N.C. Transportation Museum A look at North Carolina’s most identifiable piece of military history will be offered at the N.C. Transportation Museum Saturday, May 22 at 1 p.m. The museum offers the free program, An N.C Icon Brought to Life: Sea Stories of Sailors aboard the WWII Battleship North Carolina.

8). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to present Writing a Children’s Book — A How-To with author and scholar Lester Laminack and illustrator Judy Love on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. This discussion is free with Museum Membership or admission and will be held in the Museum’s WNC Art Resource Center.

9). Cameron Art Museum presents Forward Motion Dance Company on Thurs. May 20, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Inspired by the exhibition “Recollection: The Past is Present” choreographer Tracey Varga and Forward Motion Dance Company (FMDC) created a new work with musical inspiration and guidance from composer, arranger, and performer Grenoldo Frazier. Founded in 2001 by dancer and choreographer Tracey Varga, FMD has a vision to find innovative ways to bring dance to the community, and cultivate an understanding and love of this art form.

10. The Bascom Two new exhibitions at The Bascom celebrate the art of ceramic instruments and the art of construction. In Mud to Music, Ceramic Instruments, gallery visitors have the chance to explore an array of instruments and sound sculptures made from clay by nationally recognized ceramic innovators. Guest-curated by Barry Hall and Brian Ramson, the exhibition is open through July 4 in the Loft Gallery. A reception with gallery talk and performance will be June 5 from 5–7 p.m. In An Artist in Construction, The Bascom pays homage to the designing, planning and fabrication common in the process of constructing pottery and architecture. Here, Dr. Patrick Taylor shares his images of The Bascom building project and ceramics from his studio. The exhibition closes May 29.

Monday, May 10, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… May 10, 2010

1). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens South Lawn Concert Series: Craven Community Concert Band. Pack a picnic and join your family and friends for the first concert of our 2010 South Lawn Concert Series. Please bring your own chairs and blankets, but leave pets and alcoholic beverages at home. Sunday, May 23. Gates open at 5 p.m.; concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Free.

2). Museum of the Albemarle Museum of the Albemarle will hold Pre-Schooler Time on Thursday, May 13 from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.. Participants must be between the ages of 3 to 5 years old and must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-Schoolers will discover how people welcomed warmth, the light of spring and summer by dancing around the May Pole, read a book and participate in a hands-on activity.

3). Greensboro Children’s Museum
On Saturday, May 22, 2010, the Greensboro Children’s Museum (GCM) will celebrate the Grand Opening of its new Edible Schoolyard, the first hands-on teaching garden and kitchen at a museum in the country. The Edible Schoolyard program, created by Alice Waters and The Chez Panisse Foundation, will become a model for other children’s museums nationwide promoting health and wellness. In GCM’s Edible Schoolyard, children will learn about the relationship among food, nature and life through organic gardening (planting, growing, harvesting), preparing and cooking organic food simply and nutritiously.

4). Cape Fear Museum
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science will present a lecture by fine arts conservator Todd Jorgensen on Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m. The program will take place in the Museum’s Williston Auditorium. Jorgensen’s talk, Caring for Wood, will explore the art and science of wood conservation. He will present wooden artifacts he has treated from the Museum’s collection to illustrate how to handle and care for furniture. Participants will enjoy an informal tour of the Museum’s “Conservation Matters” exhibit after the presentation.

5). Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Reynolda House Museum of American Art’s exhibition Looking At/Looking In: Bodies and Faces in Contemporary Prints will open May 11, 2010 and will remain on view through Aug. 8, 2010 in the Northeast Bedroom Gallery. The exhibition, featuring works from the collections of the Wake Forest Student Union Collection of Contemporary Art and Reynolda House Museum of American Art, was curated by seniors at Wake Forest University in The History of Prints course taught by Wake Forest Associate Professor of Art Bernadine Barnes.

6). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
The Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition is a national juried competition presented annually by the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Made possible by the generosity of longtime arts supporters Martin and Doris Rosen, this national, juried competition continues a long-held tradition of showcasing the best of large-scale, contemporary American sculpture. Each year, ten sculptures are selected for exhibition, and are situated in outdoor, public settings across campus. A cash prize is awarded to the artist whose work is chosen as that year's Rosen Award winner. April 18, 2010 - March 1, 2011.

7). Bellamy Mansion Museum
Friday, May 14th - The opening night of Jazz at The Mansion - a collaborative concert series with the Cape Fear Jazz Society. Relax on the mansion lawn and listen to the classic jazz sounds of Grenoldo Frazier. Wine provided by Silver Coast Winery. 6:00 - 8:00PM. $8 members; $12 general admission. Season passes available.

8). Asheville Art Museum
Join the Asheville Art Museum for a film screening of My Kid Could Paint That on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. This film screening is free with Museum Membership or admission. Have you ever looked at a painting and thought, “My kid could paint that”? This film (2007) explores the issues of what it takes to be a great artist and how reproducible great art is, focusing the storyline around four-year-old artist Marla Olmstead.

9). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
The public is invited to come out to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh for Meet the Animals, Tuesday, May 11 through Thursday, May 13. For three days, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., animals from the Museum’s Living Collections will be outside the Museum on Bicentennial Plaza for the public to touch, feel and learn more about. On Tuesday and Thursday, the animals featured will be North Carolina natives; tropical animals will be featured on Wednesday.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… May 3, 2010

1). Greensboro Children’s Museum The Greensboro Children’s Museum has an exciting line up of weekday summer camps for 2010, including the one-of-a-kind Edible Schoolyard camps. Camps are offered weekly throughout the summer starting June 21st and running through August 20th. Camps are available for boys and girls, ages 4 to 11 years old and include a variety of themes like science, music, art, nature, construction, fantasy, cooking and gardening.

2). Rocky Mount Arts Center invites you to Summer Exhibitions: 2010 Opening Reception with the Artists - Sunday, June 6, 2010, 2:00 – 4:00 PM. At 2:30, the 53rd National Juried Art Show awards will be announced. Exhibits include Austin Shepperd: The Sum of the Parts; Dorothy McGuinness: Baskets: More than Function; Anne Lemanski: A Stitch in Time; Michael Dorsey: A Perception of Events; 53rd National Juried Art Show; Ceramics Selection from the Permanent Collection.

3). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts presents Collecting Worlds: Suzanna Bryan, April 2 - July 31, 2010 in the Mayer Gallery. Painter Suzanna Bryan works with layers of media, representing layers of consciousness. Her creative process involves working on multiple paintings at once, and her intuitive style involves developing images and figures in acrylic that she enhances with a variety of media, including collage materials, oil pastels, gouache and India ink. Layers of media reveal powerful images and figures.

4). The Bascom Art lovers from around the region are invited to open The Bascom's 2010 season in style when the nonprofit art center hosts its Season Kickoff Party on Saturday, May 15, from 1 to 5 p.m. The free drop-in event will feature an open house, popcorn and lemonade, a meet-the-artist reception with Patrick Taylor, and the chance to view several new exhibitions: An Artist in Construction: Patrick Taylor, Mud to Music: Ceramic Instruments, Ceramic Wine Goblets, Recent Works: Chad Awalt, and Regional High School Showcase. The Bascom and its shop are open May 15-December 18, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday afternoons beginning May 30 from 12-5 p.m.

5). N.C. Maritime Museum In ceremonies next week, communities on the Outer Banks pay honor to World War II British and Canadian sailors who gave their lives to defend the coast of the United States. The British War Grave ceremonies take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, at the World War II British Cemetery in Buxton, and again at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 7, at the World War II British Cemetery in Ocracoke. Receptions follow both events at 1 p.m. Held by the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum, the Ocracoke Community, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Park Service and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the ceremonies honor the 63 foreign sailors who lost their lives just off the coast of the Outer Banks.

6). Museum of the Albemarle Blackbeard’s Crew will be returning to the Museum of the Albemarle for the weekend of May 14 & 15 in conjunction with the North Carolina Potato Festival. Blackbeard’s Crew will create an encampment and entertain with living history exhibits by accurately portraying the lifestyle, manner of dress and speech, common knowledge and skills, weapons, tools and crew organizations of both pirates and ordinary seamen afloat and ashore during the Golden Age of Piracy.

7). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences The terror has surfaced. A movie so bad it makes chum look good. We triple dog dare you to join us at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. for this mysterious and unnamed shark feature. Plus, enjoy biting commentary and a shiver of terrifyingly bad shark-related shorts from the A/V Geeks archive. Parental guidance encouraged.

8). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum’s fourth annual Learning to Fly event takes visitors into the wild blue yonder, with a special celebration of aviation. The event will be held May 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free. While “Learning to Fly” is typically limited to the open area between the museum’s parking lot and exhibit buildings, this year’s event will stretch across the museum’s 57 acre property, with some new additions and a close up looks at the beginnings of powered flight.

9). Reynolda House Museum of American Art Reynolda House Museum of American Art is hosting a Reynolda After Hours event Barbecue, Brews, and Blues on the Lawn on Thursday, May 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. This fun and festive event is being presented in conjunction with the exhibition “William Christenberry: Photographs, 1961–2005,”on view in the Museum’s Babcock Wing gallery through June 27, 2010.

10). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents From New Bern to a New Birth of Freedom a free lecture. Before the Emancipation Proclamation, the efforts of North Carolinians of African descent in the New Bern area to end the tyranny of slavery were some of the boldest and most productive in the country. Their impact was regional and national. The heroes were many. This lecture will tell their story of a glorious march from slavery to freedom as liberators and true defenders of the Constitution. Lecture on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Tryon Palace visitor center auditorium. Free.