NCMC Events From Around the State… October 4, 2010

1). Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts On Friday, Oct. 8, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) will open an exhibition that surveys the work of a provocative young group of North Carolina artists titled NCNC - North Carolina New Contemporary. This exhibition showcases eight artists from across the state working in a style that combines traditions of art history, painting and sculpture with urban art practices, graffiti, advertising, animation, video games and comic books.

2). Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens presents Emancipation Communities: North Carolina Contraband/Refugee Camps during the American Civil War with guest speaker Michelle Lanier on Thursday, October 7, 7:00 p.m. Enslaved African-Americans saw the Civil War as a thoroughfare to freedom, humanity and self-determination. By foot, by boat and by wagon, those held in bondage sojourned to environs called James City, Roanoke Island and Freedom Hill. This lecture will describe and define the concept of the Emancipation Community and the radical distinctions between the notions of “contrabands” and “refugees”.

3). Cape Fear Museum presents SciFest on Saturday, October 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit hands-on activity stations throughout the Museum and conduct experiments with local scientists. Find out why there are rocks in your toothpaste. Figure out what happens to your trash. Learn to predict the weather. Discover the amazing ways you use science and technology every day – sometimes without even knowing it.

4). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher Need something to do with the kids while on their fall break? Sign them up for the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s Reptiles and Amphibians AquaCamp! AquaCamp is a day long, fun-filled camp where children can interactively learn about aquatic animals and the environment. Reptiles and Amphibians AquaCamp will be held Thursday, October 14 from 8:30AM - 3:00PM.

5). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts presents, along with Catherine Smith Gallery, Michael Rush, The War of the Rose: A Cautionary Tale. As a part of the Visiting Artists Lectures, Michael Rush will speak about the recent events that occurred at Brandeis University's Rose Art Museum. The decision made by the university to close the museum and sell the collection caused an international uproar. Please join us for this free event to be held Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 from 7-8pm in the Lecture Hall.

6). Guilford College Art Gallery is pleased to host the opening reception for What I Keep: Photographs of the New Face of Homelessness and Poverty by Susan Mullally, October 8, 5-7 pm. Planned in conjunction with the Greensboro Public Library’s One City/One Book reading of “The Soloist,” by Steve Lopez, the exhibition and Mullally’s one-week residency will consider community, economic, and spiritual sustainability. Exhibition runs Oct.8 - Dec.10 and is free and open to the public.

7). Mt. Airy Museum of Regional History presents Local Author Book Signings at the Mt. Airy Museum of Regional History. During the Autumn Leaves Festival, local authors will be signing their books in the Museum Shop. This event is free to the public however a small fee is charged to tour the museum. The museum will remain open until 7pm both Friday and Saturday during Autumn Leaves.

8). Cameron Art Museum presents Richard McMahan’s MINImuseum (on view October 8, 2010 - February 13, 2011). Experience the vast history of art in one exhibition! Self-taught artist Richard McMahan has spent the last 20 years re-creating over 1,100 works of art ranging in date from 30,000 BCE to the present. These tiny replicas of many of the most well-known artworks throughout history comprise “MINImuseum”. Some as small as postage stamps, his amazing works created using recycled materials include miniscule renderings from various periods and cultures around the world.

9). Ava Gardner Museum each year the Ava Gardner Museum celebrates Ava's life and career by hosting the Ava Gardner Festival. This annual event includes heritage tours, screenings of classic Ava Gardner films, and special exhibits. This year’s festival will kickoff during the Ava Gardner Festival Gala on Friday evening, October 8th and will continue Saturday, October 9th from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The 2010 Ava Gardner Festival marks the 10th anniversary of the Ava Gardner Museum.

10). Bennett Place State Historic Site In excess of 125,000 “Tarheels” served in the Confederate Army, more than of any other state, and over 32,000 North Carolina soldiers died during the four-year Civil War. Re-enactors portraying these soldiers will demonstrate camp life during free programs at Bennett Place State Historic Site. Activities will include cooking, musket firings and talks on how North Carolina soldiers came to be known as “Tarheels” on Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.