NCMC Events From Around the State… November 29, 2010

1). Harmony Hall Harmony Hall Plantation presents Christmas Open House at 18th Century Harmony Hall at the site on December 11th from 3pm to 8pm. The program will feature Early American Christmas traditions, violin concerts, wagon rides, tea and refreshments and more!

2). Town Creek Indian Mound Visitors will enjoy stargazing at one of the last dark-sky locations in the Piedmont region at Astronomy Night at Town Creek Indian Mound in Mount Gilead on Dec. 4, from 6-10 p.m. The highlight of the night will be the Orion Nebula, found in the constellation Orion. Other heavenly features including clusters and galaxies will be examined as well. During this time of year, the Department of Cultural Resources encourages residents and visitors alike to get away from the bustle and take a moment to “Make History This Holiday” on a quiet night.

3). N.C. Historic Sites From plum pudding to collard greens, or cotton stalks and popcorn, there will be lots of activity at the free, family-friendly holiday open house programs at Bentonville Battlefield and Aycock Birthplace state historic sites, sharing good cheer and the theme “Make History This Holiday.” Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site will hold its holiday celebration on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring furlough time with a Civil War soldier at Bentonville Battlefield circa 1863. The Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site holds open house on Dec. 7 and 9 from 6:30-9 p.m., recreating a celebration with the Aycock Family circa 1870.

4). Museum of the Albemarle Experience the sights and sounds of the holidays during the Museum of the Albemarle’s Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 4th from 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m. This year’s theme is A Star-Spangled Christmas and complements the Jaycees Christmas parade and the Lighted Boat Christmas Parade. Special Holiday songs will be performed by area musicians. A patriotic themed Christmas Village will greet you when you step into the lobby. Patriotic themed decorations will adorn the main lobby tree. This holiday program is a free family program.

5). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum invites visitors to celebrate the holidays with two great train rides. During Santa Train, Kris Cringle himself will be your fellow passenger as your roll down the tracks. On our Cookies and Cocoa with Santa rides, visitors can enjoy a nighttime train trip to visit the Jolly Old Elf in the Round-house. Santa Train takes place Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. Train rides take place every 45 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. each Saturday of the event. Rides take place every 45 minutes between 1:30 and 3:45 p.m. each Sunday of the event.

6). Historic Stagville The Christmas celebration at the Stagville Plantation traditionally meant fun for all, and visitors will enjoy the Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters program at Historic Stagville in Durham on Saturday, Dec. 4. Guests can make merry with drummers, storytellers and artisans at the pre-Civil War site. At this time of year, the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources encourages visitors and residents, young and old, to “Make History This Holiday” with a visit to State Historic Sites and museums.

7). Historic Halifax Colonial Christmas traditions, along with local art and handmade crafts, will delight young and old at Historic Halifax on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m.-4p.m. Costumed re-enactors of the 5th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line will bring a lively bang with firings of 18th-century muskets. The colonial celebration captures the State Historic Sites theme “Make History This Holiday.”

8). High Point Museum Just in time for the holiday season, High Point Museum will open a mini exhibit in the lobby. Merry Christmas, High Point! will feature Christmas themed objects and images from the Museum’s collection. Coinciding with this exhibit, beginning December 1, an historic Christmas postcard or greeting card will be unveiled daily on the Museum’s Facebook page. Become a fan of the High Point Museum to receive your daily Advent image. “Merry Christmas, High Point!” will be on display in the Museum lobby from December 1 through January 30.

9). N.C. State Capitol The spirit of the holidays will be present at State Capitol’s annual Open House on Thursday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec.12. The halls will be decked with seasonal decorations, and local groups will perform traditional and contemporary holiday music in the rotunda at various times of the day. A Civil War Christmas Encampment will take place on the Capitol grounds Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

10). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts The Hemlocks! The Hemlocks! Grief and Celebration by Lowell Hayes, will be featured in the Mayer Gallery and Gallery B. This series of paintings is a celebration of the life and beauty of the eastern hemlock, and of the rare Carolina Hemlock, which occurs only in the mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Also opening is, In the Void: Sculpture by David Meyer, - an artist whose work explores many aspects of the human condition and the physical world. Both of these exhibitions will be showing December 3, 2010 – March 19, 2011.

NCMC Events From Around the State… November 22, 2010

1). Reynolda House Museum of American Art Candlelight guided tours of historic Reynolda House proved so popular in their first year, they are back again for the 2010 holiday season. On Thursday, Dec. 9, Friday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 11, visitors can choose a guided tour at 4:30, 5:30, or 6:30 p.m., and enjoy live entertainment and refreshments in the Babcock auditorium. Beer and wine will be available for purchase before and after the tour. Tickets are $12 for members and students (18 and under), $18 for non-members and advance purchase strongly suggested.

2). Horne Creek State Farm Historic Site The warmth of a turn-of-the-century Christmas will be shared at Horne Creek Living Historical Farm in Pinnacle on Tuesday, Nov. 30, and Thursday, Dec. 2. Christmas by Lamplight will offer the holidays as the Hauser family and their neighbors would have enjoyed them. Dramatic readings of “The Christmas Story” and the essay “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” along with caroling and organ music will capture the holiday magic and allow visitors to “Make History This Holiday.” Reservations are required for the non-refundable tickets, which must be purchased in advance.

3). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts In the Shadow of the Volcanoes: Contemporary Art from the Mountains of Central Mexico, July 2 - December 4, 2010 in the Main Gallery features paintings, drawings, printmaking, fibers, ceramics and mixed media sculpture by contemporary, Mexican artists. Our six main contemporary artists include: Carlos Arias, Antonio Álvarez Morán, Rosa Borrás, Sergio Gonzalez Angulo, Joaquín Conde, and Luz Elvira Torres, many of whom teach in the School of Arts and Humanities at UDLAP. In addition, we are featuring 20 young and emerging artists that are alumni of UDLAP’s School of Arts and Humanities. Come out and see the exhibition before it closes!

4). The Bascom Looking for that perfect, one-of-a-kind, wonderfully affordable gift for that special someone on your holiday gift list? On November 26-27, from 10 am-5 pm, put your holiday gift shopping behind you at The Bascom's Artists' Marketplace, featuring a gathering of artist tables in the Dave Drake Studio Barn. This is the ideal place to find unique, handmade gifts in ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, and decorative items. While at The Bascom, you can also explore our White Elephant Sale. Don't miss this opportunity to find ideal gifts for everyone on your list!

5). Joel Lane Museum House The Joel Lane Museum House will sponsor its annual Colonial Christmas Open House celebration on Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, 2010, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission is free, and donations are requested. The house will be decorated with traditional greenery and will reflect the very different way in which colonists and early Americans celebrated the Christmas holiday. Information about the house and grounds will be offered by costumed docents; re-enactors will demonstrate scenes of 18th-century life; the sounds of live music will fill the air; and other interpreters will entertain children using colonial games and crafts through the “Hands-on History” program.

6). Historic Oak View County Park Come get in the holidays spirit with your family and Historic Oak View at our annual winter event on December 4th! Decorations and displays showing Christmas at the Oak View Farm: How they celebrated from 1850 to 1950 will be on view in the Main House. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage through Oak View’s Pecan Grove, listen to holiday music and stories in the 1855 farmhouse, drink hot apple cider and listen to a dulcimer player in and around the 1825 Plank Kitchen, buy handcrafted decorations and crafts, and, of course, don’t forget to visit with Old St. Nick!

7). High Point Museum presents 27th Annual Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 5, 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, free! No reservations required.

8). Tryon Palace presents Hands-on History: Three Centuries of Holiday Traditions at the North Carolina History Center on Monday, November 29, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. For three hundred years New Bern has been home to people from many cultures and countries. Stop by our hands-on gallery cart to learn how North Carolinians of different backgrounds have celebrated the holiday season through the centuries.

9). Duke Homestead State Historic Site Pre-school to second-grade students will enjoy the Christmas Traditions and Celebrations program at Duke Homestead State Historic Site. Crafts, songs and homemade gingerbread will highlight the events on Nov. 30-Dec. 2 and Dec. 7-9 from 9 a.m-1 p.m. Donations of $1 per child are requested. Grown-ups and families will enjoy the 1870 Christmas by Candlelight tours on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 from 7-9 p.m. Period costumes, caroling, hot apple cider, dancing and a visit from Santa will be special features of the holiday activities.

10). N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Museum and historic house managers, curators and volunteers will learn the basics of care for artifact collections at a Connecting to Collections (C2C) workshop with demonstrations and hands-on training Monday, Dec. 13, at the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum. Images and hands-on activities will address record keeping, environments for storage and display, and materials and techniques for cleaning and housing artifacts. The registration fee of $20 includes lunch. To register, use this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/c2collectionscarebasicsrockymount .

NCMC Events From Around the State… November 15, 2010

1). Tryon Palace presents African-American Lecture with guest speaker Irene Smalls, “Lady Jonkonnu”, on Thursday, November 18, 7:00pm in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Irene Smalls, referred to as Lady Jonkonnu, is an author, storyteller and historian. Among numerous other accomplishments, Ms. Smalls is a former Miss Black New York State. She is a graduate of Cornell University majoring in Black Studies and has an MBA from New York University. She resides in Boston, MA with her family.

2). Port Discover Preschoolers are invited to check out Super Sound! at Port Discover’s Toddler Time, Thursday, November 18 at 10:00 am. Bang! Clang! Rattle! Take an adventure into the world of sound waves and how sound travels. We will identify sounds and each child will make their own maraca. 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.

3). Mint Museum of Art Visitors to the Mint Museum Randolph will soon have the unique opportunity to view an early masterpiece by American painter Mary Cassatt. The painting, “Madame X Dressed for the Matinée” (1878), comes from the collection of Charlotte and Philip Hanes of Winston-Salem, N.C., who have generously placed it on long-term loan at the Mint. In honor of this important loan, the Museum has organized a small spotlight exhibition on Cassatt. Mary Cassatt’s Madame X: A Masterpiece from the Charlotte and Philip Hanes Collection will be on view 20 November 2010 – 3 April 2011.

4). N.C. Museum of History presents the new exhibit Toys, Toys and More Toys!, opening Wednesday, November 24th. Children and adults will delight in this small lobby exhibit filled with 51 toys, including an electric train that chugs throughout the exhibit. From teddy bears to Beanie Babies, the toys offer a kid’s-eye view of American culture over the last century.

5). Cameron Art Museum presents Richard McMahan’s MINI museum from Oct. 8, 2010 – Feb. 13, 2011. “Big works in small packages” describes the extraordinary work of artist Richard McMahan in his MINI museum. Comprised of 1100 miniature reproductions of great works of art by Picasso, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock, Vincent van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo; as well as cave paintings and historical furniture and decorative arts.

6). Museum of the Cape Fear Get a glittering glimpse of how Victorians in the early 1900s decorated their homes for Christmas. Join a family-friendly tour of the 1897 Poe House to see its winter-themed decorations of silver and white. Shimmering ornaments and local greenery transform this historic home into a holiday showpiece. Tour the Poe House, located at the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, for a special look at the décor from Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, through Jan. 9, 2011.

7). SECCA Josh Tillman, an adjunct professor of music at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), will be performing with two other musicians for the opening of two exhibitions at The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) on Nov. 18. The opening for the exhibitions will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at SECCA, located at 750 Marguerite Drive. The event is free and open to the public with a cash bar (with proper age ID). The exhibits, “Shinique Smith: Every Brick” and “Glenda Wharton: The Zo”, will be on view from Nov. 18, 2010 through Feb. 13, 2011.

8). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum invites you to run a steam locomotive for a once in a lifetime opportunity. With the return of the Flagg 75 coal engine, the museum is offering a new program called, At the Throttle. This November and December, thirty minute sessions will be available for those purchasing a ticket to power the Flagg 75 engine across the south end of the N.C. Transportation Museum, the former Spencer Shops steam locomotive repair facility. Additional dates in March and April, 2011 are also planned.

9). High Point Museum On Saturday, November 20, the High Point Museum is pleased to present some rare film footage. Featuring the historic lowering of the railroad tracks in the late 1930s, the film was made by the Williams family of Kivett Drive. The home movie also reveals various scenes from the black community during this period. This DVD was made possible by Walter Leroy Williams. The film will be shown at 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm.

NCMC Events From Around the State… November 8, 2010

1). Asheville Art Museum Join us for a guided tour of the Museum exhibition Sallie Middleton: A Life in the Forest led by curator Frank Thomson on Friday, November 12, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This event is free with Museum Membership or Museum Admission. Guests will enjoy in-depth information about Sallie Middleton’s work and leave with a new appreciation for her detailed watercolors.

2). SciWorks (http://www.sciworks.org/) Doktor Kaboom is Coming to Winston-Salem!! on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 7pm show - doors open at 6:30 at Reynolds Auditorium. Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration, Doktor Kaboom keeps his audience riveted with interest and rolling with laughter whilst exploring scientific content that ties directly into mandated curriculum standards. Join him for a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular, and often successful, experiments and demonstrations.

3). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts On Tuesday, November 9th, 2010, 4:30-6pm ASU students and children from the Lucy Brock Childcare Center will be creating various crafts throughout the day to place on a temporary Day of the Dead altar that will be set up at the Turchin Center. The community is invited to come and partake in light refreshments, make their own item to place on the altar, listen to Mexican music and meet visiting artist Rosa Borrás whose art can be seen in the Mexico exhibition at the Turchin. This event is free and open to the public.

4). Mt. Airy Museum of Regional History The final Toast and Jam for 2010 will take place on Saturday November 13, 5-7 pm in the Museum Courtyard, 301 N. Main Street Mount Airy, free to the public. Featured winery is Surry Cellars of Surry Community College and music will be provided by Porch Dog Revival. In case of inclement weather, this event will be held in the Museum Annex at 144 W. Oak Street, Mount Airy.

5). Cape Fear Museum presents Photography in Focus a special exhibit that opens November 19. Explore the evolution of photography, from the daguerreotype to the digital camera. Discover how picture-taking technologies have changed, bringing cameras and photographs out of the studio and into the mainstream. See an impressive array of cameras and beautifully framed original images from the Museum’s rich historic collection.

6). SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is presenting two compelling exhibitions showcasing textile-based collage and hand-drawn animation and by artists Shinique Smith and Glenda Wharton, respectively, this month.The exhibits, Shinique Smith: Every Brick and Glenda Wharton: The Zo, will be on view from Nov. 18, 2010 through Feb. 13, 2011. Both exhibitions were curated by SECCA’s Curator of Contemporary Art Steven Matijcio and organized by SECCA.

7). The Bascom Circle Saturday, November 13 on your calendar as The Bascom unveils A Stitch in Time: Quilts. The exhibition opens in The Bascom Loft Gallery. Enjoy this opportunity to examine quilts on loan from local collectors and appreciate functional objects as works of art. The exhibition will be on view through December 18.

8). Port Discover From roots to leaves, children will learn all about trees during Port Discover’s Second Saturday Science, Treetop Topics, Saturday, November 13 at 11:00 am. Rob Davis, a ranger with the North Carolina Forest Services will discuss the environmental importance of trees and the process of reforestation.

9). Reynolda House Museum of American Art Reynolda House Museum of American Art is hosting Storytelling at the Museum: Of Newsboys, Rat Catchers, and Shepherdesses, on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The paintings and prints in the exhibition include family gatherings, parties, political rallies, pictures of life in both the country and the city in the 19th century.

10). High Point Museum Please join the High Point Museum Guild on Wednesday, November 17 at the High Point Museum for their monthly program at 10 am. This month’s subject promises to be a trip down memory lane as former Museum Board Chair and High Point historian, Anne Andrews recalls the early days of the Little Red Schoolhouse. Andrews should know firsthand because she was a student there!

NCMC Events From Around the State… November 1, 2010

1). Reynolda House Museum of American Art Art scholar Charles Peterson will lead a Gallery Talk on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. with an emphasis on the 17th-century Dutch prints featured in the complementary exhibition, “Moralizing in the Age of Rembrandt.” Peterson will demonstrate how these prints, on loan from the Ackland Art Museum, represent connections between morality and emerging market economies in 17th-century Holland and 19th-century America.

2). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Fall Exhibition Celebration on Friday, November 5, 2010 as part of Downtown Boone's First Friday Art Crawl. From 7 - 9pm, the Turchin Center will be open for all visitors to come and celebrate the current exhibitions on display, meet some of the artists, listen to live music and enjoy a refreshing beverage from the cash bar. A special "Members Only" preview will be held prior to the reception from 6-7 p.m. The Turchin Center is pleased to welcome special guests, artists Dan Smith, Greg Bailey, Michael Warrick, Martha Neaves and Rosa Barrás to the reception to participate in the celebration of their works on display.

3). Natural Science Center The Natural Science Center (NSC) is excited to announce that a traveling Exhibition, Bodies Revealed, will open on Saturday, November 6, 2010. “Bodies Revealed” exposes the secrets of the human body in unprecedented detail normally reserved for medical professionals. Visitors of all ages can look deep inside the over 180 carefully preserved specimens, learn about human anatomy and see the effects that disease and unhealthy lifestyles have on the body. The Exhibition, presented by Premier Exhibitions, will be on display at the Museum through March 6, 2011.

4). Joel Lane Museum House The Joel Lane Museum House is delighted to present a lecture on Hiding in Plain Sight: The Water Mills of Wake County by R. Doug Swords at 7 pm on Thursday, November 11 in the Visitors Center. 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 advanced purchase is required.

5). Museum of the Albemarle Catch the Christmas spirit at the Museum of the Albemarle! Enjoy a day at the museum constructing your own holiday decorations during the Deck Those Halls ~ Christmas Designers’ Workshop on Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. This year we will be constructing swags for indoor or outdoor decorating use. Each participant will be able to select their own style of swag that will complement their home. All supplies will be provided in the workshop fee. The workshop fee also includes a delicious catered lunch. Pre-registration and payment is requested by Friday, November 5, 2010.

6). Asheville Art Museum On Saturday, November 6, 2010 the Asheville Art Museum screens Donnie Darko: Director’s Cut at 2:00 p.m. This film screening is at the Asheville Art Museum and is free with Museum Membership or admission. “Donnie Darko” is a cult classic about a sleepwalking Midwestern whose teenage angst is a little sci-fi.

7). Mint Museum Speed, precision, and danger are key elements of the exhibition VantagePoint IX – Janet Biggs: Going to Extremes, on view 5 November 2010 – 29 May 2011 at the Mint Museum Uptown. From a kayaker navigating threatening Arctic waters to a NASCAR pit crew racing against the clock, Biggs’ video subjects tend to lead her to extremes. Biggs will give a lecture discussing the inspiration behind her work on Thursday, November 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the Mint Museum Uptown. The lecture is free and open to the public.

8). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences It’s Terrifying! Fantastic! Startling! It’s King Dinosaur, this month’s First Friday feature at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, showing Friday, November 5 at 7pm. What happens when four romantically inclined scientists are sent to explore a new planet (Nova) that has moved into Earth’s solar system? Well, let’s just say there’s never been a thrill like this!

9). Cape Fear Museum of History and Science On Wednesday, Nov. 10, Cape Fear Museum of History and Science will host Wilmington Goes to the Movies, a fun and unique program on what early movie going was like in this area. UNC film historian Robert Allen will explore turn-of-the century theater experiences in the one-hour program. Using newspaper accounts, photographs, memoirs, and recollections, Allen will recreate the experience of going to an early "nickelodeon" theater, including the performance of an "illustrated song" sung at the Joyland Theater in November 1910.

10). Tryon Palace presents Defending New Bern: 300 Years of Stewardship from Thursday, November 11 - Sunday, November 14, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Thursday - Saturday and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Free admission for all active duty and military veterans with the presentation of their military ID. A special salute to the military men and women who have defended eastern North Carolina for over three centuries! Learn their stories while touring our historic homes and attending special programs and children’s activities in the North Carolina History Center.