ncmuseums

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

Monday, June 28, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… June 28, 2010

1). Joel Lane Museum House The Joel Lane Museum House, “The Birthplace of Raleigh,” will sponsor its annual Independence Day Open House on Sunday, July 4, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Colonel Lane was a founding father of North Carolina’s capital city and an officer in the Wake County militia during the American Revolutionary War. On the grounds, re-enactors will demonstrate various aspects of colonial life such as churning butter and making candles. There will be old-fashioned crafts and games, free lemonade, and live music.

2). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum’s ARTmob invites you to its Summer Soiree on Friday, July 2, 2010 from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. on the top level of the parking deck adjacent to the Museum on Biltmore Avenue. There is a $5 cover charge for this event with all proceeds benefiting the Asheville Art Museum, a non-profit. Join us for sidewalk chalk drawing led by local artists, live music, food, beer and fireworks all with a fantastic view!

3). Museum of the Cape Fear The striking faces and special places of North Carolina will soon be appearing at the Museum of the Cape Fear Cultural Complex on the Celebrate North Carolina: Faces and Places photography exhibit tour of the state. The exhibit will be in Fayetteville from June 29-July 18. The exhibition of 30 photographs features four from 2009 N.C. State Fair winners, eight from the State Archives, and 18 from members of the N.C. Press Photographers Association. Altogether 27 libraries and three museums will present the quality color and black and white images to the people of the state.

4). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents Celebrate Our Freedom: 4th of July Event on Sunday, July 4. Join the Museum, around 2pm in the Courtyard, as we celebrate our freedom on Independence Day with patriotic music, a reading of the "Declaration of Independence" by "Ben Franklin" and free lemonade for everyone! Stay to watch the Mount Airy 4th of July Parade which begins around 3pm.

5). N.C. State Capitol Pack a picnic, bring your lawn chair or a blanket, and enjoy the Independence Day holiday weekend by attending a patriotic celebration on Sunday, July 4. The North Carolina State Capitol will sponsor its traditional free, fun-filled family event from noon to 4 p.m. A highlight will be a naturalization ceremony for approximately 30 new citizens at 12:30 p.m. on the Capitol steps, followed by a Salute to Independence reading of Thomas Jefferson’s most noble achievement, “The Declaration of Independence.”

6). The Turchin Center for Visual Arts Join the Turchin Center at Appalachian State University, Boone, NC on Friday, July 2nd for the Summer Exhibition Celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. The newest exhibits will open to the public at 7 p.m. They include: “In the Shadow of the Volcanoes: Contemporary Art from the Mountains of Central Mexico”, “From Acadia: Tanase Fontenot” and “Italian Holocaust Survivors Remembered” Exhibition.

7). Port Discover Port Discover partners with the Arts of the Albemarle’s Center Players to present the original presentation, What Will You Do Dr, Goo?, on Friday, July 2 at 2 p.m. at Port Discover. The program is free. “What Will You Do, Dr. Goo?” is an original play written and directed by Cheryl Blackwelder. When Dr. Goo is given a secret formula by his arch nemesis, Ms. Evil, the good doctor must use the Scientific Method to save himself before he is turned into…a Flubbity-Wubber! The program is designed especially for elementary-aged scientists and presented by the middle and high school members of the Center Players.

8). Cameron Art Museum presents PuppetArt, an exhibit on view from July 16, 2010 – Jan. 9, 2011. The puppets are here with an opening filled with fun and delights for all ages. The exhibition features large-scale puppets and set designs from the famous Vermont-based Bread and Puppet Theatre, and selected international puppets from various historical periods drawn from the collection of Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts. “PuppetArt” is presented by the Cameron Art Museum in collaboration with the Port City Puppet Festival, sponsored by the Puppeteers of America Southeast Region and the UNCW Office of Cultural Arts. Exhibit opening Thursday, July 15th.

9). Fort Fisher State Historic Site We work on them, play on them and rely on them for everything from food to property value. They are North Carolina’s beloved coastal waters, and they will be the focal point on Saturday, July 10, when the Fort Fisher State Historic Site partners with local artists to host a program titled Life on Fort Fisher’s Waterways. Scheduled for 10 a.m.– 4 p.m., this free event is part of “2nd Saturdays,” a statewide summer initiative at the Department of Cultural Resources’ State Historic Sites and museums.

10). Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum presents Ahoy Pyrates! 10a.m. - 4p.m. on Saturday, July 10. Join local artists and crafters, and learn about buccaneers. Displays include: canvasback decoys, dolls and puppets, oil painting, watercolor portraiture, sea glass jewelry and more. 2nd Saturdays is a statewide event highlighting our history with speakers, arts, children’s crafts, food and music. Free. No registration necessary.

Monday, June 21, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… June 21, 2010

1). Bennett Place State Historic Site Bennett Place State Historic Site will recreate a Confederate field hospital on June 26-27, to share the experience of the surgeon, nurses and stewards who worked to save lives. Medical demonstrations will show the removal of a bullet and amputation procedures. The Saturday schedule is 10 a.m.-4p.m.; Sunday is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.

2). Kings Mountain Historical Museum The Kings Mountain Historical Museum is pleased to inform the public of our current exhibit, What Did Our Ancestors Wear? which will run through August 21, 2010. Many examples of clothing, accessories, under garments from the 18th to mid 20th century will be exhibited; also featuring a "dress-up corner" for children to try on reproduction clothing and a great photo opportunity.

3). Asheville Art Museum invites you to join a special Art Break on Friday, July 9, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. special Art Break features Scott Riviere, lender to the exhibition “Limners to Facebook: Portraiture from the 19th to the 21st Century”. Riviere is a collector local to Asheville. Riviere is active in historical preservation in Asheville and has served as chair and vice chair of the Historic Resources Commission. Come hear him discuss his collection, portraits and the historical importance of these both during a Friday Art Break.

4). Ackland Art Museum In partnership with the Cassilhaus Artist Residency, the Ackland Art Museum presents collage and assemblage artist Aldwyth in conversation with the Ackland's Curator of Collections Timothy Riggs on Thursday, June 24, at 6:00 PM. A reception with the artist will follow at Cassilhaus and feature a tour of her studio and a small selection of works seen in the acclaimed traveling exhibition “Aldwyth: work v. / work n. - Collage and Assemblage 1991-2009”, which premiered at the Ackland in 2009.

5). Discovery Place Discovery Place will open its doors to a new era and to the public free of charge on Sunday, June 27, as part of a celebration that concludes the Museum’s $31.6 million renovation. The finale of the 18-month renovation brings all new interactive science and technology exhibits to Discovery Place, including extraordinary new experiences such as a diverse aquarium, a brand new 3D digital theatre, and new lab stations for hands-on science.

6). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher asks you to thank the ocean through a breathtaking new exhibit. The Aquarium installed its Thank You Ocean exhibit showcasing photography by local but world famous photographers Scott Marshall, Logan Mock-Bunting, and DJ Struntz. The ocean photos feature images such as stingrays, fishermen, and waves barreling into the camera.

7). Museum of the Albemarle Come to the Museum of the Albemarle Tuesday June 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. to learn all about coastal North Carolina. Learn about coastal animals, tides and weather; make a sea turtle collage, see how a hurricane works, and make your own beach scene using real sand! This is a free family program.

8). Weatherspoon Art Museum is pleased to present the exhibition Arnold Mesches: The FBI Files (June 19 – Sept. 5). The artwork chronicles the F.B.I.’s surveillance of Mesches for 27 years, beginning in the McCarthy era. Eleven years ago, Mesches obtained access to the files under the Freedom of Information Act, and turned them into art. The exhibition at the Weatherspoon includes a selection of collages from the overall project as well as large-scale paintings inspired by the experience.

9). The Bascom On Sunday, June 27 from 2-3 p.m., experience the Treasures of Private Collections exhibit through the eyes of curator Kaye Gorecki. The exhibition comprises glass by Dale Chihuly, photography by Dorothea Lange, sculpture from Indonesia, prayer carpets, handcrafted rifles and decoys, and paintings by emerging contemporary artists. There is no charge and no pre-registration necessary.

Monday, June 14, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… June 14, 2010

1). High Point Museum (http://www.highpointmuseum.org/) presents Early American Dancing & Courting Rituals in the Historical Park on Saturday, June 19, 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, June 20, 1 pm to 4 pm. If you enjoy the dancing scenes in the Jane Austen movies, you won’t want to miss this program. Come try out some popular country dances of the late 18th and early 19th century. No experience necessary! You’ll also learn about courting rituals of the time. All ages welcome.

2). Weatherspoon Art Museum (http://weatherspoon.uncg.edu/) presents the 7th Annual Weatherspoon Summer Solstice “Big Shot” Party on Friday, June 18, 7-9 pm. “Big Shots: Andy Warhol Polaroids” features approximately 300 Polaroids and 70 gelatin silver black-and-white prints pooled from the many donated to the Weatherspoon Art Museum, the Nasher Museum of Art, and the Ackland Art Museum in 2008 by the Andy Warhol Photographic Legacy Program, a division of the Andy Warhol Foundation in celebration of the foundation’s 20th anniversary.

3). Museum of the Albemarle Join the Museum of the Albemarle on Wednesday, June 16, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon learning about the Coast Guard H-60 helicopter. Participants will learn facts about the H-60 Sikorsky Helicopter, envision the size by measuring out a rotor blade and the length of the helicopter, talk to crew members from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City and make a model using creative art. A snack will be provided. Limited space and registration is required, open to children completing 1st through 4th grades.

4). The Bascom North Carolina-based, internationally-acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty will complete the construction of a site specific sapling sculpture at The Bascom in June. The art center will celebrate this new large-scale outdoor sculpture with an outdoor public reception on Saturday, June 19, 5-7 pm. The public is invited (free admission). At 6 pm on June 19th, standing by the newly created work, the artist will give a talk about his sculpture. Art critics call his work "magical art installations".

5). The Turchin Center for Visual Arts Sign up now for summer art classes! The Community Art School at the Turchin Center presents many opportunities for all ages. The mission of the Community Art School is to make the diversity, creativity, and critical thinking found in the visual arts more accessible to the regional Appalachian community. Please visit the Community Art School calendar, located at http://www.turchincenter.org/cas.php4 for more information and to register.

6). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Discover what puts the “fire” in fireflies when the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh opens GLOW: Living Lights, a new special exhibit on display from June 19 through September 12, 2010. Don’t miss the first ever museum exhibition to explore the phenomenon of bioluminescence ― an organism’s ability to produce its own light.

7). Fort Fisher State Historic Site On Saturday, June 19, 2010, 10am – 4pm, Fort Fisher State Historic Site will link our Civil War history with our current military neighbors in the event Support Our Troops: Making Connections, 1865 to 2010. During the American Civil War, Wilmington residents supported the Confederate garrison at Fort Fisher, much as members of the public today show their support for our modern military. This event will emphasize the ways in which the public supported Fort Fisher’s garrison in 1865 and help visitors find ways to support our men and women fighting overseas.

8). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum invites you to take an Art Break and enjoy story time with Nancy Sokolove in the Nouns: Children’s Book Artists Look at People, Places and Things exhibition on Friday, June 25, 2010 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Art breaks are free with Museum Membership or admission.

Monday, June 07, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… June 7, 2010

1). N.C. State Capitol (http://www.ncstatecapitol.org/) Barbecue and artists’ booths, crafts and birthday cake, and a birthday sing-along will all be part of the 170th State Capitol free birthday celebration on June 12 from noon-4 p.m. It’s also one of the 2nd Saturdays programs to be presented all summer at the 37 historic sites and museums within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

2). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum’s 2010 Family Rail Days Festival, scheduled June 12 and 13, will celebrate the golden age of railroading and offer something for every member of the family. Featuring historic locomotives and rail cars displayed alongside modern rail equipment, the event will give visitors a chance to enjoy train rides, great music, model train layouts and a model train expo.

3). Orange County Historical Museum Join us on Sunday, June 13 at 4pm for a free presentation by North Carolina Humanities Road Scholar speaker, Dr. Roxanne Newton. Dr. Newton will present Hard Times in the Mill: Working Lives Past and Present. In addition to the speaker, we encourage participants to bring their own mill memorabilia so we can digitize and protect the items for the enjoyment of future generations. At 5:30pm stay after our Mill event and participate in the Foundation's Annual Dinner. The dinner will be $20 per person and tickets will be sold in advance.

4). Somerset Place State Historic Site The sounds of metal clanging, wood scraping and needles piercing fabric will all blend at the Somerset Place Craftsman’s Fair on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s one of more than 100 free 2nd Saturdays programs at the 37 state museums and historic sites within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The free, fun, family-friendly events will offer authentic experiences to all on June 12, July 10 and Aug. 14.

5). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents Toast and Jam at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History on Saturday June 12 from 5 - 7pm. Good Wine, Good Music, and a Taste of Mount Airy, all set in the museum’s picturesque courtyard. This monthly program is scheduled for the second Saturday of each month (June-September), from 5:00-7:00 PM will showcase a number of the regions wineries as well as local musical talent. The wineries will be offering wine tasting and sales, along with a brief educational program about their wines between musical sets.

6). N.C. Museum of History presents Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina on Friday, June 11, 1:00 – 2:30pm. “Down Home” is part of the first major effort to document and present more than 400 years of Jewish life in North Carolina. Produced and organized by the Jewish Heritage Foundation of North Carolina (JHFNC), the exhibit chronicles how Jews have integrated into Tar Heel life by blending their own traditions into Southern culture, while preserving their ethnic and religious traditions.

7). Museum of the Albemarle The Museum of the Albemarle will take a look at the history of blacks in the Albemarle region from the Colonial period, through slavery, the Jim Crow era, and into the present on Saturday, June 12 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.. Period presenters as well as modern-day artists and craftsmen will enhance themes and artifacts presented in Our Story. Dee Ponte of Albemarle Plantation will demonstrate chair caning and answer your questions regarding this interesting craft. Children of all ages can participate in hands-on activities: candle dipping, marble making and doll making.

8). Historic Stagville State Historic Site Tall tales and music, artisanal bread and baskets, and more are among the many family fun activities to be found at Historic Stagville on Saturday, June 12, at its 2nd Saturdays program Juneteenth Celebration: Forever Free. The free event includes arts, history and food, and is one of more than 100 2nd Saturdays events being presented by the 37 state historic sites and museums of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources on June 12, July 10 and Aug. 14.

9). Bentonville Battlefield Ever wonder what it’s like to be an archaeologist? Find out at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site’s initial 2nd Saturdays program, Art and Archaeology: Remembering Bentonville Soldiers, to be held Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Assistant State Archaeologist John Mintz will demonstrate archaeology tips and techniques and discuss Civil War-era findings from previous excavations at the site.

10). Port Discover Boom! Gong! Ting! How is sound made? What makes sounds different? Dr. Chris Palestrant, Associate Professor of Music at Elizabeth City State University, will present the Science of Sound at Port Discover’s Second Saturday Science, June 12, 11 a.m. Through a series of entertaining and interactive activities, Dr. Palestrant will guide children through the science of sound. Dr. Palestrant was recently named Teacher of the Year at Elizabeth City State University.

11). Historic Bethania Historic Bethania celebrates the 251st Anniversary of our town! Plan to visit Bethania on June 12, 2010 from 11:00 to 2:00pm and enjoy birthday cake and delicious Ice Cream while listening to the music and vocals of Grammy winner Craig Smith on banjo, Jeff Foxall on mandolin, and Robert Sprye on bass.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

NCMC Events From Around the State… June 1, 2010

1). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA presents Fire on Target! Inside the Firepower of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, June 12th, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. You have seen them, you might have even heard them yet you still wonder how did those big guns on the Battleship hit their targets with such precision? Explore the guns and fire control system from top to bottom through an engaging and in depth program. This day long event will explore the workings of the ship’s guns and the system that enabled her to locate, pinpoint and fire upon targets. Register by Friday, June 4th. $95 per person, includes lunch. 910-251-5797.

2). N.C. Transportation Museum presents 2010 Family Rail Days on June 12-13, 2010, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Re-live the golden years of railroading with a weekend full of family fun! Train rides, model trains, live music, children's activities, the Rail Days Chili Cook-off and more!

3). Marbles Kids Museum Everyone wanted to be a superhero when they were a kid and now Marbles Kids Museum is providing that chance with the Superheroes Ball on Saturday, June 5. Grown-ups unite for an epic evening that will have guests dancing to live music, enjoying cocktails and dinner, and celebrating two local Superheroes for their contributions to kids and the community.

4). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents the 4th annual Book and Author Dinner featuring Sharyn McCrumb, five times New York Best Selling Author and Adam Edwards, NASCAR/ARCA driver and co-author of the newly released book "Faster Pastor." This event will be held at Cross Creek Country Club beginning at 6pm on Friday June 4. Tickets are $60. For further information or to purchase tickets, call the museum at 336-786-4478.

5). Catawba County Historical Association is proudly hosting its 12th Annual Storytelling Festival on Friday, June 4, 2010. The Festival is held on the grounds of Historic Murray's Mill at 1489 Murray's Mill Road, Catawba, NC, from 9:30 until 12:30. Tickets are $5 per person. Children aged 5 and under are free. The increasingly popular Festival shares the educational and entertaining oral history tradition of the Carolinas.

6). Turchin Center for Visual Arts presents Downtown Boone First Friday Art Crawl on Friday, June 4, 2010, 5 - 8pm. Each month the Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA) hosts the Art Crawl which happens every First Friday.Event hours are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. with galleries and shops open until 7:30 p.m., restaurants and bars open until 10 p.m. or 2 a.m. and two late-night galleries, open on Art Crawl nights only, from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Also, check out Art Crawl Presents… a music event featuring one of our great local bands, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., at a new downtown location each month.

7). Historic Bath State Historic Site The challenges and rewards of agricultural life will be shared at Historic Bath during the Pickin’ and Diggin’: Life in Eastern North Carolina program from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 12. The program is one of more than 100 free, fun, family-friendly events on 2nd Saturdays at the 37 state museums and historic sites. Fantastic fun and authentic experiences await folks all across the state on June 12, July 10 and Aug. 14.

8). Kings Mountain Historical Museum The Kings Mountain Historical Museum is pleased to announce the opening of What Did Our Ancestors Wear? which will run through August 21, 2010. View many examples of clothing, accessories, undergarments from the 18th to mid 20th century. Featuring a "dress-up corner" for children to try on reproduction clothing and have their picture taken.

9). Duke Homestead State Historic Site Stained glass, storytelling, woodcarving and wind chimes are a few of the crafts and demonstrations that will be part of the Herb, Garden and Craft Festival at Duke Homestead State Historic Site on Saturday, June 12. The program is one of more than 100 free events in the 2nd Saturdays series being held at the 37 museums and state historic sites within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

10). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum’s ARTmob invites you to its Summer Soiree on Friday, July 2, 2010 from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. on the top level of the parking deck adjacent to the Museum on Biltmore Avenue. There is a $5 cover charge for this event with all proceeds benefiting the Asheville Art Museum, a non-profit. Join us for sidewalk chalk drawing led by local artists, live music, food, beer and fireworks all with a fantastic view!