ncmuseums

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

Monday, February 28, 2011

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 28, 2011

1). Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site “Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?” was a common question heard on the television show “You Bet Your Life” in 1959 when the Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site first opened its doors. That question and many more will be asked on March 3 at 7 p.m., when Aycock Birthplace will hold its second annual “Civil War Trivia Contest”. Categories include “Way Down South in the Land of Cotton,” “What’s Your Name?” “Chickens in the Breadpan Pickin’ Out Dough” and “So You Want To Be in Pictures?”

2). Museum of the Albemarle The Guild of Museum Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle will be sponsoring a presentation and luncheon on Thursday, March 3, 2011 featuring Edith Mayo, Curator Emeritus, in Political History at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The topic of her presentation is “The Role of Greek Sororities in Women’s Higher Education.” The talk, to be followed by lunch, will take place at the First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City, 201 S. Road Street, and is open to members and non-members.

3). Marbles Kids Museum presents “Dig-In Community Garden Summit” with Advocates for Health in Action on Saturday, March 5 - 8:30am-1:00pm. Dig in the dirt with Advocates for Health in Action at Marbles Kids Museum. Learn to build, maintain and sustain a community garden through informative workshops and booths. Whether your neighborhood, workplace or school is looking to grow healthy, fresh food, or you’re a home gardener looking for tips and advice, “Dig In” is for you! This summit is free and open to the public.

4). Cameron Art Museum presents “GALLERY CONVERSATIONS: Anne Brennan and Daphne Holmes” on Sun. Mar. 6, 3:00 pm. Cost: Museum Admission, CAM Members: no cost. Twice a month you can join in the fun of this new informal series of with various members of CAM’s staff discussing the art work on view. Anne Brennan, assistant director, and Daphne Holmes, curator of public programs share the conversation in Feb. and Mar. taking closer looks at the work and themes in recently opened exhibitions.

5). Outer Banks History Center Recently the Bodie Island Lighthouse has been encased in more than 2,000 pieces of scaffolding while undergoing restoration. The current lighthouse, first lit in 1872, is the third beacon to bear the name Bodie Island Lighthouse. Learn the history of all three sea coast lights next month in the exhibit “The Lighthouses at Bodie Island: Third Time’s The Charm.” Join the Friends of the Outer Banks History Center, staff, and members of the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society for the opening reception, “First Friday,” on March 4 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

6). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher presents “Scales and Tails” on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday March 6, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. See, touch, and learn about our cold-blooded neighbors. Staff and invited experts will introduce you to dozens of live amphibians and reptiles, including alligators, frogs and toads, salt and freshwater turtles, snakes, salamanders, iguanas, lizards, tortoises and more! All ages. Regular Aquarium admission rates apply.

7). Cape Fear Museum presents “B.W. Wells: Pioneer Ecologist”, Special Exhibit Opens March 4. Explore the breathtaking nature photography of ecologist B.W. Wells and discover his passion for the flora and fauna of the Lower Cape Fear region. Inspired in 1920 by the beautiful wildflowers of Pender County’s Big Savannah, Wells dedicated himself to documenting North Carolina’s native plants. In this exhibit, the story of Wells’ efforts to preserve the Big Savannah is told through a wealth of stunning photographs he took to document his research.

8). Hickory Museum of Art is hosting a new exhibition by Fanjoy Labrenz, “Scene Unseen”, beginning February. “Scene Unseen” is a photography and videography installation by Hickory artists Sally Fanjoy and James Labrenz. The Museum’s main gallery has been transformed through the use of digitally projected stills and video images on walls and LCD screens, as well as large photographs printed on aluminum. The exhibition runs in the Coe Gallery through April 15.

9). N.C. Transportation Museum The N.C. Transportation Museum brings history to life Friday, March 4, during "Night at the North Carolina Transportation Museum." Those who lived and worked around the machines of the past will tell their stories during this third annual event. These special free tours take place at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

10). Greensboro Children’s Museum will hold is annual “Kickoff to Kindergarten Parent Days” event on February 28th from 11-1pm and 5-7pm. This drop-in event is free to the public and was created to help parents prepare for their child’s first day of Kindergarten or Pre-Kindergarten. Representatives from Guilford County Schools and other community pre-K resources will be available to answer questions regarding transportation, school health & nutrition, after-school options, English as a second language, PTA, and Kindergarten curriculums.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 21, 2011

1). Greensboro Children’s Museum presents “Black Diamond: Satchel Paige and the Negro Leagues” on Sunday, Feb. 27th 2-3:30pm. A musical for young people by Washington, D.C.'s Discovery Theater and a Smithsonian Favorite! Especially developed for ages 3 -10. Score a home run with this inspirational musical play about America's national pastime in the days of segregation. Cosponsored by the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

2). Duke Homestead State Historic Site A lecture, “Red Strings: Unionist Sentiment in Piedmont, North Carolina,” presented by N.C. Division of State Historic Sites Assistant Education Curator Jeff Bockert, will commence on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. It kicks off commemorative events at Duke Homestead State Historic Site. Light refreshments will be provided. The program is the first in a series of events at Duke Homestead for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. Bockert will discuss the anti-secessionist political efforts during the antebellum period in the Piedmont.

3). Maria V. Howard Arts Center The walls of the Maria V. Howard Arts Center in Rocky Mount are swimming with colorful creatures! David Edgar’s “Tides of the Plastiquarium” exhibition is being featured January 22 – May 8, 2011. As a part of the Spring Exhibitions series, Mr. Edgar is presenting a one-day workshop February 26 to instruct participants (ages 13-up) how to use recyclable plastic containers to create these fanciful creatures. For more information, contact: Jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov.

4). Port Discover To commemorate February being Heart Health Month, Albemarle Hospital’s Community Health Nurse Pamela Etheridge, RN, BSN, will present “Body Check” at Port Discover’s Afterschool Science program on Thursday, February 24, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Kids are invited to attend while we investigate ways to keep your body healthy. They will learn things from how to monitor their hearts to what to do in an emergency, and more.

5). The State Capitol The State Capitol and the Richard B. Harrison Library will host a session of the 2011 National African American Read-In on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Read-In will be held at the State Capitol from 2-4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The event is held in recognition of Black History Month. The public is invited to share favorite passages from the writings of contemporary and historical black authors.

6). The Bascom The second Bascom “Winter Barn Dance” of the season is on Saturday, February 26th, from 7-10 pm. Celebrate the service of our police, firefighters and EMS to the community. Gather with friends and neighbors and relive the memories of a great Highlands' tradition. Enjoy the music of Cashiers’ “The Wild Hog Band” sponsored by Jon and Bobbie Golden. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the door. Admission for honorees is complimentary. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Don't miss it.

7). Discovery Place
For thousands of years humans have been manipulating the elements and the world’s raw materials and constantly generating new materials that function differently. The Museum will offer an opportunity to get hands-on with the latest in cutting-edge materials that are stronger, smaller, cleaner and smarter by exploring the innovative elements of materials science during a special “MAKING STUFF Weekend at Discovery Place”, February 25-27, 2011.

8). Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Visit Fort Dobbs State Historic Site on Feb. 26-27 for a glimpse into military operations and camp life during the harrowing Cherokee War that pitted native warriors against provincial soldiers protecting English settlers on the country’s western frontier. Living history interpreters portraying provincial soldiers and Cherokee warriors will present musket and cannon firing demonstrations, as well as on-going demonstrations of 18th-century military and American-Indian camp life on the 251st anniversary of the battle. Free programs run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.

9). Transylvania Heritage Museum At the 125th County Celebration, hundreds of citizens signed banners in support of the creation of a County Museum. Twenty-five years later, The Transylvania Heritage Museum is proud to announce the opening of new exhibits on Saturday, February 19th at 1:00 as we begin the celebration of Transylvania County's Sesquicentennial Year. The Exhibit is entitled "The Transylvania Tapestry" and focuses on the variety of people who have come to Transylvania County and helped shape its history.

10). Reynolda House The yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway culminates with a free talk by Winston-Salem native W. Jeff Miller at Reynolda House Museum of American Art on Wednesday, February 23 at 7 p.m. The event coincides with the current exhibition at Reynolda House, “Trains that Passed in the Night: The Photographs of O. Winston Link,” on view through June 19, 2011. The Norfolk & Western Railway, the subject of the exhibition, reached as far south as Winston-Salem, and the Southbound Railway continued the lines into the southwestern areas of North Carolina, having a significant impact on the local economy. The exhibition will be open to guests attending the event.

Monday, February 14, 2011

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 14, 2011

1). Tryon Palace presents Lunch and Learn: “Perukes, Pates, and Periwigs: Wigs in 18th-century Fashion” on Wednesday, February 16, 12:00 p.m. Speaker: Nancy Packer, Tryon Palace Director of Collections and Chief Curator North Carolina History Center - Free admission; bring your own lunch, beverages will be provided. For over a century, wealthy and even not-so-wealthy Americans and Europeans regularly shaved their heads, then re-covered them with elaborate, costly, and often uncomfortable wigs. What lay behind the all-consuming passion for wigs in 18th-century culture? Learn more about the truths, myths, and curious facts about wigs in 18th-century fashion.

2). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to present a lecture and Museum tour titled “Whistler as Printmaker: From Realism to Impressionism and Beyond” on Saturday, February 19, 2011 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Forum of Pack Place and the Asheville Art Museum. Kenneth Myers, Chief Curator and Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts, will discuss the three major phases in Whistler’s career as a printmaker which culminated in the famous prints he completed in Venice in 1879 and 1880 and the great late etchings he completed in Amsterdam in 1889.

3). Charlotte Nature Museum Little scientists are needed to join a nationwide Citizen Science bird counting effort right in Charlotte’s very own backyard! Join us for a feathered world of fun at Charlotte Nature Museum’s February “Creature Feature” event “Great Backyard Bird Count”, Saturday, February 19, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. As part of a national study project at Cornell University, this annual event engages bird-watchers nationwide to count birds and tally the species observed in order to investigate trends in bird populations, migrations habitats and more.

4). Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson will re-introduce two historical time periods when it presents “Wanted: Preparing for War: the 146th Anniversary of the Fall of Ft. Anderson and the 245th Anniversary of the Stamp Act Crisis” this February 19-20, 2011. Highlights of the two-day program include special guided tours of Battery B (normally closed to the public) and a presentation by Dr. Chris Fonvielle on “Building Up for War: Constructing the Cape Fear Defenses.” The living history program is free and will feature Civil War infantry and artillery demonstrations, sutlers (vendors), a blacksmith, and a period photographer. That evening, historians in period costume will participate in vignettes that recall the 1765 -1766 Stamp Act Rebellion in the Cape Fear region. The Stamp Act program will be interactive with audience participation.

5). Guilford College Art Gallery presents “Stickworks at Guilford College - Artist’s Talk”. Acclaimed environmental sculptor Patrick Dougherty will give a talk about his work, Sunday, February 20, at 2 p.m. in Bryan Jr. Auditorium, Frank Family Science Center, on the Guilford campus. Dougherty will reflect on his experiences building a monumental, site-specific, sapling sculpture at Guilford College, and will share anecdotes about some of the more than 200 other temporary sculptures he has built around the world.

6). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA Learn about and explore the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA's power house of armament at the “Firepower Program” on February 19, 2011, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. This all day event is a stimulating program that will discuss the Ship's 16-inch and 5-inch guns from the gun houses to the ammunition loading compartments; the 40mm and 20mm guns, and the weapons that they replaced (1.10 and 50 caliber guns).

7). Port Discover Preschoolers will learn about how their hearts work, what food helps their hearts stay healthy, and more during “Keeping the Beat!” Port Discover’s Toddler Time program, on Thursday, February 17 at 10:00 am. Children will discover how to create their own stethoscopes. “Keeping the Beat!” is a part of Port Discover's Kinetic Kids programs made possible by University Health Systems Foundation and Albemarle Hospital Foundation. Toddler Time is a special 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.

8). Turchin Center for the Visual Arts “Lunch and Learn” Wednesday, February 16th, 12noon. Join installation artist, David Meyer, as he discusses his newest work from the exhibition Into the Void. Meyer's work explores many aspects of the human condition in relationship to the physical world through a unique approach to materials and objects. His work ranges from installations to simple objects that compel the viewer to take a second look. Bring a bagged lunch and we will provide bottled water.

9). Museum of the Albemarle “Pre-Schooler Time” will be held on Thursday, February 10, and Wednesday, February 16, 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. Children will discover the different traditions of Valentine’s over the years, read a book, view Valentine Cards from the Museum’s collection and participate in a hands-on activity. Free family program.

10). Historic Halifax State Historic Site The town of Halifax and its connection to the maritime Underground Railroad will be highlighted Saturday, Feb. 19, with a program at 2 p.m. in the Historic Halifax visitor center. Michelle Lanier, Curator of Multicultural Initiatives with the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites, will give a presentation on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, a program directed by the National Park Service to identify significant sites where enslaved African Americans made attempts to gain their freedom by escaping bondage. The Roanoke River in North Carolina has been designated as a route to freedom along the network (http://www.nps.gov/history/ugrr/).

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

NCMC Events From Around the State… February 7, 2011

1). Museum of Anthropology presents “LECTURE: Change and Stability: Cultures and Climate of the North Carolina Piedmont in Prehistory” on Tuesday, February 15, 7:00pm. As part of a series of talks about North Carolina archaeology, J. Ned Woodall, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Wake Forest University, will discuss the impact of climate change on Native American groups in North Carolina prior to the arrival of Europeans. Admission is free.

2). NC Dept. of Cultural Resources It is called a brother’s war, and nowhere was that more true than in North Carolina. The American Civil War claimed more lives than any military engagement undertaken by this country. North Carolina lost at least 35,000 soldiers, more than any other Southern state, and great hardships were suffered by those both at war and left at home. In observance of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War (1861-1865), the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources has organized the “Freedom, Sacrifice, Memory: Civil War Sesquicentennial Photography Exhibit” to travel the state from April 1, 2011, through spring 2013 as part of its commemoration (www.nccivilwar150.com).

3). Historic Oak View County Park On February 12, 2011, we will open the traveling exhibition "From Morning to Night: Domestic Service in the Gilded Age South." This exhibition comes to us from Maymont Foundation in Richmond, VA, and tells the story of a predominantly African American labor corps - barely a generation removed from slavery - that worked primarily in white households as cooks, maids, laundresses, nursemaids, butlers, and chauffeurs. This exhibition will remain on display in the Main Farmhouse through June 12, 2011.

4). Reynolda House Museum of American Art presents spring exhibition, on view February 19–June 19, 2011 - “Trains that Passed in the Night: The Photographs of O. Winston Link”. Exhibition opening party will take place Friday, February 18, 7-9pm. Members and students free, non-members $5. “I hear the train a-comin’, it’s rollin’ ’round the bend…” Reynolda House’s spring exhibition opens with a party featuring The Bo-Stevens performing the train songs of Johnny Cash, menu selections from the dining car, a cash bar, and admission to the main floor of the historic house.

5). SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts (SECCA) is pleased to announce launch of “Crossroads @ SECCA”, a new concert series to be held at the recently renovated McChesney Scott Dunn Auditorium which kicks off on February 19, features renowned artists whose creative explorations that blur the boundaries of musical genres. Making their Winston-Salem debut during the inaugural Crossroads performance are two groups: Jim White, a super creative singer-songwriter (accompanied by a 4 piece band) & The South Memphis String Band.

6). Museum of the Albemarle The Museum of the Albemarle will present a Civil War Living History Day, Saturday, February 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to commemorate the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Elizabeth City, fought February 10, 1862. Demonstrations, mustering of the troops and artillery and musket firing will occur on The Green and at Waterfront Park as part of the day’s events. Members of the Tar Heel Civilians, a North Carolina Civil War reenactment group will be presenting programs that bring the civilian aspect of the wartime era to the public. This event will explore the hardships and depravation of the War by featuring living history presentations by navy and artillery, and civilian re-enactors.

7). Tryon Palace presents Lunch and Learn: “Fashion c. 1770” on Thursday, February 10, 12:00 p.m. Speaker: Laura Poppe, Tryon Palace Historic Clothing Interpreter, North Carolina History Center, Large Orientation Theater. Free admission; bring your own lunch, beverages will be provided. Do you ever wonder how many layers Martha Washington put on every morning? Or what the term “small clothes” meant? Perhaps you’re interested in the intricacies of a well-built pair of stays or a fashionably-cut gentleman’s coat. Learn about these questions and more during our lecture on clothing worn by men and women of the late 1770s.

8). SciWorks Throughout this country and the world, African-Americans have made significant contributions in the fields of science and technology. The “African-American Scientists and Inventors” exhibit (through April 2011) shows familiar items from our homes, communities, and offices that have been influenced by the patented inventions of African-American individuals. The items displayed illustrate the principles behind the invention and are not the actual invention. They are modern-day counterparts of the original invention.

9). Cameron Art Museum 6th Annual Civil War Living History: “Forks Road Battlefield Presents”, Fri. Feb. 11 Schools-only day and Sat. Feb. 12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. On Saturday the Cameron Art Museum commemorates the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Forks Road on the museum's historic site with “Forks Road Battlefield Presents”, a look into preparations as the Civil War began. This year the sixth annual event focuses on the daily routine of newly enlisted soldiers during war time. Confederate, Union and U.S. Colored Troop reenactors are on site to provide a glimpse into the camp life of soldiers in the 1860s. The day also includes infantry and artillery demonstrations, artisans demonstrations, family art activities, and more.

10). Tryon Palace Disasters come in many forms — natural, human-generated, intentional, and unintentional — and all are capable of causing significant property damage. Sometimes priceless documents and artifacts are damaged or lost. The North Carolina Connecting to Collections Project (C2C) will sponsor an Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Workshop hosted by Tryon Palace in New Bern on Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m-3 p.m. Staff, board members and volunteers at cultural organizations will be instructed on how to respond to emergency situations.