NCMC Events From Around the State… April 23, 2012


1). N.C. Museum of History Pulitzer Prize-winning author James M. McPherson is coming to Raleigh in April to present a lecture at the N.C. Museum of History. Widely known as a pre-eminent Civil War scholar, he will present When Will This Cruel War Be Over? on Sunday, April 29, at 2 p.m. Sign up early to reserve a seat in Daniels Auditorium. To register and reserve a ticket, call 919-807-7992. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org or in the Museum Shop. Tickets cost $5 per person (free for Museum of History Associates members). The program is part of the museum’s Civil War Sesquicentennial lecture series.

2). Asheville Art Museum The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to present The Essential Idea: Robert Motherwell’s Graphic Works from March 31 – August 26, 2012. This exhibition highlights the groundbreaking work of master printmaker and Abstract Expressionist Robert Motherwell. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum will host a reception and guest lecture by esteemed Motherwell scholar Mary Ann Caws on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

3). Tryon Palace Tryon Palace is pleased to announce that the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival will present Springtime Masterpieces featuring pieces for String Sextet by Elgar, Schoenberg and Brahms, on Saturday, April 28, in Cullman Performance Hall at the North Carolina History Center, 529 S. Front Street in New Bern. Performance time is 8 pm. Doors and seating begin at 7 pm. A special reception will follow the performance for audience members and performers to meet.

4). Bennett Place State Historic Site  presents the 147th Anniversary of the Surrender & 50th Anniversary of Bennett Place State Historic Site on April 28-29, 2012. This program will include living history interpreters and a recreation of the meeting between Generals Johnston and Sherman at the site of the largest surrender of Confederate forces in the Civil War. In addition, historians and authors will give presentations on the war in the site’s visitor center. The program will also highlight the 50th anniversary of the founding of Bennett Place State Historic Site.

5). Port Discover Port Discover and the Museum of the Albemarle presents To Soar and To Serve: Aviation in the Albemarle on Saturday April 28 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. at the Museum of the Albemarle. The daylong celebration spotlights the history and science of the region’s rich aviation history, with a special focus on the United States Coast Guard. The event is part of the 2012 North Carolina Science Festival.

6). SECCA The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is hosting a public opening for two new spring shows April 27. These two outstanding exhibitions are: paperless and Light and Space: The Sculpture of Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová. The opening, beginning at 7 p.m., will feature music by D.J. Marley and light refreshments. The event is free and open to the public. SECCA will be closed Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27 to prepare for the opening until doors open at 7 p.m., April 27.

7). Greensboro Children’s Museum The Greensboro Children’s Museum is thrilled to announce that its newest exhibit, Larger-Than-Life will open to the public on Friday, April 27th. The grand opening ribbon cutting is scheduled for 6pm. The “Larger-Than-Life” exhibit was developed through a collaboration with UNCG’s Interior Architecture department. Graduate and undergraduate students have worked to design and build the new permanent exhibit, which playfully redefines the prototypical “park” as an interactive landscape for imagination- from a bug’s perspective!

8). SciWorks  presents Science Festival on Saturday, April 28th, 10-5. We will wrap up the NC Science Festival with an amped-up version of everything we do! Join us for live animal programs, tree ID hikes, hands-on chemistry demonstrations, and other science shows. Learn to read the stars and make a star guide. Appropriate for all ages. Special guest Phillip Harrison and students from Atkins High School will be on hand to demonstrate metallurgy and describe their build-an-airplane project!

9). Cameron Art Museum  presents Julie VonDerVellen exhibit in the Hughes Wing, on view April 28 – August 19, 2012. This exhibition represents the first museum exhibition featuring work by this emerging artist, Julie VonDerVellen, a recent MFA graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. A close inspection of these seemingly pedestrian garments of everyday wear reveal highly crafted, intricate constructions made entirely of handmade paper derived from recycled cotton clothing.

10). Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum  Hurricane Irene may have forced the Flags Over Hatteras Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration to be cancelled, but the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has rescheduled the events for April 26 – 29. Leading experts on the Civil War and its impact on the United States and the world will to take part in symposiums and lectures as part of the “Flags Over Hatteras” Conference. In addition to the conference, the Museum will offer free activities for the public; including living history demonstrations.

11). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort Beaufort’s Dolphins, Getting to Know Them; Join Natural Science Curator Keith Rittmaster for a closer look at the bottlenose dolphins that frequent the waters of Beaufort. Keith and local volunteers participate with other scientists along the east coast in a long-term study of these fascinating mammals. Learn about their research and conservation efforts, and hear some actual recordings of Beaufort’s dolphins. Wednesday, April 25 at noon, Free.

12). President James K. Polk State Historic Site  Exhibit Opening: The President James K. Polk State Historic site opened a new exhibit on April 14th entitled, Political Conventions. This temporary exhibit will educate the public about the history of political conventions in the United States and the role that these meeting play in American politics. The exhibit will run from April, 2012 to November 9, 2012. Artifacts include political memorabilia tracing back to the 1844 election of President James K. Polk. This exhibit will coincide with Democratic National Convention being held in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 3-7, 2012.