NCMC Events From Around the State… October 22, 2012



1). HandsOn! the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to come to the 1st class of the 2nd series of a new program. “Learning Spanish-Creatively” will begin on Friday, October 26th, 2012 at 11am and will run every Friday through November 16th. Students will learn basic Spanish vocabulary and colors through games, dramatic play, movement and songs for a four week series. Repetition is very important for children to learn a language. It is recommended to attend all 4 classes. Cost to attend is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Great for children ages 3-6. Limited spaces.

2). High Rock Farm High Rock Farm will host our second annual chestnut roasting festival Nov 4th from 2-6pm. This is a free event but donations will be accepted (Donations will go to the MARC museum). We will have historic house tours every hour, hay rides through the orchard, kids activities, food, music, prizes, vendors, wine tasting by Grove Winery, and much more!

3). Museum of the Albemarle Junior Docents will present “Haunted Albemarle at the Museum” on October 26, 2012 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Two short films “Tarheel Mysteries and Legends” and a favorite Halloween cartoon will be shown in the Gaither Auditorium. While you are here you may decorate a mask, make a light stick cover, and a bagel birdfeeder. Sit around the “campfire” with ‘stars’ twinkling overhead while the Junior Docents tell stories about some of Albemarle’s most famous residents including Nell Cropsey, Blackbeard the Pirate and the people of the Lost Colony. Enjoy tasty treats provided by the Guild of Museum Friends. Join the Junior Docents and the Education Staff for a fun-filled ‘Night at The Museum’.

4). SECCA  presents “Artist Talk @ SECCA: Vibha Galhotra” on Thursday, October 25, 6pm, free. Indian artist Vibha Galhotra examines her country’s dramatic urban, industrial and social changes through re-imagined craft practices – creating soft forms with woven steel bells. In this talk she will trace the development of her practice, her collaborations with women “forbidden” to work, and the simultaneous challenges and opportunities of being a young female artist in her country. Her presentation is free and open to the public. Please join us for this conversation about current environmental and social trends.

5). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort will offer a guided hike on Shackleford Banks, part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. This pristine island is abound with natural beauty, from its animals and plants to breathtaking beach views, but the cultural history of the island involving pirates, whalers and fishing communities can only be told in stories. Come explore and learn about barrier islands and the unique history of Shackleford Banks. Tuesday, October 23rd from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., pre-registration and fee required.

6). N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Don’t like spiders and snakes? Meet some up close and turn your fears to fascination when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts Natural History Halloween on Saturday, October 27 from 9am to 4 pm. Free. Visitors can face their fears at educational stations featuring live animals including snakes, spiders and lizards from the Museum’s Living Collections. Kids 12 and under can participate in the annual costume contest with categories that include “Creepy and Crawly,” “One of a Kind,” “Fantastically Fictional,” “I Belong in a Museum” and “Creatures of the Night.” Contestants must enter by 3pm; prizes will be awarded at 4pm. There will also be several opportunities to win prizes by playing Halloween-themed games, or kids can make a spooky craft to take home.

7). The Greenville Museum of Art  is pleased to present, Otherworldly: Selected Works from the Allen G. Thomas, Junior Photography Collection. Allen G. Thomas is a Wilson native and one of the Southeast’s foremost collectors of contemporary photography. The artists included are: Ian F.G. Dunn, Taj Forer, Anthony Goicolea, Dan Gottlieb, Sarah Anne Johnson, Bill Henson, Sze Tsung Leong, Robert and Shanna Parke Harrison, Francesca Romeo, Sally Mann, Burk Uzzle, Brett Weston and Jeff Whetstone. The exhibition opens on Friday, October 26 with a reception from 6:00- 8:00 pm and will be on view until January 27, 2013.

8). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA  presents “Ghost Ship”, October 26, 27, 2012, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Where fear sets sail, it is the most anticipated scare and haunted house of the season as the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA turns into a haunting shade of green and starting Friday night on October 19, the vessel turns into Ghost Ship. No movie set needed for this haunt as the Ship can terrify any soul when set out to wander alone through the decks below. Did we mention we turn off the lights? Don’t worry if you get lost, the ghosts will make sure to find you.

9). Weatherspoon Art Museum presents “Think Tank Thursdays” on Thursday, Oct 25, 6:30pm. What do giant pandas have to do with Facebook? Or road rallies and astronomy? Discover the connections between seemingly unrelated ideas in the new series that looks at contemporary culture by pairing scholars with community experts. Each program will explore two ideas in less than 60 minutes with ample time for questions and comments from the audience. Test your creative thinking skills or just come to have fun!

10). Duke Homestead State Historic Site On October 26, Duke Homestead will debut its newest event, Widows and Wakes: a Victorian House in Mourning. Join us in the evening to experience death and dying in nineteenth century America. The evening’s candlelight tour will take visitors through the historic house as they experience a first person interpretation of rituals and customs surrounding dying, mourning, and attempting to reach the dead in the great beyond. After moving through the house visitors are invited to take their time around the bonfire outside, where they will be able to hear traditional North Carolina folk ballads. Widows and Wakes takes place on Friday October 26, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. The cost of admission is $4.00.

NCMC Events From Around the State… October 15, 2012


Muse.News, NCMC’s quarterly newsletter is now available on-line. Take a minute to give the Fall Edition a read!

1). N.C. War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee presents “Lower Cape Fear in the War of 1812 Symposium & Living History” from 9-4, Sat. Oct. 20th at Fort Johnston in Southport, NC. State and Local scholars will present information about North Carolina’s lower Cape Fear region in the War of 1812 – pre-registration for the symposium is recommended. Call 910-457-0003. Uniformed living history interpreters will also be on the grounds of the fort showing what life was like for soldiers and civilians at the fort in 1812. Living history demonstrations are free and open to the public!

2). Asheville Art Museum is pleased to present Robert Morris: Mind/Body/Earth, an exhibition featuring a wide range of works by the contemporary artist, including selections of his prints, drawings, sculpture and video works. This exhibition opens on Friday, October 19 with a reception from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (free with Museum membership or regular admission). The exhibition remains on view in the Museum’s North Wing through Sunday, January 27, 2013. A guided tour and discussion of the exhibition will be offered to Museum visitors on Friday, November 30, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., also free with Museum membership or regular admission.

3). N.C. Museum of History presents “Tar Heel Political Commercials: Hide the Children” on Sunday, October 21 from 2–3 p.m. Candidates communicate to voters through TV ads, and the results are often not pretty. Rob Christensen, political consultant for the News and Observer, will take a look at a few of the more famous ads that have aired in the state since 1984.

4). Maria V. Howard Arts Center  Work with the Art Center’s newest Howard Artist in Resident Jerome De Perlinghi. Jerome is a well-established photographer that has photographed conductors, businessmen, and movie stars. His work appears in national and international magazines and publications. Join Jerome on a Rocky Mount photo shoot to learn the magic that happens when the camera is lifted to your eye. All materials and cameras provided. To see Jerome’s work go to www.jeromedeperlinghi.com. The workshop will be held at the Education Building for the Arts Center on October 20th from 10am to 4pm. Fee: $15 city residents and $22.50 for nonresidents.

5). N.C. Maritime Museum at Beaufort The Cape Lookout lighthouse on South Core Banks has warned many mariners about the dangerous shoals and sandbars nearby, but did you know that it was also the target of a Confederate attempt to be extinguished during the Civil War or that there was an earlier lighthouse that stood before the existing one? Come learn about the history of this Carteret County landmark at a free lecture given by Associate Museum Curator Benjamin Wunderly. Wednesday October 17 at noon.

6). Natural Science Center of Greensboro  Celebrate all things pumpkin at the Natural Science Center's 3rd annual Pumpkin Palooza Party! Thanks to a generous donation of pumpkins and fresh tasty treats from The Fresh Market, the Natural Science Center of Greensboro (NSC) is offering this fun-filled, family event on Saturday, October 20th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Kids can decorate small pumpkins, play pumpkin-themed games and watch animals in the zoo enjoy their pumpkin-filled surprise treats.

7). Cape Fear Museum  Scraps of fabric, torn paper, tattered flags, a uniform patch: these objects can tell us about people’s Civil War experiences. “Fragments of War”, Cape Fear Museum’s newest exhibit, which opened October 5, uses the Museum’s important Civil War collection to shine a light on some of the ways people in the region experienced the nation’s most significant conflict. Visitors will be able to see rarely displayed artifacts, including a commission signed by President Abraham Lincoln, local man Colonel Gaston Meares’ hat, a flask presented to an officer of the U.S. Colored Troops who served at Fort Fisher, pieces of fabric that came through the Union blockade of the port of Wilmington, and a secession cockade made by a local woman who supported North Carolina’s secession from the United States.

8). HandsOn! Hands On!-A Child’s Gallery, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to come be part of “Critter Craft” on Thursday, October 18th. Visitors can make a cat craft with various size circles. This activity focuses on learning about our feline friends and shapes while practicing fine motor skills like using scissors & glue. This is a drop-in, self–directed activity in our Party Room. Cost to attend is included in $5 admission and is free for museum members. Critter Craft is sponsored by the Etowah Valley Veterinary Hospital.

9). Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site The rustle of leaves and the crackle of the open hearth will greet visitors to Bentonville Battlefield for the site’s civilian living history program and fall festival on Oct. 20. The free program will include demonstrations by costumed interpreters and a festival atmosphere that will offer wagon rides provided by End of the Drive Mule Farm, period carnival games, corn shucking contest, town ball (a form of 19th Century baseball) and more! Historic interpreters will demonstrate the daily life of women and children that were left home when their husbands, brothers and fathers went off to war. All activities are free; the program runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities are subject to change without notice.

10). NC Museum of Natural Sciences  Discover how the latest advances in high-tech imaging and 3D computer modeling, combined with old-school anatomy, are allowing scientists to “flesh out” dinosaurs in unprecedented ways when Lawrence Witmer discusses the “Visible Dinosaur Project” at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ main auditorium on Tuesday, October 16 at 7pm. Free.

11). Museum of the Albemarle  Award-winning songwriter Susan Gibson, one of the most dynamic and respected performers in Texas, will take the stage along with local, Folk Americana Singer/Songwriter, Bobby Plough at the Museum of the Albemarle on Saturday, October 20th, 2012. The ticketed show begins at 7:00 PM with tickets available in advance at $13 for FOMOA Members, $15 for Non-members. Tickets at the door (if available) will be $25. Seating is limited to 200 so the Museum encourages folks to purchase their tickets early to be guaranteed entrance.

NCMC Events From Around the State… October 8, 2012



1). Weatherspoon Art Museum presents “Artist Talk: Juan Logan” on Thursday, Oct 11, 6:30pm. Juan Logan discusses new and recent large-scale works that incorporate puzzle pieces and imagery such as water mills and prize rings to critique the banking and health care industries, as well as a number of mixed media collages and works on paper. The artist’s solo exhibition, “Juan Logan: Without Stopping”, is on view at the Weatherspoon, September 22-December 16, 2012. A public reception follows the lecture. Seating is limited and doors open 30 minutes prior.

2). Mount Airy Museum of Regional History presents History Talks on Saturday October 13 at 2pm. North Carolina Humanities Road Scholar, Ed Southern, will give a talk about the "Race to the Dan - The Retreat That Won the Revolution.” Charles, Lord Cornwallis—the commander of the British Army in the South—built a bonfire in February 1781. Mustering his men from their camp at Ramseur’s Mill in the North Carolina backcountry, he ordered them to burn everything—creature comforts, extra rations, even their rum—all but the bare essentials, starting with his Lordship’s own baggage. Cornwallis meant to move fast to catch the ragtag Southern Department of the Continental Army and crush them in a final, decisive battle. History Talks are Free to the Public and held in the Museum Conference Room.

3). Asheville Art Museum Continuing a beloved special event series for Museum Members and patrons, the Asheville Art Museum once again invites the community to enjoy an exclusive opportunity to privately tour several stunning lofts located in downtown Asheville. On Thursday, October 11, guests are invited to the 2012 Urban Loft & Art Tour, a guided walking-tour that begins at the Museum, located at 2 S. Pack Square. For several years, friends of the Museum and downtown residents have generously opened their homes to the public for this special tour, celebrating Asheville’s unique incorporation of art and city living. All proceeds from the Urban Loft & Art Tour directly benefit the Museum and its vision to transform lives through art.

4). NC Museum of Natural Sciences From native spiders and exotic scorpions to common milkweed bugs and beetles. Where else can you learn the difference between poison and venom as you meet bugs that employ each of these chemical defenses? Join in the fun and discover that chemistry is cool as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the American Chemical Society concoct a day full of awesome chemistry experiments, exhibits and special presentations on Saturday, October 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

5). The Bascom October brings Halloween treats and a book signing to The Bascom. In preparation for the The Bascom’s popular Spooky Raku firing under the Halloween moon on Monday, October 31, Frank Vickery invites you to create your own spooky ceramic work on Saturday, October 13, 20 and 27 from 10 am-4 pm. Coil, slab or throw pots on the wheel in preparation for a Halloween Raku firing. Multiple scary techniques will be taught. On Saturday, October 20 from 5:30-6:30 pm, The Shop at The Bascom is hosting a book signing for Cynthia Strain’s new book Highlands Through the Seasons, a collection of wonderful photographs of the Highlands’ plateau.

6). Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson Fall is in the air, and its arrival marks the return of Colonial Day at Brunswick, held annually at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. This free educational event for all ages will be held Saturday, October 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Living historians, dressed in colonial attire, will demonstrate what life was once like in this 18th century port town. Interpretive stations with hands-on activities include stenciling, candle-dipping, and colonial toys and games. Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit with the colonial dentist, take a turn in the stocks and pillory, try their hand at the militia drill, and much more!

7). Gregg Museum of Art & Design presents “The Ancestors Return” on Thursday, Oct. 11, 6-8pm. Babalawo Ifaniyi Akintunde, chief priest and founder of the Temple of Light and Progress, will lead an African cultural presentation featuring Yoruba, Lucumi, Santería, and Kemetic ancestor veneration ceremonies through song, dance and the spoken word. This participatory performance will be held in conjunction with the Gregg’s current exhibition, “Spirit-Fire-Shake! which features altar- or shrine-like pieces by three artists including Durham’s Odinga Tyehimba. All three were influenced by Afro-Cuban religions like Santería, which incorporates spiritual rituals and ceremonies from West Africa and the Caribbean as well as Roman Catholic and Native American traditions.

8). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher Vibrant hues and local character are the hallmark of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s newest Spadefish Gallery installation, “Carolina Coastal Color.” The new exhibit, which opened October 1 and runs through the end of December, features local seaside imagery and landmarks painted in vibrant watercolors by artist James McIntosh. He uses bold strokes and jeweled shades to illustrate a joyful essence of place.

9). Museum of the Albemarle Museum of the Albemarle will hold “Pre-Schooler Time: What is a Moth Boat” on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 10:00 am. Participants must be between the ages of 3 to 5 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-Schoolers will discover why the Pasquotank River is known for the Moth Boat, read a book and participate in a hands-on activity.

10). Bellamy Mansion The Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts will be holding a Family Fun Day event on Saturday, October 13, 2012, from 10am – 2pm. Grab the entire family and join us for a fun-filled day. Enjoy the day with historic games and activities, the songs of Susan Savia, a kitchen reenactment by Sulnora Spencer, and child-friendly house tours. Learn how children played in the nineteenth century and have fun with your family.

NCMC Events From Around the State… October 1, 2012



1). HandsOn!  invites you to be part of “Healthy Kids Club-Smile Time Friends!” on Thursday, October 4th at 11am. Join Diana Rothweiler, Public Health Registered Dental Hygienist, as she presents a high-quality dental puppet show for preschool children ages 2-5 years old. The puppet show teaches dental health concepts through music, songs & stories. The characters are colorful & children readily relate to their message. The program lasts approximately 30 minutes. Sponsored by the Henderson County Department of Public Health. Cost to attend is included in $5 admission and is free for museum members.

2). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA  presents “Hidden Battleship” on October 13, 2012, two Tours during the day - 8:30 - 12:30 and 1:30 - 5:30. For the explorer at heart, bring a friend and join us for a unique, behind-the-scenes tour of un-restored areas of the Battleship. The four-hour tour consists of small groups with guides. Guests explore the bow (officers' country and boatswain locker), third deck (Radio II, brig, after gyro, storage rooms, ammunition handling, Engineer's office, torpedo area), Engine room #1, the refrigerator compartments, and climb inside the fire control tower to the top of the ship. The Azalea Coast Radio Club will be in Radio II to explain their work on the ship's radio transmitters. It’s the tour that brings out the “Indiana Jones” in all of us, without the snakes!

3). Kings Mountain Historical Museum  opened their latest exhibit Reflections from Civil War Soldiers on September 25, 2012. The exhibit, which features letters and other documents from the Civil War, will run until Saturday, November 9, 2012. The exhibit will be open, along with the two historic houses and other programing, during the City of Kings Mountain’s Gateway Festival on Saturday, October 6, 2012. In conjunction with the exhibit, the Kings Mountain Historical Museum will host local author Mark Hughes for the presentation, “A Confederate Soldier Goes to War” on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 6:30PM.

4). Triangle Land Conservancy Join us as we celebrate the opening of our largest nature preserve, Horton Grove Nature Preserve. This 708-acre preserve is adjacent to Historic Stagville, one of the most visited historic sites in North Carolina. Come explore the rich cultural and natural history of the area at this unique resource for Durham County and the entire Triangle region. On Friday, October 5, we'll kick off the celebration with a ceremonial seed scattering at the native prairie. We'll cap off the night stargazing with Morehead Planetarium. Then on Saturday, October 6, we'll have entertainment and fun for all ages. Join us for music, hikes and tours, animals, crafts, games, food trucks and picnicking on the lawn.

5). Weatherspoon Art Museum  presents Sustainability Film: "Terra Blight" on Thursday, Oct 4, 6:30pm. “Terra Blight” explores America’s consumption of computers and the hazardous waste we create in pursuit of the latest technology. The film, by the director of Gimme Green, traces the life cycle of computers from creation to disposal and juxtaposes the disparate worlds that have computers as their center. From a 13-year-old Ghanaian who smashes obsolete monitors to salvage copper to a 3,000-person video game party in Texas, Terra Blight examines the unseen realities of one of the most ubiquitous toxic wastes on our planet. Films begin at 6:30pm in the Weatherspoon auditorium and are free.

6). Discovery Place  For 500 million coffee drinkers worldwide, the rich aroma of a daily cup of coffee is an expected and habitual part of their everyday routine. But before coffee beans can be imported, ground and brewed, they are cared for and cultivated by an estimated 25 million people across the planet whose often arduous daily work ensures the steady drip of one of the world’s most popular beverages. “The Birth of Coffee”, an exhibition of words and photographic images opening October 2 at Discovery Place and sponsored by S&D Coffee and Tea, focuses on the people across the world who grow and produce coffee, often in small hillside villages using dated methods.

7). The Preservation Society of Chapel Hill  While this Tar Heel town boasts plenty of famous basketball players and politicians, some of Chapel Hill’s most interesting residents now lie six feet under. Explore Chapel Hill history and learn about the lives of those who once were during The Preservation Society of Chapel Hill’s Voices from the Grave: Haunted Cemetery Tour at the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery on October 19 and 20, starting at 7 pm each night. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Space is limited.

8). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher presents “Trick or Treat Under the Sea” this Halloween season. The popular aquatic-themed festival will be held at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 25. Now in its 11th year, “Trick or Treat Under the Sea” offers fun for the whole family! Dress up in costume (no masks for adults, please) and get in on the fun. Scoop up candy and prizes, play Halloween-themed games, treat yourself to face-painting and enjoy two magic shows per night by No Sleeves Magic Camp. Don’t miss the spooky divers swimming with the sharks and rays in the Cape Fear Shoals habitat. Those looking for an extra thrill are invited to explore two sets of haunted gardens.

9). Western Carolina University  Just in time for this year’s Cherokee Indian Fair, Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library, in cooperation with the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, has posted 15 archival fair programs to its online digital collections. These programs, printed each year by the Cherokee Indian Fair Association, typically were 20 to 30 pages each and listed the competition categories and monetary prizes awarded to winners. The online collection includes the programs from 1929 to 1950 with the exception of a stretch of years during World War II, when the fairs were suspended. This year’s Cherokee Indian Fair is Tuesday, Oct. 2-Saturday, Oct. 6, at the fairgrounds in Cherokee.

10). N.C. Museum of Art presents “Articulation: Poetry with Dasan Ahanu” on Friday, October 12 at 7 pm. “Articulation” is an opportunity to share your own poetry or that of another poet, in the Slam fashion or in traditional poetry recitation. Participants can compete for monetary prizes or simply sit and enjoy a casual, thought-provoking evening of poetry. Register early to secure a place in the competition or participate in an open mic session. Hosted by St. Augustine’s University lecturer and spoken word artist Dasan Ahanu, this evening promises to be affirming for both the novice and experienced poet or orator. All ages are invited to participate.