NCMC Events From Around the State… October 28, 2013

1). High Point Museum invites you to a special program on North Carolina’s Civil War Monuments on Sunday, November 3, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the High Point Public Library, Morgan Room.  Dr. Douglas Butler presents a program on his research for his recent McFarland publication, North Carolina Civil War Monuments. Dr. Butler explores the origins of Confederate commemoration in the South, the problem of burying the dead, and coming up with the funding and public support to create the monuments. In the process, he comments on their design and artistic merit. Copies of the book will be available for sale. No preregistration required.

2). Bellamy Mansion presents a special lecture on African-American Life on the Bellamy Site on Thursday, November 7th at 6:30 p.m. Join former Bellamy museum Education Director and current Wrightsville Beach Museum Director Madeline Flagler for a discussion of the African-Americans who spent part of their lives at this site. Enslaved and free African-Americans built the slave building, main house and carriage house on this property. Enslaved African-Americans worked for the planter family here and on plantations elsewhere. Two years after the completion of the house the Emancipation Proclamation freed American slaves. This lecture discusses the people who lived and worked here and the huge shifts taking place in society around the time this site was completed.  This lecture is free and open to the public.

3). Cameron Art Museum invites you to the Jazz @ the Cam concert series, presented by the Cameron Art Museum and the Cape Fear Jazz Society, on Thursday, November 7^th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Reception Hall.  Accomplished vocal interpreter of jazz and blues, singer-songwriter Barbara Martin performs with jazz guitarist Vince Lewis. Guitar Player magazine described Lewis‘s music as “silky-smooth hollow body jazz with fluid bebop lines, flawless technique and a Wes approved tone that’s lively and bright.”  Tickets are $8 for CAM/CFJS Members, $12 for Non-members, and $5 for Students with valid ID. Purchase seats on CAM’s website, by phone, or at the door.

4). Museum of the Albemarle will host a History for Lunch on November 6th at 12 p.m.  Robert Poole will present a lecture followed by a documentary he produced on J. Edgar ‘Punch’ Parker.  Parker, a resident of Elizabeth City and a U.S. Marine served in The Battle of Okinawa during World War II as a front line infantryman.  Parker’s original company of 250 marines took 90% casualties during the three month battle, but fortunately he was never wounded.  That experience inspired Poole to create a 30-minute documentary about Parker and his time with the Marine’s 6^th Division. Bring your lunch at noon and enjoy Poole’s discussion about Parker, then adjourn to the Gaither Auditorium to view the documentary. MOA will provide the beverages. For more information concerning the event call 252-335-1453.

5). The Maria V. Howard Arts Center in Rocky Mount is hosting "Peanuts...Naturally" through January 5, 2014. Visitors get a Peanuts-eye view of The Universe, "Web of Nature", Trees Beautiful Trees, Birds, The Elements (snow, wind, rain, and clouds), Gardening, and Charlie Brown's EPA escapade. Visitors will be delighted by the numerous interactive stations, videos, objects and Peanuts comic strips. Schedule a guided tour for your school or community group by contacting Jennifer Rankin at 252-972-1632 or jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov. Admission to the galleries at the Imperial Centre is always free.

6). HandsOn!, the children’s museum in downtown Hendersonville, invites you to Kids Vote! A voter education & “hands on” voting experience taking place all day on Friday, November 1^st and Saturday, November 2^nd. Vote on the next Mayor of Hendersonville! The Hands On! Voting booth is made possible by Kids Voting Henderson County which is an affiliate of Kids Voting North Carolina and Kids Voting USA. Kids Voting is a private, non-partisan organization dedicated to engaging students from K-12 and their families in voting and other elements of effective civic engagement to foster an informed, participating electorate. Books on elections & voting designed for PreK-2nd grades are available to read at the Hands On! Front Desk. Free with $5 admission/free for members.

7). The Bascom invites you to a special screening of Bending Sticks, a feature-length documentary film showing how Patrick Dougherty, an internationally acclaimed environmental artist, creates his monumental, site-specific works. “Let the wild rumpus begin!” exclaims the artist as he begins another large-scale sculpture, using nothing but saplings. The Highlands Performing Arts Center (PAC) will be the location of the screening on Saturday, November 2^nd, at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

8). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences invites you to visit them and watch the original film version of “Dracula” on First Friday, November 1^st at 7:00 p.m. In all the annals of living horror, one name stands out as the epitome of evil. Dracula. The very mention of the name brings to mind things so evil, so fantastic, so degrading, you wonder if it isn’t all a dream … a nightmare. But no. This is no dream. This is “Dracula,” showing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.  Free Admission.

9). Asheville Art Museum announces the opening of Cityscapes, an exhibition featuring works from artist Ben Aronson, on Saturday, November 2^nd.  The exhibition will be celebrated with an Opening Reception on Sunday, November 3 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (free with membership or regular Museum admission). Cityscapes by Ben Aronson will remain on view through Sunday, March 9, 2014.  Perhaps best known today for depictions of men on Wall Street, American contemporary artist Ben Aronson also creates eloquently expressive cityscapes. This exhibition includes a mix of architectural and pedestrian scenes that capture the energy of rapid urban life in an elegant, painterly manner.  This exhibition was previously organized by and exhibited at the Georgia Museum of Art.

10). Cape Fear Museum is offering a fascinating look at military mail and communication in a special exhibit, Mail Call that opens on November 9^th.  The traveling version of the National Postal Museum’s permanent exhibition, Mail Call explores the history of America’s military postal system, and examines how even in today’s era of instant communication, troops overseas continue to treasure mail delivered from home.  Mail Call tells the fascinating story of military mail and communication—from the American Revolution to current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The exhibition closes January 19, 2014.

11). Cherryville Historical Museum invites the public to a special veteran focused program on Sunday, November 10th at 3:00 p.m.  Dr. Bill Lowe will give a talk titled “If a Uniform Could Talk” at the museum. This program is free and open to the public.

12). Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site invites you to visit on November 2^nd for Colonial Day at Brunswick Town. Living historians, dressed in 18^th century attire, will demonstrate what life was once like in this early port town on the lower Cape Fear. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about 18th century electrical experiments, visit with the colonial dentist, take a turn in the stocks and pillory, experience cannon fire, dip their own beeswax candle, and much, much more! This free public event will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information call (910) 371-6613, e-mail shannon.walker@ncdcr.gov or visit our website at www.nchistoricsites.org/brunswic. 

13). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites you to their Surf Fishing Workshops on Saturdays, November 2, 9, 16, and 23 at 9:00 a.m.  This 3-hour workshop includes one hour of classroom discussion, then surf fishing on the beach nearby.  All equipment and bait provided.  Program is rain or shine, with extra activities added in event of bad weather (e.g., throwing a cast net).  Ages 10 and up.  Fee: $15 per participant. Aquarium admission is not included. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

14). Matthews Heritage Museum will hold a special program “Wild and Wonderful Animals” which explores the animals that used to and still live in the area on Saturday, November 9th at 10 a.m. Please pre-register by calling the Museum at 704-708-4996. Cost is $2 per child (6 – 14).  This program will be held at the Museum.

15). Kings Mountain Historical Museum invites you to “Toys, Games & TRAINS” November 16^th - January 4^th.   Back by popular demand, this exhibit fills the museum with model train displays, railroad memorabilia, and antique toys and games.  An extensive interactive model train track provides hands-on fun for all ages.  Open Tues.-Sat. 10am-4pm & Sun. 1pm-4pm.