NCMC Events From Around the State… March 17, 2014

1). The Charlotte Museum of History invites you to their Charlotte Neighborhoods Lecture on Friday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m.  Tom Hanchett will deliver a lecture on the development of Charlotte, followed by a reception.  Free Admission. Contact Info@CharlotteMuseum.org for more information.

2). High Point Museum invites you to learn how to make Thread Buttons in the Historical Park on Saturday, March 22^nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Before plastic, early American women made buttons from whatever they had available—wood, walnuts, bone, even thread! Let our costumed interpreters show you how to make your own thread button.  Instruction available on the half-hour. Cost $1 per button. Free for Historical Society members.  Especially for ages 8 and up. Drop-in.  For more information on these events call 885-1859 or visit www.highpointmuseum.org. 

3). Historic Oak View County Park announces that in conjunction with their current exhibition, In Search of a New Deal: Images of NC, 1935-1941, they will be hosting a free lecture event, “Photographing Poverty” on April 5th at 1:00 p.m.  They welcome two speakers to explore how poverty is documented through photographs.  First, Dr. F. Jack Hurley, Professor Emeritus at the University of Memphis, will focus on the photographers who produced the much acclaimed FSA photographs on which our exhibit is based, as well as the historical significance of these particular photographs in the modern understanding of the Great Depression.  Secondly, Travis Long, an award-winning photojournalist with the Raleigh News & Observer, will discuss specific photographs on display in the park's exhibit "In Search of a New Deal: Images of North Carolina, 1935–1941" and how the Farm Security Administration's work during the Great Depression continues to influence approaches to documentary photography. You can find more information about the exhibition and events by visiting: www.wakegov.com/parks/oakview/Pages/exhibits.aspx

4). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites you to Salt Marsh Exploration on Sundays, April 6th and April 20th at 1:00 p.m. Hike the salt marsh trail and view first-hand the activities of marsh-dwelling animals and the variety of plants found in this rich environment.  Ages 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to get wet and muddy.  For ages 7 and older. Fee: $18 for ages 13 and older, $16 for ages 7-12.  Aquarium admission included. PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED.

5). Tryon Palace announces the opening of their new exhibit and the New Bern Academy Museum.  Experience New Bern's Occupation through the eyes of African Americans, Confederates, Union soldiers and women caught between both North and South.  Spanning the March 1862 invasion of Burnside's forces, through the devastation of the 1864 yellow fever epidemic, "Face to Face" reveals the daily lives of both military officials and citizens under their rule through artifacts, audiovisual panels, compelling stories and period images. Medicine, emancipation, education, espionage and traditional mourning of the dead are some of the themes explored through the framework of wartime and its challenges. "Face to Face" is located in the New Bern Academy Museum, located on the corner of Hancock and New streets in historic downtown New Bern, N.C. Check out the Tryon Palace website for more information.

6). Museum of Anthropology invites you to Arctic Thaw Family Day on Saturday, March 22^nd from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Join us as we celebrate the arrival of spring (we hope!) and our new exhibit The Yup'ik Way of Life: An Alaskan People in Transition. This event for all ages will feature crafts, activities, and stories related to the people of the Arctic.  Craft projects will include model igloos and traditional Yup'ik masks. Refreshments will be served.  Admission is free.

7). The North Carolina Museum of History announces that two April programs will complement their new exhibit Cedars in the Pines.   The first program, History à la Carte: Strangers at Home: History of Arabs in America, will take place on Wednesday, April 9^th, noon - 1 p.m. Speaker Akram Khater, Ph.D., Director of Middle East Studies Program and Director of Khayrallah Program for Lebanese-American Studies, N.C. State University, will talk about how Arabs have lived in the United States since the 1870s, yet they continue to be seen as outsiders in their adopted home. This lunchtime lecture is free to the public and you are invited to bring your lunch; beverages provided.  The second program, Music of the Carolinas: Music for Cedars in the Pines, will take place on Sunday, April 13th, 3-4 p.m. Lebanese musicians Naji Hilal, Basil Samara and Christopher Saleh will combine their musical talents in this unique program that highlights Lebanese culture in North Carolina. The program is presented with PineCone and support from the N.C. Museum of History Associates, Williams Mullen, and Harry’s Guitar Shop of Raleigh. 

8). Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham to host 5K Run through Downtown Rockingham for the first annual Big Fun Run 5K.  The run will take place on Saturday, March 29^th with an entire day of family-friendly fun at the Museum. Participants can choose to race in the Big Fun Run 5K beginning at 10:00 a.m. or enjoy the 1-Mile Little Fun Run beginning at 9:00 a.m. After the race, everyone can join Discovery Place KIDS and the City of Rockingham for family-fun activities, music and local food vendors. Then head to the Museum for a day filled with rich play experiences that will engage families’ imaginations and inspire learning. Participants will receive free Museum admission, and all other guests will receive half-off admission on race day. The Big Fun Run race is named after Discovery Place KIDS’ dance party, Big Fun, a daily show where guests get to “shake out the sillies” and sing songs to make them move and groove. It’s part of the I CAN Be Healthy program which celebrates healthy and active lifestyles. Registration for the Big Fun Run 5K is $35. The 1-Mile Little Fun Run is $10 to register.  All registrations include a t-shirt, race timing and Museum admission on race day. To register, pick up a Registration Form at Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham, or register online at www.rockingham.discoveryplacekids.org.

9). The Asheville Art Museum is excited to announce its next Pianoforte recital on Sunday, April 6th featuring internationally-recognized soloist Sandra Wright Shen. The award-winning pianist will be playing pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, Maurice Ravel, Zhao Zhang, Peixun Chen and Sergei Rachmaninoff, among others. The Museum’s Pianoforte recitals are held in the East Wing Upstairs Gallery, among evocative works of art. During Shen’s recital, the masterful photography of Ralph Burns will be on view in the gallery.  The cost of the concert is $8 (+ sales tax) for Museum members and $16 (+ sales tax) for non-members. Pianoforte concerts fill up quickly, so seats should be reserved early by calling the Museum at 828.253.3227.

10). The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art will open its next exhibition, Jennifer Meanley: Far away, in the Meadow, on Saturday, March 22^nd. The solo exhibition, organized by SECCA and curated by Steven Matijcio, will run through May 24 in the Potter Gallery. The paintings and collages of North Carolina-based artist Jennifer Meanley lure us into richly hued and strange worlds. The exhibition includes new work by Meanley and features a site-specific 27-foot collage, which draws on classical narratives and further demonstrates the emotional complexity of the artist’s imagery and storytelling. A joint opening reception for Jennifer Meanley: Far away, in the Meadow and the upcoming exhibition Eric Fertman: A Comic Turn will be held on April 1 from 6-8 p.m. Guests will be able to experience the exhibitions in the company of both artists. Refreshments and a cash bar will be provided. SECCA is located at 750 Marguerite Drive and is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to SECCA is free.