ncmuseums
An occasional list of exhibits, programs, and events at North Carolina museums. Sponsored by the North Carolina Museums Council.
NCMC Events From Around the State… December 1, 2014
1). N.C.
Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org)
hosts 5-year-old Florida author and kindergartener for Storytime on Tuesday,
December 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Most 5-years-olds (or adults for that
matter) can barely spell Spinosaurus, Dromaeosaurus, or Tyrannosaurus rex, let
alone write a whole book about dinosaurs, but 5-year-old Pembroke Pines,
Florida native Christopher Isaiah Penn Smith can and did! In fact, he wrote and
published “Guess Who, Mr. Dinosaur?” when he was 4 years old and in preschool!
Chistopher will read from his book during each Storytime! National recording
artist Yolanda Rabun and guitarist Emily Musolino will accompany Christopher in
each session with a song that was written for the book. Museum Early Childhood
Educator Beth Cranford will also have a live animal for the kids to learn about
and touch. Storytime is held daily on the 3rd floor of the Museum’s main
building inside Windows on the World, an intimate demonstration theater.
2). Asheville
Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) invites you to First
Friday Art Walk on Friday, December 5th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. While all of our galleries are open on First
Fridays, this evening’s event is a holiday-inspired Celebration of Color, and
we invite guests to tour the new colorful exhibition What You See Is What You See: American Abstraction After 1950. You will also find perfect gifts for everyone
on your holiday shopping list in our Museum Shop! On the first Friday of each month through
December, the Museum participates in the Downtown Asheville Art District’s
First Friday Art Walks from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Admission fee to the Museum is
pay-as-you-wish during these events.
3). North
Carolina Preservation Consortium (www.ncpreservation.org)
is sponsoring a Basic Book Repair Workshop on Friday, December 12th
from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Mecklenberg Library. This workshop
will teach you how to assess damage to books early, evaluate treatment
processes, and perform simple, economical, basic book repair techniques. Recommendations for setting up a basic book
repair work station, purchasing affordable tools and supplies, and documenting
repairs will also be provided. The registration fee for this workshop is $50.00
for employees of NCPC member institutions and individual NCPC members, and
$75.00 for non-members. The $75 fee
comes with a year-long NCPC individual membership. Lunch, refreshments, and materials will be
provided. A registration form is
available on the NCPC web site in the Events
section.
4). The
Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org),
301 N. Main Street, Mount Airy, announces a free Holiday Open House on Saturday,
December 6th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tour four floors of museum exhibits, view our themed Christmas trees,
shop for holiday gifts, plus enjoy light refreshments, holiday music and
various musical performances every hour.
Also, bring your children to visit Santa and enjoy cookies and punch
from 3 – 5 p.m. - sponsored by MAPS (Mount Airy Professionals of Surry.) The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and admission is FREE.
5). Joel
Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org), “The Birthplace of North
Carolina’s Capital,” will sponsor its annual Colonial Christmas Open House
celebration on Saturday, December 6th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free, and donations are requested. The house will be decorated
with traditional greenery and will reflect the very different way in which
colonists and early Americans celebrated the Christmas holiday. Information
about the house and grounds will be offered by costumed docents; re-enactors
will demonstrate scenes of 18th-century life; the sounds of live music will
fill the air; and other interpreters will entertain children using colonial
games and crafts through the “Hands-on History” program. The museum store will
be open with a great choice of gifts under $10 for both young and not so young,
and the annual bake sale will feature delicious local specialties and
traditional delights.
6).
Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com)
announces that the Polar Express will arrive on Saturday, December 6th from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of a fun-filled holiday open house. View the Polar
Express O-scale train village, courtesy of the Albemarle Railroad Club. Visit
the newly-renovated Discovery Room, featuring interactive exhibits with a
railroad theme. A highlight of the day will be three showings of The Polar Express film (10:00 a.m.,
12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.), based on the popular children’s book by author Chris
Van Allsburg. Junior Docents will help you make a bell ornament for your tree.
On the museum grounds, a “Jingle Bell" carriage ride ($5 per person) and
pony rides ($3 per child) will be available, as well as a free Space Walk Polar
Express jump house. Step up to the
turnstile—but don’t wait too late! The Polar Express exhibit will leave the
tracks January 3, 2015.
7). The
North Carolina Pottery Center (www.ncpotterycenter.org)
presents “Kids’ Holiday Ornament Class” on Saturday, December 13th
from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Education Building at the North Carolina Pottery
Center (233 East Avenue, Seagrove). Come get in the holiday spirit at NCPC! We
invite kids (and kids at heart) to join us in creating one-of-a-kind ornaments.
Participants will choose three stoneware ornaments from a range of precut
selections, and then decorate them with paint. After they’re sealed, ornaments
will be ready to take home and enjoy the very same day! All supplies included. $5 for NCPC members/$5
for non-members. Additional ornaments will be available for purchase, if you’d
like to make more than three. For more information, or to register, call the
Pottery Center at (336)873-8430.
8). Museum
of the Cape Fear Historical Complex (www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf)
invites you to celebrate the Christmas season with Victorian flare at the
annual Holiday Jubilee at the 1897 Poe House on Sunday, December 14th
from 1 – 5 p.m. This free event will
feature a concert by Fayetteville’s own Coventry Carolers, who will perform on
the front porch at 1:30 and 3:30. The
house will be elaborately decorated for a Victorian Christmas providing a
beautiful backdrop for this festive event and will be open between the caroling
performances. The Poe House kitchen will be alive with the smells of Christmas
goodies cooking on our 1902 Glenwood stove. Kids can weave a Christmas bracelet
or bookmark to take home. The 1897 Poe House will be decorated for Christmas
from November 25 through January 4 and offers free tours daily.
9). Fort
Fisher State Historic Site (www.historicsites.org/fortfisher) will celebrate the upcoming holiday
season by hosting its annual Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 9th
from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the visitor’s center. Open House visitors will enjoy
seasonal refreshments, decorations, and entertainment throughout the day,
including an array of holiday musical selections by the Murray Middle School
Jazz Band. The event will also feature storyteller and musician John Golden, as
well as Masonboro Parlor, a group of local musicians who offer a unique
combination of dance and period music. For this one day only, a special 25%
discount will be offered on all museum shop merchandise, so visitors can stock
up on gifts for the history enthusiast on their list. Before the conclusion of
the program, the Friends of Fort Fisher will announce the winner of the 2014
rifle raffle, at which a lucky ticket holder will win a reproduction Civil War
Springfield Musket. Raffle tickets are available right up until announcement
time, but you need not be present to win.
Sponsored by the Friends of Fort Fisher and Fort Fisher Chapter 2325 of
the UDC, the Holiday Open House is free and open to the public.
10).
High Point Museum
(www.highpointmuseum.org) invites
you to launch the Holiday Season at the Museum’s Holiday Open House on Sunday,
December 7th from 1 - 4 p.m. It’s a day filled with special
reenactments, music, demonstrations, refreshments and hands-on activities. The Heart & Soul Singers from the Arc of
High Point will be singing holiday favorites at 1:15 p.m. Children will be able
to make a holiday craft. Santa Claus will make a special appearance from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m. A new exhibit “Just like Mommy” featuring a variety of toys will be
on display in the lobby. The Museum’s collections staff will answer questions
about preserving personal collections. In the historical park, adjacent to the
Museum, there will be weaving, spinning and blacksmithing demonstrations, as
well as historic games and candle dipping. Visitors can learn about the life of
a Revolutionary War soldier from The Guilford Militia, a Revolutionary War
Reenactment group. In the 1786 Haley House, visitors will enjoy listening to
old-fashioned holiday music played on dulcimers. The High Point Museum Guild
will offer cider and cookies in the Hoggatt House. Admission and all activities
are free to our Holiday Open House.
NCMC Events From Around the State… November 10, 2014
1). The
Federation of N.C. Historical Societies (www.fnchs.org)
invites you to Raleigh for its November 20th workshop, “Social Media
for Historical Organizations.” Workshop participants will learn how to use
social media as an outreach and membership recruitment tool; the pros and cons
of each major social networking site; techniques for using social media for
fundraising; and practical guidelines for best promoting institutional content,
based on data from institutions across the country. After working on a case
study, attendees will also have an opportunity to create a social media
strategy for their own organization. Registration costs $10 for Federation
members, $15 for non-members. Please visit www.fnchs.org/News.aspx for more
information and to download a registration form.
2). Kings
Mountain Historical Museum (www.kingsmountainmuseum.org)
invites you to their community-wide holiday tradition, the opening of their
exhibit “Toys, Games & TRAINS”. Heading
into its twelfth consecutive year, the annual model train display by the
Piedmont S Gaugers at Kings Mountain Historical Museum has become a
not-to-be-missed holiday tradition for many families throughout the region and
the highlight of the year for local train enthusiasts young and old. The exhibit will open Saturday, November 15,
2014 and run Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, closing on
January 3, 2015.
3). The
N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org)
invites you to come see the first major exhibition about North Carolina’s role
in the film industry. Starring North
Carolina! 100 Years ● 3,000 Films opens on November 15th and
will run through September 6th, 2015. See costumes, props, and memorabilia from
Bull Durham, Iron Man 3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Blue Velvet, Sleepy
Hollow, and dozens more! Test your knowledge of the state’s films, TV shows,
stars, and crews. For more information, http://www.ncmoh-starring.com
4).
Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com)
will hold “Preschooler Time: Get All
Steamed Up to Shout!” on Thursday, November 13th at 10 a.m. Participants between the ages of 3 to 5 years
old and accompanied by an adult will discover the sizes, shapes, and colors
that can make each teapot unique, but then listen as they get all steamed up. Free
Family Program. For More Information Call 252-335-1453.
5). New
Winston Museum (www.newwinston.org) invites you to a
lively reading and discussion entitled, "What does it mean to be
Southern?" Participating are Joseph Mills, Susan
Burress Wall Distinguished Professor in the Humanities, University of North
Carolina School of the Arts, Cheryl Harry, Director of African-American
Programming at Old Salem Museums and Gardens, and Ed Southern, executive
director of North Carolina Writers' Network. The program will include readings by each of the three
panelists and a moderated discussion exploring the historical and contemporary
complexities of ‘”being southern.” The event is in collaboration with UNC School of the
Arts as part of the Museum's current exhibition, This School, This City.
Monday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Free Admission.
6).
N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org)
invites you to their annual Fossil Fair! If you’re wild about dinosaurs and
fascinated by getting your hands dirty, Fossil Fair at the North Carolina
Museum of Natural Sciences is right up your ally… or dig pit… whichever you
prefer! On Saturday, November 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., all four floors of the
Museum’s Nature Exploration Center (main building) and the first and second
floors of the Nature Research Center will be transformed into an oasis of
millions-year-old relics. Fossil Fair is the nation’s largest event dedicated
to fossils and paleontology. Free. Co-hosted by the North Carolina Fossil Club.
For additional information or to purchase tickets, call the Museum Box Office
at 919.707.9950.
7).
Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex (www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf)
announces that thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council,
the Museum of the Cape Fear, along with the Cumberland County Public Library
and Information Center, will sponsor a mini-symposium on November 22nd
from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Pate Room of the library. The mini-symposium is free and open to the
public. The mini-symposium is being held in conjunction with the 225th
anniversary of North Carolina ratifying the United States Constitution, which
occurred in Fayetteville on November 21, 1789. The symposium has lined up speakers who are well-versed in their
topics to tell the story of how North Carolina became the twelfth state. The
library’s Pate Room sets the stage for the speakers and a panel discussion that
will take place at the end. In addition to the symposium, the museum will have
on exhibit North Carolina’s copy of the signature page. The document is housed
at State Archives and this is the first time since it has been in their
possession that the document will be on public view. We encourage symposium
attendees to stop by the museum and view the document ahead of time. Visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/ncmcf to learn more
about the museum and other programs.
8). Hands
On! A Child's Gallery (www.handsonwnc.org) invites you to learn to create turkeys
at Hands On! Join us all week for Critter Craft – Turkeys! on Wednesday, Nov.
12 through Friday, Nov. 14. This is a drop-in, self-directed activity in our
Art Area. Sponsored by Etowah Valley Veterinary Hospital. Visitors can also test their painting skills
starting Wednesday, Nov. 12 through the end of the month. Learn to paint a
turkey with easy to follow instructions in our Art Area. Both activities are
free with $5 admission and free for members.
9). The
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (www.tcva.org)
at Appalachian State University is celebrating the opening of three new exhibitions
on December 5, 2014 featuring three very diverse artists: Andrew Fullwood,
Tanja Softić and Les Caison III. Andrew Fullwood is a master wood sculptor, NC
native, 5th generation wood carver known candidly as “the one who can’t make
furniture" in his family. Tanja
Softić is a painter, Bosnian immigrant, who shares experiences of living in
exile. Les Caison III is a painter, ASU alumni, and believes that perspective
and positive attitude are the things that get us moving in the right direction
and expresses that belief in his work. For
more information on these exhibits or for any questions, call 828-262-3017 or
visit www.tcva.org.
10). The
American Association for State and Local History (www.aaslh.org) is seeking proposals for sessions
for its 2015 annual meeting, which will be held from September 16 through 20 in
Louisville, Kentucky. In keeping with the conference theme, “The Power of
Possibility,” AASLH is seeking proposals that focus on innovative ideas,
encourage public involvement in museums, and promote organizational review and
revitalization. Deadline for session proposals is November 17. To learn more
about submitting a proposal, visit
http://about.aaslh.org/am-call-for-proposals.
NCMC Events From Around the State… November 3, 2014
1). High
Point Museum (www.highpointmuseum.org) announces that Dr. Douglas Butler will
be giving a lecture on his book and its photographic exhibit, North Carolina Civil War Monuments: An
Illustrated History, on Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Butler is
an independent scholar, photographer, and practicing physician living in
northwestern North Carolina. In his presentation, Butler will discuss the
historical, artistic, and social contexts in which each of these commemorations
were created, share his images, and relate insightful episodes and fascinating
anecdotes highlighting the cultural and aesthetic evolution of these memorials. His award-winning photography has been
featured in regional and national publications. Dr. Butler, a NC Road Scholar,
will be available to sign books after the lecture which is free and open to the
public. His exhibit will be on display at the High Point Museum until December
13.
2). The
Charlotte Museum of History (www.charlottemuseum.org)
invites you to Backcountry Beer Fest on Saturday, November 8th at 1:00
p.m. Their second annual beer fest will once
again feature colonial beers made from the natural spring flowing on the home
site.
3). Hands
On! A Child's Gallery (www.handsonwnc.org) invites you to Kids Vote at Hands On,
all day Tuesday, November 4 - Friday November 7. This activity engages visitors
in voter education & a “hands on” voting experience. Visitors can practice
the voting process by voting on a question about healthy eating. 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. The learning continues at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 3rd for Book n’ Craft with the book “Duck for President” by
Doreen Cronin. Books on elections & voting designed for PreK-2nd grades are
also available to read at the Hands On! Welcome Center. All of these activities are free with $5
admission/free for members.
4). The
Museum of Anthropology (www.moa.wfu.edu)
invites to a Kachina Doll Workshop on Sunday, November 9th, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Kachina dolls are used by the Hopi people of
the United States Southwest to portray the spirits that they believe surround
them. In celebration of Native American
Heritage Month, participants in this program will learn about the Hopi people
and their beliefs and make their own kachina doll. The workshop is open to all
ages. The fee is $10 ($7 for MOA
Friends) per doll. Advanced registration
is required. Call 336.758.5282 or reply to this email to register.
5). Museum
of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) will
host History for Lunch: The
Ladies of Our Edenton Tea Party on November 5th at 12:15 p.m. Bring your lunch and enjoy a lecture. The museum provides the beverage. For this
month’s lecture, John Collins, Edenton Historian, will talk about the momentous
gathering that took place on October 25, 1774, at which 51 women signed a
resolution that was published in London the following January. The event is now famed as the first political
action by women in America. For more information
concerning the event call 252-335-1453.
6). Thalian
Hall (www.ThalianHall.org) invites you to travel
back in time to when radio was king and the mountains were its palace! Broadcast:
A Man and His Dream - The Live Radio Show combines string music,
storytelling and film at Thalian Hall on Saturday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m. and will be a delight for string
music fans, lovers of Blue Ridge Mountain culture, and history buffs. The show
is a delightful trip through the very beginnings of the Blue Ridge tradition of
music and the dream of one man and his radio station that helped keep that
tradition alive. Inspired by the documentary film "Broadcast: A Man and
his Dream" by Jordan Nance, this show weaves film and live music to create
a unique and exciting experience for the audience. Tickets will be $32/$26/$18;
visit http://www.thalianhall.org/2014-2015-main-attractions-and-special-events
for more info.
7). Old
Salem Museums & Gardens (www.oldsalem.org)
invites you to join them on November 8th for the MESDA Saturday Seminar: Take a Chair! Presenters will discuss construction, design,
and regional characteristics of early southern chairs in the MESDA collection
followed by an afternoon at Reynolda House exploring the dramatic creative
evolvement of the chair in design and function from the early nineteenth
century to the present. 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. $65 ($60 for Friends of MESDA/Old
Salem). To register, call 336-721-7360.
8). The
N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org)
announces its 19th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration. This free
family-friendly festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. Members of all eight
state-recognized tribes come from across North Carolina to participate in this
exciting celebration. Passionate about sharing their heritage, these musicians,
dancers, craftspeople, storytellers and others provide many opportunities to
learn about the state’s Indian culture, past and present. With so much to see
and do, stay the day and grab lunch from vendors. Try some traditional American
Indian foods with a modern twist, such as Indian tacos or Sappony salsa. For a
schedule of all performances and presentations, visit NCMOH-programs.com or
call 919-807-7900.
9). Joel
Lane Museum House
(www.joellane.org) presents a lecture on
"Understanding Southern Silver” by Gary Albert of MESDA on Thursday,
November 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Visitors Center of the Joel Lane
Museum House. Admission will be $16 for the general public and $11 for members
of the Joel Lane Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. Seating is
limited, and advanced payment is required. Please go to the Eventbrite web site
to purchase admission. Be sure to include the names of all in your party;
nametags will serve as tickets. Tickets are non-refundable unless we must
cancel the event. Gary Albert will
discuss silver’s role in material culture, care of silver, and identifying
marks and dating through style and design.
Gary is Editorial Director at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative
Arts and Editor of the MESDA Journal. He also serves as the museum’s adjunct
curator of silver and metals. For more
information, please call 919-833-3431, email joellane@bellouth.net, or visit www.joellane.org.
10). Cherryville Historical Museum (www.cherryville.com/museums/historical_society/index.htm)
announces that on Saturday, November 8th
fishing pro, Guy Eaker, and other noted pro-fishermen will host a fishing seminar
at the Great Outdoors of Cherryville.
This event is a fundraiser event to sponsor a medical/pharmacy exhibit
at the Cherryville Historical Museum. Raffle
tickets are $1 and are sold at the Great Outdoors and other businesses in the
area. Raffle events will go on thru the
day. The main raffle is for a Revo
Rocket and Fenwick Rod 7 foot Action.
Drawings during the day will also be for Abu Garcia Rod and bags of
lures. There will also be a kids casting contest (ages 8 and up). For more information call 704-445-8848.