NCMC Events From Around the State… February 9, 2015

1). The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) is proud to be a part of the fifth annual African-American Read-In on Wednesday, February 11^th at 12 p.m.  Hosted by members of The Plaid Cloth Literary Society, this FREE event will be held in the Conference Room on the second floor.  To participate, one needs only to select works written by an African American and be prepared to read a poem or an excerpt from a book. Listeners are also welcome. Since 1990, more than a million readers, nationally and internationally, have gathered annually to participate in the Read-In.  It is endorsed by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English.  The goal is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.

2). Joel Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org) is proud to present a film by Tony Curtis called Anglers, Whalers and Waves: the Story of Samuel Windsor on Thursday, February 12^th at 7:00 p.m. at their Visitors Center. Tony Curtis will present his film, which is based on the life of Samuel Windsor, head of the only African American family living on Shackleford Banks in the late 1800s.  Tony produced and stars in the film which tells the story of the hardships of the life that the angler and whaler endured. 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 call 919-833-3431 with your MasterCard or Visa, mail a check to P O Box 10884, Raleigh NC 27605, or go to the Eventbrite web site. 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.

3). Kings Mountain Historical Museum (www.kingsmountainmuseum.org) announces their new exhibit, Pioneering Women of Cleveland County, which will be on display until May 23^rd.  This special exhibit celebrates women’s history in Cleveland County and the surrounding region from the Revolutionary War to the present day.  The exhibit focuses a spotlight on the women whose courageous acts helped to turn the tide of the revolution, as well as on our “founding mothers” – the women who helped establish and maintain our area’s infrastructure, industries, hospitals, schools, churches, and civic organizations.  In conjunction with the exhibit, the Museum will host a 2015 Lecture Series focusing on local women’s history.  The first program in the series, “Women in the Civil War” by Mark Hughes, will be held on Thursday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. ADMISSION IS FREE!  Donations are appreciated.  To find out more about upcoming exhibits and events, please visit www.kingsmountainmuseum.org or call (704) 739-1019. 

4). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) looks at evolution of love in the animal kingdom on Darwin Day, February 14^th. Spend Valentine’s Day learning about famed naturalist Charles Darwin, take a closer look at his theories and their impact on modern science, and meet some of the scientists who are continuing his work when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts Darwin Day on Saturday, February 14, 9am-5pm. Free. Join Keynote Speaker Marlene Zuk from the University of Minnesota as she shares her “Lessons on Life, Love, and Language from the Insect World” in the SECU Daily Planet Theater at 12:30pm. Plus, discover what animals can teach us about love and relationships when Jennifer Verdolin (from the “DL Hughley Show”) presents “The Animal Pocket Guide to Dating” at 10:30am. You can also find out how animals choose (and confuse) their mates with NESCent’s Courtney Fitzpatrick or enjoy a Valentine to Alfred Russel Wallace with the American Museum of Natural History’s Richard Milner. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences documents and interprets the natural history of the state through exhibits, research, collections, publications and educational programming. General admission is free.
 

5). Mordecai Historic Park (www.raleighnc.gov/museums) invites children and their parents to join them on Saturday, February 21st from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. for a story and craft hour. In honor of Black History Month, staff will read Gloria Whelan’s The Listeners and talk about the story with the participants. Kids will then be invited to join us in making a special craft related to the story. Kids of all ages are invited to attend. The story and craft hour will be held in the Mordecai Historic Park Visitor Center. This event is free and registration is not required. Please call Mordecai Historic Park at 919-996-4364 for more information.

 

6). SECCA (www.secca.org) invites you to join them for 2nd Saturday on Saturday, February 14^th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Bring your families to Saturday mornings @ SECCA where the auditorium will come alive with laughter as we watch classic cartoons and make art together. Help make a large scale geodesic dome out of spaghetti and gumdrops, and make a small one to take home! This activity ties into our Floating World project that is being built and is on display in our Collective Actions exhibit. This event is free and open to the public.

7). Bellamy Mansion (www.bellamymansion.org) invites you Masked Mardi Gras at the Mansion, a celebration of Fat Tuesday, on Tuesday, February 17^th 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. $20 per person (includes specialty cocktail).  Masks required, festive dress suggested. For more information, visit their website or call 910-251-3700 for reservations. Limited space available.

8). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to celebrate Chinese New Year with them Tuesday, February 17^th – Friday, February 20^th. It is the year of the goat! Come learn about Chinese New Year traditions. Use your artistic skills to create hung bao and noise makers! Chinese New Year is Feb. 19th. Free with $5 admission/free for members.

9). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher) announces Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Day Lock-In for Kids Only on Friday, February 13^th and Saturday, February 14^th at 6 p.m. Wish you could plan a romantic evening with your special someone?  Not sure what to do with the kids? Here’s your solution. The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher invites children, ages 5 to 12, to a Valentine’s sleepover. Hug them at the door and know the fish fun lasts all night.  They will play games, make crafts and enjoy animal programs with our qualified and trained staff. What’s not to love? Children must be comfortable staying away from parents all night. Dinner, snacks and breakfast will be provided. Fee: $55 per child.  PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
 
10). The Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is excited to present Go Figure: Faces and Forms, an exhibition opening February 14^th that brings together a selection of paintings, photographs, prints, drawings and contemporary craft that celebrate the human figure. Drawn from the Museum’s world-class Permanent Collection, the faces and figures in this exhibition span decades and artistic styles. Families will appreciate the show’s spirit of play with its inclusion of puppet figures and images of children, while artists and visitors of all ages will be delighted and inspired by the range of expression given to the human form in the 20th and 21st centuries. Additional information on upcoming exhibitions and public programs at the Museum can be found online at www.ashevilleart.org.