NCMC Events From Around the State… June 1, 2015

1). Greensboro Science Center (www.greensboroscience.org) invites you to celebrate the sea at the Center's World Oceans Day Celebration on Saturday, June 6^th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This year's theme, 'Healthy oceans, healthy planet,' encourages participants to take action to save our oceans by reducing pollution, specifically plastic bags. GSC visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the detrimental effects of ocean debris. When visitors are ready to take action, they will be encouraged to take the "Plastic Pledge" to reduce the amount of plastic used in their daily lives. Guests are also encouraged to bring an old T-shirt and join GSC educators to create no-sew reusable bags as an alternative to plastic bags. Additional activities include ocean-oriented animal talks, ocean-themed temporary tattoos and coloring pages, and information about how to choose which fish to eat and which to leave in the ocean. World Oceans Day activities are free with general admission or membership, but guests must provide their own T-shirt to participate in the no-sew reusable bag craft. General admission is $12.50 for adults ages 14 - 64, $11.50 for children ages 3 - 13, and $11.50 for seniors ages 65+. Children 2 and under and Greensboro Science Center Members are free.   

2). Battleship NORTH CAROLINA (www.battleshipnc.com) invites you to Battleship 101 on Saturday, June 13^th (also July 11 & August 8) from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Ship volunteers stationed throughout the ship engage visitors in specific subjects and areas including: gunnery, radar, sickbay, galley, engineering, and daily shipboard life. A unique opportunity to talk one on one of what life was like aboard a WWII Battleship in the time of combat. A great event for all ages. Bring your questions and cameras! Included with Battleship Admission.

3). The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (www.blowingrockmuseum.org) is beginning a new discussion series this summer – Watauga Wanderings, focusing solely on Watauga County history.  The first talk will be on Friday, June 5th at 3:30 p.m. and will feature Eric Plaag, member of the Watauga County Historical Society, speaking about that organization’s new Digital Watauga Project, which began last summer.  This program is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $5. Our next discussion in the Watauga Wanderings series will be on Friday, August 7th and will feature Appalachian State University history professor Ralph Lentz speaking on the beginnings of higher education in Watauga County.  This discussion series is one of many summer programs for adults at BRAHM: our calendar of events is full of activities, workshops, lectures, concerts, films, and exhibitions.  BRAHM is dedicated to promoting the visual arts, history, and heritage of the mountains through educational programs, exhibitions, and a significant permanent collection. For more information about this or other upcoming activities at BRAHM, please call (828) 295-9099.

4). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to join them for the Summer Flower Festival on Wednesday, June 10^th - Friday, June 12^th. This self-directed activity is appropriate for all ages. Children and their caregivers will enjoy creating flowers using paintings recycled from our art area and other recycled materials. Create beautiful flowers to put in a vase, wear in your hair, or give to others. This activity is sponsored by United Federal Credit Union and is free with $5 admission/free for members. For additional information please call 828-697-8333.

5). N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org) announces a new exhibit case titled Hey America!: Eastern North Carolina and the Birth of Funk.  This special case will feature items associated with James Brown and some Tar Heel musicians who worked with him. Hey America! will be on view from Saturday, June 6^th, through Sunday, February 28^th, 2016, in the museum lobby. Admission is free. To complement Hey America!, Sam Lathan, who played with James Brown and the Famous Flames, and Dick Knight, who performed with the James Brown Orchestra, will present programs in June. (Knight will be joined by Bill Myers.) More than 50 years later, these Tar Heels are still going strong! In August, Tyrone Jefferson, who served several stints as Brown’s music director, will lead a master class and give a performance. Hey America! was inspired, in part, by African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina, a guidebook produced by the N.C. Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources. Access www.AfricanAmericanMusicNC.com for more information.

6). North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) invites hikers to lace up their boots and get ready to journey through the Triangle’s extensive nature trails during the 2nd annual Triangle Volksmarch on Saturday, June 6^th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This self-paced hike for all ages celebrates National Trails Day and is hosted by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina State University, Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, and William B. Umstead State Park. The hike begins at the North Carolina Museum of Art, where participants have the opportunity to decorate their own walking sticks. The hike ends with a mini-safari, guided by park rangers at the Reedy Creek entrance of William B. Umstead Park. This year’s 5.6 mile Volksmarch trail takes hikers through the Reedy Creek section of the Capital Area Greenway to showcase the natural beauty of North Carolina’s diverse nature trails. Please contact Charles Yelton at charles.yelton@naturalsciences.org or 919-707-8879 for more information or to register.

7). Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (www.secca.org) invites you to their next Alternative Modernisms Talk @ SECCA Series on Thursday, June 4^th at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Nadia Yaqub, Professor and Chair of Asian Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will discuss Jumana Manna’s film “A Sketch of Manners” featured in Alternative Modernisms within the broader lens of Palestinian filmmaking. This lecture is free and open to the public and will take place in the Overlook Gallery. Please enter through the Historic Hanes House.

8). Bellamy Mansion Museum (www.bellamymansion.org) is proud to announce that it will be hosting Water, Water Everywhere, an Environmental Awareness event, on Sunday, June 7^th between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. This year’s focus is on water, a critical aspect of the environment in the Cape Fear area. Cooperation with local environment groups, this community event is meant to increase public knowledge of water-related issues. They will be teaching families about critical issues relating to water, energy and air quality, conservation, and the health of local rivers and water ways. Additionally, the event will discuss future plans to drill a new well at the Bellamy to reduce reliance on public water and to highlight the importance of water.

9). Spencer Doll and Toy Museum (www.spencerdollandtoymuseum.com) announces their upcoming Magic Camp on June 22-25, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Learn how to be a Magician by International Magician Buddy Farnan! He has over 50+ years’ magical experience. Ages 8-12 and adults welcome. Cost $110, Members $90. Please bring a lunch. Call to register by June 15^th.

10). Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum (www.ncmaritimemuseums.com) invites you to On Stage: The USS Carl Schurz, Speaking Tubes from June 1^st – 30^th. The USS Carl Schurz was a coal-fired gunboat that was commissioned in 1917 as a patrol vessel. She sank off Beaufort Inlet after a collision with another vessel. Visit the Museum in June to view speaking tubes recovered from the Schurz and discover the ship’s story.  Each month the Museum reveals an artifact from its collection that’s not usually on display. Enjoy the opportunity to “view” authentic history, and discover its special story. For more information, please call 252-986-2995 or visit www.ncmaritimemuseums.com.