NCMC Events From Around the State… June 8, 2015

1). The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org) invites you to join them on their Darker Side of Mayberry Tours held at 7 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of October.  Mount Airy’s history as “Little Chicago” has been swept under the rug a long time ago as the city turned to cleaning up its’ image in the 60s.  This 45 minute walking tour of our downtown area will take you to the areas where murder, mayhem and moonshine were prevalent.  Tickets are $11 per person.   Historic Downtown Mount Airy Ghost Tours are held at 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of October.  Join us for an exciting 90 minute, lantern-lit walking tour through Mount Airy's streets and its historic past.  You will hear about 13 of our "less mortal" friends and some of Mount Airy's final resting places.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera and umbrella, if needed.   Tickets are $13 and pre-paid reservations are required. 

2). Museum of the Albemarle (www.museumofthealbemarle.com) invites children to become an archaeologist for the day!  Visit with real archaeologists and view the tools of the trade on Thursday, June 18^th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Museum of the Albemarle. Various stations will be set up to explain that artifacts have a meaning or a story to tell, the tools and methods used by archaeologists, how artifacts are recovered in a systematic fashion and how organized records are kept of finds, and the aspect of processing and interpreting artifacts from a site.  Discover what some local archaeologists have uncovered in their own backyard. Visitors will participate in archaeological activities. This is a FREE family program. For more information, please call 252-335-1453.

3). Cameron Art Museum (www.cameronartmuseum.org) invites you to their exhibit, Claude LIVE!, on view through July 26^th, 2015. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Claude Howell, this special exhibition focuses on the life and work of one of North Carolina’s most notable artists. Howell holds an established place in the vanguard of North Carolina art. A brilliant colorist and meticulous draftsman, he is best known for his intimate examination of the southern coast: the quality of light and life of its people. For over fifty years, Howell kept journals chronicling his daily life in Wilmington and his international travels through twenty-three countries. He wrote brilliant radio commentaries inspired by his journal entries which were produced by WHQR Public Radio. Additionally, he established the art department of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and was teacher, mentor, arts activist and philanthropic leader, using his great energy and will for the betterment of the arts in North Carolina. 

4). The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission (www.NCArts.org) presents a Gathering of Gatherings:  The State of African American Museums and Heritage Work in North Carolina on Wednesday, June 17^th from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Hayti Heritage Center on 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham, N.C. Join Michelle Lanier, Director of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, for the culminating event of the Gathering Place Project. A Gathering of Gatherings serves as a pre-conference event for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Rosenwald Schools Conference. Museum professionals and heritage practitioners will gather to experience a roundtable discussion on the state of African American heritage work in North Carolina. Through the lens of cultural heritage leaders, participants will hear a collective exploration of the status of North Carolina's African American cultural institutions. To register and RSVP, download and print this form: http://files.ctctcdn.com/f32ca80f101/0b82e951-4bea-4ac7-9e16-cf3c2d4151c8.pdf, and email it to Schree Chavdarov at Schree.Chavdarov@ncdcr.gov.

5). N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (www.ncaquariums.com/fortfisher) would like to help you create lasting family memories this Father’s Day. Aquarium admission is free for all fathers on Sunday, June 21^st. Make the day more special by treating dad to a Father’s Day Barbecue and take-home craft. The prix fixe menu, catered by Middle of the Island, includes Eastern North Carolina pulled pork barbecue (vinegar based), fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, strawberry spinach salad, rosemary potatoes, banana pudding and a choice of non-alcoholic beverage. The Father’s Day Barbecue runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $24 per adult, $22 for children 3-12, $5 for two-year-olds, and free for children one and younger. N.C. Aquarium Society members are $13 and children two and younger are free. Reservations are required and space is limited. In addition, various tours and classes are offered during the holiday weekend including Canoeing the Salt Marsh and Behind the Scenes tours. For more information, pricing and registration for tours visit http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher.

6). Spencer Doll and Toy Museum (www.spencerdollandtoymuseum.com) announce their “Passion for Fashion Day Camp” on June 27^th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. where participants can become a supermodel for the day! Learn about fashion, the "beauty walk", and public speaking while participating in an afternoon fashion show. Have fun as you discover how to make your own lip gloss and hair pins. Bring a white t-shirt for lots of design fun! Please bring a lunch. Snacks provided. Cost is $35.  Please call to register by June 15.

7). The Earl Scruggs Center (www.earlscruggscenter.org), in partnership with the City of Shelby, is pleased to announce a “Star Spangled Summer” with free exhibit admission for all active duty military personnel and veterans between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  In addition, this partnership makes it possible to bring The Hickabillies, a bluegrass band formed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, to the Center June 27th for a program and kick-off of the Center’s Pickin’ on the Square series. For more information about the Blue Star Museums program visit the link on the Earl Scruggs Center website.  The site lists all participating museums as well as frequently asked questions.

8). Hands On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in Hendersonville, invites you to make a Father’s Day Card at Hands On!  Show Dad how much you care by making a home-made card, Tuesday, June 16^th through Friday, June 19^th. This self-directed do-it-yourself activity is located in the Party Room and is sponsored by Drs. Reid & Reid, Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. This activity is free with $5 admission/free for members.  For additional information about their educational programs and facility, please visit their website at www.handsonwnc.org or call 828-697-8333.

9). The Asheville Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is excited to present Visions + Visionaries: A Marriage – O’Keeffe + Stieglitz, a benefit gala inspired by the marriage of two influential artists of the 20th century: Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. On this festive evening, guests can imagine "traveling" between Stieglitz's Manhattan and O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch, with the fun of an early-evening raffle, beautiful decorative items for sale and an exciting live auction featuring fine art, dreamy vacation destinations, culinary adventures and more. This benefit supports the Museum’s innovative programming and exhibitions, and helps bring great art and great experiences to the Western North Carolina region. The gala will take place on Saturday, June 13^th from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased at www.ashevilleart.org or by calling 828.253.3227. A preview of some of the exciting auction items up for bid that evening can be viewed at www.ashevilleart.org/gala.

10). The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (www.blowingrockmuseum.org) invites you to join them on Friday, June 12^th at 10:00 a.m. for coffee and a presentation by North Carolina native John Snyder.  Snyder is the author of Crossing Ethiopia, a stunning black and white photographic journal of the trip he took in 1972 to retrace significant events in Britain's colonial history in the mid-1800s.   This program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Membership Coffees are the second Friday of each month during the summer, from June through September.  Our next Coffee will be on Friday, July 10th, and will feature longtime Watauga County resident, artist, and author Noyes Capehart speaking about his latest book Devil’s Mark.