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… August 24, 2015
1). The
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) invites you
to join them for a live look at California’s Monterey Bay and watch one of
nature’s great “reality” shows, featuring humpback whales, blue whales, sea
lions, dolphins, elephant seals, sea otters, great white sharks, shearwaters
and brown pelicans. This broadcast of “Big Blue Live,” a new production from
PBS and the BBC, takes place Monday, August 31st at 8:00 p.m. – 9:00
p.m. ET in the Museum’s WRAL Theater. Museum doors open at 7:00 p.m. with
additional Museum programming starting at 7:30 p.m. This special program is
free.
2). The N.C. Transportation Museum (www.nctrans.org)
will host the Lincoln Funeral Train and the Leviathan locomotive to Spencer,
N.C. for a full weekend of Civil War-era recreations, music, living history,
tours, sutlers, and more, August 28th – 30th. The Lincoln Funeral Train is a full size
replica of the train that carried the mortal remains of Abraham Lincoln from
Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Ill in May of 1865. The N.C. Transportation
Museum will feature train rides behind this historic replica, a composite
reenactment of some of the stops the train made across the nation, allowing the
mourners to pay their respects, and a host of other Civil War themed
activities. The museum’s 57 acre site will be filled with reenactors, living
history demonstrations, live music, expert speakers and much more. A full
schedule of activities and ticket information can be found at www.nctrans.org.
3). The
Charlotte Museum of History (www.charlottemuseum.org)
announces that it will host a series of afternoon teas accompanied by lectures
that survey the castles, monuments, and important public buildings of the
British Isles. Their August tea will explore Scotland on August 29th
from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy a Scottish-themed menu of
tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts, along with a favorite Scottish tea. Individual public tickets are $25 and member
tickets are $20. To register, please visit:
http://www.charlottemuseum.org/Register.asp.
4). Turchin
Center for the Visual Arts (www.tcva.org)
announces that three female artists with
powerful worldviews will bring their work to the Turchin Center beginning
Friday, September 4. All three
women—Endia Beal, who uses a delicate but incisive wit to tackle the often
ridiculous quandaries facing black women in the everyday world; Kirsten Stolle,
who slyly examines the sinister influence of agribusiness and biotech companies
on the world’s food supplies; and Ruth Ava Lyons, who paints lush canvases
reflecting profound concerns about man’s fragile coexistence with the Earth—
work and live here in North Carolina while enjoying prominence on the national
art landscape. The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts presents exhibition,
education and collection programs that support Appalachian State University’s
role as a key regional educational, cultural and economic resource. For additional details about the Turchin
Center, becoming a donor, the upcoming exhibitions, to be added to the mailing
list or to schedule a tour, please call (828) 262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org.
5).
Bellamy Mansion Museum (www.bellamymansion.org)
invites you to attend “The Stories of Oakdale Cemetery” on Thursday, August 27th
at 6:30 p.m. Join Oakdale Cemetery
Superintendent Eric Kozen as he discusses the beautiful Oakdale historic
cemetery and the stories that surround it. Free admission, but a $5 suggested
donation greatly appreciated.
6). Hands
On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in
Hendersonville, invites you to come celebrate the Apple Festival September 1-6.
Pin the apple on the tree, learn apple facts & help Hands On! decorate for
the Apple Festival! This self-directed activity is located in their
Party Room and is available to visitors all day. Hands On! will be open Sunday,
September 6, from 1-5. This event is free with $5 admission/free for members. The
mission of Hands On! is to provide “hands on” educational experiences that
stimulate the imagination and motivate learning in a fun, safe
environment. For additional information
about their educational programs and facility, please visit their website or
call 828-697-8333.
7). Kings
Mountain Historical Museum (www.kingsmountainmuseum.org)
announces that tickets are still available for “Tracks through Time”, the 12th
Annual Reverse Raffle & Auctions event.
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 12th at
the Patrick Senior Center. This fun and
festive evening provides the majority of the Museum’s annual operating costs, and
allows them to offer quality educational exhibits, events, and outreach
services at no cost to the public. One
$125 ticket will include a delicious dinner for two and a chance to win the
Grand Prize of $10,000 – which is the maximum prize amount a nonprofit
organization can award under state law.
The event will also include Live, Silent & Cake Auctions, as well as
lots of great door prizes, camaraderie, and entertainment. Tickets are currently available at the
Museum. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted. For more information,
please visit: http://www.kingsmountainmuseum.org/annual-fundraiser.html
or call 704-739-1019.
8). The
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville (www.naturalsciences.org) presents "Science Cinema" on
Saturday, August 29, featuring Disneynature’s "African Cats.” An epic true
story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, “African
Cats” captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic
kings of the savanna. This 89-minute film will be shown at 10:00 a.m., 12:00
p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The film is rated G. Admission is free, but donations are
appreciated. The last Saturday of each month, the museum will be showing
engaging nature and sciences films, perfect for the entire family. For more information, please contact the
museum at 910-914-4185 or Whiteville@naturalsciences.org.
9). The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (www.secca.org) is proud to present Beth McKee’s
Sugarcane Revival and Hurricane Party on Saturday, August 29th at
7:00 p.m. The first set of the evening will be a songwriter-in-the-round with
Beth, Tommy Malone (subdudes) and Jeffrey Dean Foster, showcasing recent work
by each artist and discussion of the songwriting process. After a brief
intermission, Beth McKee and her band will launch the second set with the North
Carolina debut of her new album Sugarcane Revival and end with a “Last Waltz”
style Hurricane Party, a coordinated jam with special guests performing New
Orleans-centric songs. The concert commemorates the 10th anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina with a celebration of rebirth, resilience and revival. Galleries open at 5:00 p.m. New Orleans food
and drink (including hurricanes) will be available at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
Lobby. Doors open to Auditorium and seating at 6:30 p.m. and concert begins at
7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15/general admission and $25/VIP available online (www.secca.org/hurricaneparty) and
at the door if still available.
10). Transylvania
Heritage Museum (www.transylvaniaheritage.org) will
hold its 7th Annual Founders Day Fair on Saturday, September 5th. Festivities
begin at 10:00 a.m. with an opening ceremony featuring Kit Owen performing the National
Anthem. There will be music on stage all day and a special performance from the
Bailey Mountain Cloggers. Local crafters selling collectibles, rustic wood
furniture, cornhusk dolls, period costumes and artwork will be featured outside
the Museum. Family displays, craft activities for the kids, and the ongoing
exhibit of Transylvania’s Summer Camps will be featured inside the Museum. Blue Smoke BBQ will be available for
purchase, and sweets will be on hand at the Museum’s Bake Sale Booth. The Founding Fathers Guided
Walking Tour will depart from the street at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. No
reservations are required for these tours and the cost is $10 per person.
Payment will be taken in the Museum Gift Shop. Bring your tour tag and meet the
guide at the street.
NCMC Events From Around the State… August 17, 2015
1). Spencer
Doll and Toy Museum (www.spencerdollandtoymuseum.com)
invites you to their Antiques Appraisal Fair (Roadshow Style) on Friday, August
21st and Saturday, August 22nd from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. both days. Antiques dealer Michael Hansen will take a
look at your items and will offer advice and information regarding a broad
spectrum of general merchandise including toys. Bring in your family heirlooms
and yard sale bargains to find out the fascinating truths about these finds!
Cost is $5.00 per item. Limit 2 items per person. Call (704) 762-9359 for more
information.
2). Joel
Lane Museum House (www.joellane.org), “The Birthplace of
Raleigh,” will sponsor its second Pool Party and Silent Auction fundraiser on
Sunday, August 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a rain date of
August 30th. It will take
place by the pool of a private home in the Five Points area of Raleigh. Address
will be given to ticket purchasers upon confirmation of purchase. Admission is
$80 per person. Advanced purchase strongly suggested either by visiting
Eventbrite.com, phoning 919-833-3431 with MasterCard or Visa (1% convenience fee
will be added), or sending a check to PO Box 10884, Raleigh NC 27605. Tickets
are non-refundable unless we must cancel the event. This casual event will include food and
beverages, as well as a silent auction of local artists’ work and a week in
cottages at Beaufort, NC and Wrightsville Beach, NC. Wear sundresses and
shorts, and be cool by the pool. For more information, visit the Joel Lane
Museum House website at www.joellane.org,
call (919) 833-3431, or e-mail joellane@bellsouth.net.
3). Asheville
Art Museum (www.ashevilleart.org) is thrilled to
present Cubism and Other-isms, an
exhibition of the work of renowned artist William Wegman on view August 22,
2015 – January 24, 2016. An opening reception for the exhibit will take place
on Saturday, August 23rd from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. The exhibition William Wegman: Cubism and Other-isms surveys more than 25 years of
Wegman’s artistic production, including early black-and-white photographs,
large-format Polaroids and more recent digital imagery. In conjunction with
this exhibition, the Museum is screening William
Wegman: Video Works 1970-1999 in the New Media Gallery. William Wegman’s photographs, video works,
paintings and drawings have been exhibited in museums and galleries
internationally.
4). The
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher)
hosts a teen trip next summer for the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Ecology Program.
This immersive, hands-on experience includes nightly sea turtle patrols to find
nesting female leatherbacks, rafting in the rain forest and a cultural exchange
day with local students. During the 9-day trip, June 20–28, 2016, participants
will be supporting conservation by assisting with a leatherback sea turtle
monitoring project and exploring the rainforest. Students will experience
international travel and culture, practice Spanish language skills and create
friendships to last a lifetime. The trip
is open to all high school students ages 14 to 18. For more information call
(910) 772-0505.
5). Blowing
Rock Art and History Museum (www.blowingrockmuseum.org)
invites you to a Duet Harmony Singing Workshop with Mark Weems & Julee
Glaub Weems of Little Windows on Saturday, August 22nd from 1 - 4:30
p.m. Learn some of the specific
techniques and nuances of duet singing. We will discuss choosing keys, finding
parts, exploring different types of harmony, building harmony, blending voices,
feeling and phrasing, singing with different partners and developing listening
skills. We will learn how to adapt harmonies to different songs and various
genres such as Appalachian, Irish, gospel, and country. It is not necessary to
read music, as we will be learning by ear. Bring a partner or find one in the
class! Note: students should come to this class with some experience in singing
melody. Non-member $40 / Member $30.
6).
N.C. Museum of History (www.ncmuseumofhistory.org)
invites you to become a volunteer docent at the Museum of History in Raleigh. Meet
people from around the world and share the history of the Tar Heel State! Each
year the museum’s award-winning exhibits, special events, and programs for all
ages attract more than 330,000 visitors. Museum volunteers provide invaluable
learning experiences for visitors and assist with exciting events.
Additionally, docents enjoy benefits such as field trips to historic sites,
dinner programs, and an annual appreciation reception. If you are interested in
becoming a museum volunteer, register for an interview by Monday, September 14th.
To register, contact Debra Nichols, volunteer and group programs coordinator,
at 919-807-7986. A series of training
classes will begin in mid-September and take place every Monday through
December 7th. Select either a morning or an evening session to fit
your schedule. During training classes,
participants learn about interpreting touch items on exhibit Spotlight Carts,
guiding exhibit tours for children and adults, and more. For more details about
becoming a docent, visit the museum’s website at www.ncmuseumofhistory.org.
7). Hands
On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in
Hendersonville, invites you to Critter Craft at Hands On! Come create your own critter craft August 18th
– 21st. All ages will enjoy designing a doggie pet using new and
recycled materials to take home and love (don't worry, it won't eat much)! This
self-directed activity is located in our Party Room and is available to
visitors all day. Critter craft, which is sponsored by Etowah Valley Veterinary
Hospital, is free with $5 admission/free for members. The mission of Hands On!
is to provide “hands on” educational experiences that stimulate the imagination
and motivate learning in a fun, safe environment. For additional information about their
educational programs and facility, please visit their website at
www.handsonwnc.org or call 828-697-8333.
8). The
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) hosts 2nd annual
“Natural Selections: Wake County Science and Brewers Expo” on Friday, August 21st
from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Join the
brewers of Wake County at the North Carolina Museum for a one-of-a-kind evening
of beer and science. At this sampling session on Friday, more than a dozen
brewers will offer unique creations fitting the Museum’s natural science focus.
You can also sit in on discussions about fermentation, flavors and the future
of beer, and take home a free commemorative glass — a 7oz Midland taster. Don’t
miss this opportunity to sample amazing local beers and even some brand new
brews! Tickets are $30 ($25 for Museum members) and are available now at www.naturalsciences.org/beer or
from the Museum Box Office, which will be open until 8:00 p.m. on event night
for last-minute tickets. Ticket price includes 7oz collectible Natural
Selections tasting glass. You must be 21 or older to attend. Photo ID is
required for entry. Additionally, food from Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and the
Museum’s Acro Café will be available for purchase during the event. The event is held in partnership with Craft
Beer Collective. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Museum.
9). The
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum (www.ncmaritimemuseums.com)
invites you to Salty Dawgs Lecture Series: Outer Banks Shipwreck Diving on
Tuesday, August 25th at 2:00 p.m.
Diver and shipwreck researcher, Marc Corbett shares his experiences as a
longtime diver of shipwrecks in near shore and offshore waters off the North
Carolina Outer Banks. For more
information, call 252-986-2995, email maryellen.riddle@ncdcr.gov or
visit www.ncmaritimemuseums.com.
10).
Tryon Palace
(www.tryonpalace.org) will explore
Germany’s defeat in its final WWI Lecture scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd
from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the North Carolina History Center. Join University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Professor Konrad H. Jarausch as he discusses how Germany became an enemy of the
United States, why German leaders gambled the entire war on a decisive victory
in the Ludendorff offensive and what led to the lack of willingness to fight
that caused Germany to seek a bid for armistice.In addition to being the Lurcy
Professor of European Civilization at UNC, Jarausch has written or edited more
than 40 books on German and European history.
This free lecture is part of a WWI lecture series held throughout the
summer in collaboration with the opening of “North Carolina in the Great War,”
a free exhibit open through September 13th at the North Carolina
History Center.
NCMC Events From Around the State… August 3, 2015
1). The
Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (www.northcarolinamuseum.org)
announces Darker Side of Mayberry Tours held at 7pm every Friday 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 8pm every Friday and
Saturday 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; Free Teacher
Appreciation Open House will be held on Wednesday August 5 from 2-5pm Teachers can tour the Museum and learn about
the educational programs and tours for the 2015-16 school year; Summer Storytelling Saturday at 2pm August
8. This storytelling program is FREE to
the public. Linda Hodges with Surry Storytellers will captivate you with her
tall tales and “yarn spinning!”
2).
Cleveland County Arts Council (www.ccartscouncil.org)
announces the opening of their latest exhibit, Baseball as Art, which will
be on exhibit August 6th – September 10th,
2015. An Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, August 6th
from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. This exhibit features artwork pertaining to baseball
and coincides with the American Legion World Series in Shelby.
3). Gullah
Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission (www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org) will
hold its third quarterly business meeting for 2015 on Friday, August 7th,
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.at New Hanover Fire & Rescue Station 19 Training
Room, 9815 River Road, Wilmington, NC. This meeting will continue the
Commission's emphasis on interpretation and preservation of Gullah Geechee
culture. Through concurrent workshops, there will be discussions on community
organization, community development, land preservation, farming/agriculture,
education, and elevation of Gullah Geechee culture. Other subjects may be
included as appropriate. The general
public as well as local organizations are cordially invited to participate in
what the Commission hopes will be a robust and productive discussion.
4). Southeastern
Center for Contemporary Art (www.secca.org) invites you to 2nd Saturday @ SECCA on
Saturday, August 8th from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the McChesney
Scott Dunn Auditorium Lobby. You’re invited to bring your families to watch films
and classic cartoons in the auditorium and make art inspired by our current
exhibitions. Free Admission.
5). The
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (www.naturalsciences.org) displays
monster with power to turn living, screaming flesh into stone. On First Friday in August, venture into the
deepest, starkest realms of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for a
look at “The Gorgon.” Witness what happens when a female gorgon named Megaera
takes human form and terrorizes a small European village by turning anyone who
looks at her to stone. Yes, it’s true; she had a face only a mummy could love!
But you can see it in relative safety during this month’s Natural Horror
Picture Show, held Friday, August 7th at 7:00 p.m. The Museum stays open from 5 to 9pm on the
First Friday of every month, inviting visitors to witness a (classic) sci-fi or
horror movie, wander through eye-catching exhibits, groove to live music from
Lily and Molly James, and enjoy snacks and beverages from the Daily Planet
Café. Additionally, the Museum Stores offer after-hours shopping (till 7pm) and
an opening reception for painter and native North Carolinian Mark Stephenson
(6-8pm), whose show “Moments of Eternity” runs August 7–31 in the Nature Art
Gallery. All exhibited art is for sale.
6).
Tryon Palace
(www.tryonpalace.org) invites you to experience
the sights and sounds of the Civil War with Civil War Living History Weekend on
August 15th and 16th. The Civil War will come to life
during Tryon Palace's Civil War Living History Weekend held at the New Bern
Academy Museum, Tryon Palace, and surrounding historic homes. The Academy will
be home to reenactors, artillery and infantry demonstrations, and lectures
throughout Civil War Living History Weekend while Civil War themed tours will
take over the historic Stanly, Dixon and Hay houses. All these interpretive activities will help
demonstrate the ways in which North Carolinians experienced the war and how New
Bernians lived during Union occupation.
Visit www.tryonpalace.org/calendar
to see the full schedule of activities and to learn more.
7). Hands
On! (www.handsonwnc.org), a Child's Gallery in
Hendersonville, invites you to explore the science of art at Hands On! Join the
educators at Hands On!, for summer S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art, and Math) classes to engage young minds. Coming up we will
explore the science of art by creating projects with felt, prints, and mobiles.
On Tuesday, August 11th from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. they present the
“Science of Art! ~ Fabulous Felt!” (Ages 7-11) Use colored wool to create
felted beads, jewelry, and felted pictures. $34 non-members-$26 members. Pre-registration
required. Call 697-8333 to register.
8). The
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville (www.naturalsciences.org) offers “Dragonfly
Detectives Day Camp” on Monday, August 17th - Friday, August 21st
from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Dragonfly
Detectives is a fun and inquiry-based science day camp. Participants will meet at the museum and will
travel to Lake Waccamaw State Park to study dragonflies, water quality and
weather in the field. They will also
learn about aquatic systems, animal migrations, dragonfly identification,
careers in science and other topics while doing a variety of fun, educational
activities in the park. At the end of
the week each participant will take home a toolkit to continue their
investigations on their own. Lunch and
transportation are provided. Call or
email to register. Space is limited. For more information or to sign up for the
Dragonfly Detectives Day Camp, or about doing this as an afterschool program,
contact Meghan Barron at 910-914-4185 or Meghan.barron@naturalsciences.org.
9). High
Point Museum (www.highpointmuseum.org) invites you
to join them on Saturday,
August 8th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and have Fun with Water in the Historical Park. Compete in a
water bucket relay with our junior interpreters and try out an old fashioned
thumb waterer while learning how early American settlers watered their plants
without a garden hose. FREE. Drop-in.
10).
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum (www.ncmaritimemuseums.com)
invites you to learn more about crafting canvas-backed decoys every Friday in August
from 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Artist, Sam
Green, demonstrates the time-worn art of painting decoys. View his authentic canvas-backed decoy
constructions and chat with this knowledgeable waterman. For more information, call 252-986-2995,
email maryellen.riddle@ncdcr.gov
or visit www.ncmaritimemuseums.com.
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 59200 Museum Drive, Hatteras, N.C.
27943.