ncmuseums

An occasional list of exhibits, programs, and events at North Carolina museums. Sponsored by the North Carolina Museums Council.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

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.

Monday, August 17, 2015

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.

Wednesday, August 05, 2015

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.
To learn more about the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, the public is invited to visit its web site: www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org.

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.