Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Presents Scholars and Scones: Cecil and Maud in the Laurel Valley

December 7, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM -  Scholars and Scones: Cecil and Maud in the Laurel Valley. Join ballad singer and storyteller Joe Penland as he discusses the journey of song collectors Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles, who collected ballads in western North Carolina in 1916.

This talk will complement BRAHM's exhibition of the historic photographs taken by Sharp on his journey through Appalachia.Complimentary breakfast goods and locally-brewed coffee will be served.  Free for members, $5 for non-members.

Joe Penland has appeared at numerous festivals, toured Great Britain eight times, and has been awarded the coveted Bascom Lunsford Award, named for his cousin, the founder of the longest running folk festival in America, for his “significant contribution to preserving our mountain music."

photo courtesy of The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Cecil Sharp in Appalachia Exhibition - This is the first US exhibit of rare, century-old photos taken by British song collector Cecil Sharp. The photographs feature some of the singers Sharp visited during his travels. Cecil Sharp and his assistant Maud Karpeles collected variants of English bal-lads between 1916-1918; their collecting work began in Hot Springs, NC, with the help of Olive Campbell, founder of the John C. Campbell Folk School. By the end of their 46-week travels through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ten-nessee, the pair had collected more than 1600 variants of English ballads collected from 281 singers.  Photos are on loan from the Country Dance and Song Society, with permission of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Cecil Sharp House, London.

BRAHM (The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum) is located at  159 Chestnut Sreet in Blowing Rock NC.

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Announces 2017 Movies at the Museum Film Series

March 13, 2017 - Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM), 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC, introduces the 2017 Movies at the Museum film series.  Movies at the Museum features films by North Carolina filmmakers, films about the arts and films about the history and culture of the Appalachian region. Complimentary popcorn will be provided, and the film will be followed by a discussion facilitated by a special guest speaker.

March 23 at 7 PM:  America's First Forest: Carl Schenck and the Asheville Experiment. America's First Forest tells the story of how Carl Schenck, a German forester, came to America in 1895 to manage the forests at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. He not only helped restore the land there, he established the country’s first forestry school and helped launch the American conservation movement. The documentary film is produced for the Forest History Society by Bonesteel Films. The speaker for the movie is Bill Alexander, Landscape and Forest Historian at the Biltmore Estate. GET MORE INFORMATION HERE.

Enjoy a Thursday night in Blowing Rock with dinner and a movie. Here’s how it works: pick up your ticket anytime during museum hours on the day of the film, and present it at Bistro Roca for a 10% discount on your meal (offer only valid the day of the film). Then, come on over to BRAHM for a film and discussion.

 Additional March Events at BRAHM:

March 21 at 11 AM - Coffee with the Curator, featuring Selections from the Collection



March 20 at 11 AM -  Family, Food, and Place: The Winebarger Mill and Agricultural History in Watauga County, North Carolina.

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Upcoming September Special Events

September 15, 2016 at 6 PM -  Thursday Arts & Culture Talk: Going Outside: Reflections on my life as a painter, a country woman, and a backpacker. Artist Elizabeth Bradford discusses how she uses her adventures in the outdoors to fuel her work in Elizabeth Bradford: Time + Terrain. The talk will be followed by a Q &  A session and light refreshments. The artist will also be available to sign the exhibit catalogue, available for purchase at BRAHM's front desk.


September 22, 2016 at 11 AM - Scholars and Scones, Connecting with Nature: Vitamin N. Elizabeth Denton Baird, the Chief of School and Lifelong Education at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, will present a program about exploring the outdoors. This program will complement BRAHM’s exhibition Time + Terrain, an outstanding collection of paintings by Elizabeth Bradford that focus on wild places outside.


September 29 at 11 AM - Coffee with the Curator. Take a walk through the galleries with guest curator, Carla Hanzal and get a behind-the-scenes look into Elizabeth Bradford: Time + Terrain. Afterwards, guests are invited to converse and pose questions while enjoying complimentary coffee (courtesy of Hatchet Coffee Co.) with the Curator at the Museum. Free for Members, Regular admission for Non-members.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC.

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Fall Exhibition Celebration

September 1, 2016 at 5:30 PM at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM), 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC:   Fall Exhibition Celebration.  Come join the fun and celebrate the opening of several fall shows at BRAHM. Free admission, live music, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres.

 

Featured Exhibitions -

Elizabeth Bradford: Time + Terrain.  August 13 - November 19, 2016 curated by Carla Hanzal 

A Town Within A Town: History of the Junaluska Community.  August 6, 2016 - March 12, 2017 Made possible in part through the support of the Watauga County Community Foundation and the Junaluska Heritage Association.

Reflections: From Havana to DC, photographs by Garner G. Dewey, Ph.D." September 1 - 25, 2016.

Featured in the Alexander Community Gallery -

Ancient Forms, Modern Minds: Contemporary Cherokee Ceramics.  August 20 - November 5, 2016. Organized by the Asheville Art Museum and made possible through the support of the Cherokee Preservation Foundation 

On-Going Exhibitions -

Selections from the Collection and Elliott Daingerfield,  Re-opening August 6, 2016 

This Week at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM)

March 15, 2016 from 11 AM - 12 PM - COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR FEATURING WARD NICHOLS. Guests are invited to converse and pose questions while enjoying complimentary coffee.

Ward Nichols: Look Again

March 16, 2016 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM - GONE FISHIN', Art for the Trout Derby with instructor Carol Childers

Gone Fishin' art for the Trout Derby

March 17, 2016 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - SCHOLARS & SCONES FEATURING ALICE WRIGHT. Two-thousand Years of Mica Mining in Western North Carolina With Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Appalachian State university Alice Wright

Scholars and Scones with Alice Wright

March 19, 2016 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - HOME MOVIE DAY.  First Annual Home Movie Day of the High Country. Bring your family films (super 8, 8 mm and 16 mm) to BRAHM where the films, and those of others, will be projected onto a large screen. Spend a Saturday afternoon walking down memory lane with us! You do not have to bring film to enjoy Home Movie Day - please feel free to come and enjoy the films of others. Archivists who specialize in film preservation and conversion will be on hand, as will snacks, bingo, and door prizes.

First Annual Home Movie Day at BRAHM

March 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM - MINI-MATINEE. A Baroque Adventure featuring a delightful collection of dance music from the Baroque era. This performance will encourage audience participation and movement — a great way to get children excited about music.

Mini-Matinee with Baroque Dance Music

Regularly scheduled Museum programs:
Afternoon Art Club - Every Tuesday 3:30 - 4:30 pm Registration required. This week featuring Architecture.
Doodlebug Club - Every Thursday 1 - 2 pm & 3:30 - 4:30 pm Registration required. This week features St. Patrick's Day

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut St in Blowing Rock NC. 

This Week at The Blowing Rock Museum of Art and History

February 23, 2016 at 6 PM - Movies at The Museum: Art and Copy with Mary Warlick, Executive Producer (*Snow Date: March 15*).Art & Copy is a powerful film about advertising and inspiration. Directed by Doug Pray (Surfwise, Scratch, Hype!), it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time -- people who've profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry.

February 23, 2016 - Afternoon Art Club. This Tuesday: Imaginative Sculptures, 3:30 - 4:30 PM. Registration required.

February 25, 2016 -  Doodlebug Club. This Thursday: Fork Painting from 1 - 2 PM and 3:30 - 4:30 PM. Registration required.


Current Exhibits:
Ward Nichols: Look Again through March 26, 2016
A Retrospective of Works by Elliot Clark through
March 26, 2016
Truth Beneath These Hills through April 23, 2016
Elliott Daingerfield, ongoing
Selections from The Collection, ongoing


BRAHM needs you and is currently looking for volunteers to help with programming and events here at BRAHM. Love art and want to surround yourself with like-minded art lovers? Please email dianna@blowingrockmuseum.org to become a part of the volunteer team. 

BRAHM is Hiring! The Museum has one full-time and two part-time employment opportunities available: Full-time Marketing and Communications Director, Education Center Coordinator and Facilities Manager.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC. 

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum January Special Events

January 5, 2016 at 6 PM - Movies at the Museum:  Sunny Side of Life.  Experience the history of the Carter Family and examine the way old-time music continues to be integrated into the life of the community with speaker Dr. Gary Boye. $5 Members and Students / $7 Non-members.

January 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM - Winter Old-Time Dance.  Old-time dance with caller John Turner and the Laurel Creek String Band.  $5 per person / Free for children under 12 years of age.



January 19, 2016 at 11 AM - Coffee with the Curator. Spend the morning sipping coffee and learning more about Selections from the Collection with Dianna Loughlin, Exhibitions and Collections Director. Free for Members / Regular admission for Non-members.

January 21, 2016 at 11 AM - SCHOLARS and SCONES: Birds of the High Country, Amazing Stories from a Remarkable Place.  Enjoy this energetic and informational talk by Curtis Smalling, Director of Land Bird Conservation at Audubon North Carolina. Suggested donation $5.


January 24, 2016 at 2 PM - MINI MATINEE Wonders and Woodwinds.  Experience an enchanting mixture of fairy tales, fables, and classical music, brought to you by the Hayes School of Music, Appalachian State University. Members $8/family , Non-members $10/family.

January 29, 2016 at 5:30 PM - CORK and CANVAS:  Wassily Kandinsky, Winter Landscape.  An evening of wine and painting in a relaxed atmosphere facilitated by trained instructor, Carole Childers. Registration required. $30 Members / $40 Non-members.

Wassily Kandinsky’s Winter Landscape (1909)

January 30, 2016 at 2 PM - WINTERFEST Arctic Art at BrrrrrAHM.  Celebrate winter by making some arctic art at the Museum, then join the WinterFest Snowflake Parade beginning at 3 PM. Free event.


WEEKLY CHILDREN'S ART CLASSES:
TUESDAYS, January 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM -  Afternoon Art Club Ages 6-10 Free for Members / $5 Non-members **Registration required.

THURSDAYS, January 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 1 - 2 pm and 3:30 - 4:30 PM -  Doodlebug Club Ages 3 -5.  Free for Members / $5 Non-members ** Registration required.


Additional Museum News:

North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) has 800 Member Institutions! Museum members, Friend level ($150) and above, benefit from NARM with free/member admission, discounts at museum shops and on concert/lecture tickets.

Membership Matters Did you know that as a member you receive free admission to the Museum, free and/or discounted tickets to all events, 10% off all workshops and more?  CLICK HERE to learn about Membership.

BRAHM is Hiring! The Museum has three part-time employment opportunities available: Administrative Assistant, Education Center Coordinator and Facilities Manager. LEARN MORE HERE.

Happy Monday! The Museum has announced that it will be open on Mondays, beginning January 4, 2016. The new hours are Monday - Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM, with extended hours on Thursdays - 10 AM - 7 PM.

Call for Exhibition Proposals  The Museum is accepting exhibition proposals for the Alexander Community Gallery. The gallery, located on the 2nd floor of the Museum, features monthly exhibitions of artwork by local, regional, and community artists. Solo and group exhibitions are considered. 

The Blowing Rock and History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC.

Upcoming Events at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

August 19, 2015 from 10 AM to 3 PM - Nature Journaling Workshopwith Sue McBean   The goal for this workshop is not to have a perfect end product, but to learn from and enjoy the journey. The workshop will begin inside with short, simple pen and paper exercises to spur creativity, and will then venture outdoors and experiment with different methods of opening the senses to hear and see what is presently around more clearly.

August 20, 2015 at 4:30 PM - (Third Thursdays)  Vollis Simpson,the Artist Who Rejuvenated a Town with Gerret Warner and Mimi Gredy    Vollis Simpson was a mechanic and house mover who built some ornamental wind mills in a field next to his workshop. They got attention from townspeople and visitors, and then from news organizations and museums worldwide. Mimi Gredy and Gerret Warner, documentary filmmakers from Chapel Hill, filmed Vollis and his work from 2010 until his death at 94 in 2013, and they continue to document the restoration and installation of his work in its new home. Their lecture and film tell the story of this original NC artist and his unique creations.

August 22, 2015 from 1 - 4:30 PM  - Duet Harmony Singing Workshop with Mark Weems and Julee Glaub Weems of Little Windows. Learn some of the specific techniques and nuances of duet singing and how to adapt harmonies to different songs and various genres such as Appalachian, Irish, gospel, and country.

Ongoing Events:

Every Tuesday -  3:30 - 4:30 PM  Afternoon Art Club    Ages 6-10
Every Thursday -  1-2pm and 3-4pm   Doodlebug Club    Ages 3-5
Every Thursday - 4 PM    Docent Tour     Free with a paid admission
Every Saturday -  2 PM    Docent Tour     Free with a paid admission

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) is located at  159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC. 

BRAHM Announces New Executive Director

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) has announced the selection of Lee Carol Giduz as its new Executive Director. On the first of April, Giduz will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Joann Mitchell last October.

The selection was made after a national search and selection process, during which Robert McCammon served as Interim Executive Director for the Museum. “We are very pleased to announce this appointment. Lee Carol brings valuable leadership and fundraising experience in a non-profit, community centered, art organization, “reported Chelsea Garrett, President of the BRAHM Board of Trustees.

Giduz’s experience includes 20 years as the Executive Director of the Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, North Carolina. She was an honors graduate in the Public Policy program from Davidson College and has been an active volunteer with many nonprofit organizations in her community.

Giduz has served as a board member on the North Carolina Arts Council, Wildacres Leadership Initiative and Western Art Agencies of North Carolina. She was a 2014 recipient of a Sabbatical Award from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and is a graduate Fellow of the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, a two year leadership training program.

 “I am honored to be selected to serve as Executive Director of BRAHM,” said Giduz. “I have watched this organization evolve and look forward to being part of its growth moving forward”.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization promoting the visual arts, history and heritage of the mountains through educational programs, exhibitions and significant permanent collections.The Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC.

Thanksgiving Weekend Events at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

November 29 - Forget Black Friday at the mall. Make your post-Thanksgiving shopping a COLORFUL day at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum gift shop featuring art by local artists in partnership with The Art Cellar of Banner Elk, new exhibit merchandise from the latest exhibit - The Painted Song: Art of Wiili Armstrong - and unique books.  They will also be debuting NEW CHILDREN'S GIFTS including a variety of creative crafts, books, puzzles and toys.  You'll be able to find something for everyone on your list in one stop. The store will be open regular hours, 10 AM - 5 PM.

November 30, 3-4:30 PM - BRAHM Holiday Open House.  Following the Blowing Rock Christmas parade this free, family-friendly event features:

• Children’s chorus concert: Green Valley/Valle Crucis and Caroler and Cherub Choirs of Boone United Methodist Church
• Holiday crafts for kids
• Refreshments
• Angel Tree benefitting the Grandfather Home for Children
• Admission to Museum exhibits

The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street (corner of Chestnut and Main) in
Blowing Rock NC 

The Carolina Mountains: Photography of Margaret Morley Exhibit at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in Blowing Rock

February 21 at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM)  Come see the newly painted gallery and "The Carolina Mountains: Photography of Margaret Morley"  exhibit of more than 50 photographs from the North Carolina Museum of History's collection.

These hauntingly beautiful images depict everyday life and the natural beauty of western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit, made possible in part by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, will be displayed at BRAHM through April 25, 2013.

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum offers discount Admission during WinterFest

WinterFest Discount: BRAHM ( Blowing Rock Art and History Museum) is offering discounted admission during Blowing Rock's annual WinterFest celebration. Members are always admitted free, but if you have visitors in town that weekend they can take advantage of $3 off a regular adult ticket January 24-26 in celebration. Take a break from the cold and visit the galleries and gift shop.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock, NC (corner of Chestnut and Main streets).

New Exhibit at the Asheville Art Museum

Robert Morris Blind Time III,

October 19 - Jan 27, 2013 at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square in Asheville NC:  Robert Morris: Mind/Body/Earth   The exhibit is free with Membership or Museum Admission.

Robert Morris is one of the most influential artists of the post-World War II generation. His writings and art have inspired many artists over the past 50 years. In his art he explores the nexus between the mind, body and world.

Involved in many contemporary art movements, Morris has had particular influence in Minimalism and Post-Minimalism. In the 1960s, Morris developed a large body of work, ranging from monochrome, Minimalist pieces often made of plywood, to a combination of original performance productions, to works of industrial felt. Read more...


Learn more about Asheville art exhibits and art galleries on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide