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.

This Week at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum 
Christmas Sing-Along at  (BRAHM)

Come sing in Christmas at BRAHM with the wintertime sing-along. Enjoy cider while sharing carols and other Christmastime tunes. Host Saro Lynch-Thomason will teach a few songs from English wassailing traditions, a practice going back to medieval times in which peasants would sing for cider, gifts and food at the homes of nobles. Participants are welcome to bring seasonal songs good for singing in groups.

Exhibits now open at BRAHM:

 

EVERYMAN JACK: STORIES and ILLUSTRATIONS BY GAIL E. HALEY - December 3, 2016 - March 25, 2017

Image Credit: Gail Haley. Original illustration from Jack and the Bean Tree. Mixed media on wood panel. Private collection.

“Everyman Jack” takes a detailed look at over one hundred original prints and illustrations created by Gail E. Haley for several of her books, including “My Kingdom for a Dragon,” “Mountain Jack Tales,” “Birdsong,” “The Green Man,” and “A Story, A Story.” Haley is best known today as an artist, illustrator, and writer of children’s books. She has written and illustrated close to 50 books throughout her career. She is the only person to have received both the Caldecott Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal for art. Haley’s original prints and illustrations from 10 of her books make up this exhibition. Many more of her books are available to read within the gallery. 

ANDY WARHOL: SIX SILKSCREEN PRINTS - November 19, 2016 - April 8, 2017 

 American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was the leading figure in the Pop Art movement during the 1960s. He launched his career with his well-known Campbell’s Soup can paintings. He is recognized for the work he and his assistants developed in his Warhol Factory in New York City, where printmaking, painting, photography, and film were employed to churn out thousands of works of art. Warhol redefined the artist’s role in the creation of artwork, the art market, and the recycling of popular imagery as high art. The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, established in 1987, completed years of planned giving through the donation of his unsold work to educational institutions around the world, including the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone, NC. This exhibition features six original silkscreen prints from the Turchin’s permanent collection that are out-of-edition. This means that they were created during the original print run, but did not make the cut when Warhol decided what would be included in the final print release. 

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

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 

Upcoming Events at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

August 18, 2016 at 6 PM - Junaluska, the African American Neighborhood in Boone. Dr. Susan E. Keefe will present a talk at BRAHM on the history of the Junaluska community. Junaluska is a small

neighborhood two blocks north of King Street, Boone’s main street. African Americans have called Junaluska home since the middle of the 19th century.

One of the few black congregations of Mennonite Brethren in the United States is located in Junaluska. The community has seen considerable progress over the course of the last century and retains a remarkable spirit of resilience despite gentrification in the area and the out-migration of many younger residents.

The TAC Talk will highlight BRAHM’s exhibition, A Town within a Town: History of the Junaluska Community, on view from August 6, 2016 through March 11, 2017.

August 23, 2017 at 6 PM - Movies at the Museum: Desperate Man Blues. Directed by Ed Gillan, Desperate Man Blues tells the story of self-proclaimed king of record collectors Joseph E. Bussard, Jr. of Frederick, Maryland. Joe has amassed probably the greatest collection of 78 rpm recordings of country, blues, jazz, Cajun, and gospel music in the world. He has spent most of his waking hours in pursuit of old 78s. To call it a hobby would be an insult: It’s his life.

The film will be followed by a discussion with Marshall Wyatt, founder of Old Hat Records in Raleigh NC. In 2003, Old Hat released Down in the Basement, a compilation created from Bussard’s huge collection.

After the film and discussion, wander over to one of the wonderful participating restaurants for dinner, drinks, and conversation. Present your film ticket for 10% off your meal! *Discount is good for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights after the screening.

August 28, 2016 at 5:30 PM - Summer Concert Series: Lorena Guillen Tango Ensemble. The Lorena Guillen Tango Ensemble will present two of its original pieces: “A Future of Tango” and its latest project ‘The Other Side of My Heart,” based on the real stories of Latino women that immigrated to North Carolina. For the rest of the program, the ensemble will invite the audience to a tour of some tango standards executed in crafted and original arrangements.

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Exhibit: Elizabeth Bradford: Time + Terrain

Image Credit: Elizabeth Bradford. Bone Trees, Reflections, 2015. 
Acrylic on canvas. 48 x 60 inches. Courtesy the artist.

BRAHM (The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum) has announced the opening of “Elizabeth Bradford: Time + Terrain”, curated by Carla Hanzal. The exhibition will be on view from August 13 to November 19, 2016, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 1st from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Museum. The event is free and open to the public. Guests are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and live music as they experience the works on display. 

Elizabeth Bradford. Stream Near Harper's Creek, 2014

Elizabeth Bradford gleans images from the rural landscape surrounding her family’s ancestral farm in northern Mecklenburg County, where she lives. The expanded scope of her artwork also includes impressions of countries she explores, as well as the wilderness where she kayaks, hikes, and camps. “Slowly, over time, my attention turned to wild places,” explains Bradford. “I found myself breathing deep sighs of relief when I stepped out of civilization and into the forest … I have come to believe that I am now painting the permanent—that wildness will never be fully controlled.”

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

Blowing Rock NC Hosts 8th Annual Art and Antiques Show this Weekend

July 29 - 31, 2016   8th Annual Art & Antiques Show  at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum   This sale and show offers heirloom-quality antique silver, furniture, pottery, jewelry, clocks, crystal and more. Vendors from across the East Coast bring a variety of items.  

The Preview Party will be held on 7/31 from 6:30 PM - 8 PM. Admittance is $40 per person (including wine and hors d'oeurves). Tickets are $10 and good for the entire show. 

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

This Week at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

May 20, 3016 at 5:30 PM - Cork & Canvan. Enjoy an evening of wine and painting in a relaxed atmosphere facilitated by a trained instructor. Each participant goes home with a finished work of art.

Image credit: Sunflowers by Emil Nolde

The guest instructor this month is Carol Childers. Join in as partivipants paint Sunflowers by Emil Nolde. All materials, including canvasses, are provided. Wine and snacks will be served. $35 for Members / $45 for Non-members.


May 22, 2016 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth Concert. Laura Boosinger has won glowing reviews wherever she appears and is blessed with an “essence of the mountains” spirit that can take you back to the good old days when folks used to huddle around the radio. 

It’s said that people who haven’t seen her live should prepare themselves for a “goose pimples experience”. 

photo courtesy of BRAHM

Laura will be in the company of Josh Goforth, an outstanding musician, acclaimed fiddler, guitar picker, and mandolin player, from Madison County, North Carolina. 

Josh has already garnered a Grammy nomination and has established himself as a “one to watch” musician who is heading for the premier league. Sing Out magazine called their latest CD, Most of All, “simple, direct and as good as it gets.” 

This Concert is made possible with the generous support of Alex and Anne Bernhardt. 

TICKETS:  Day of Show: $15 members, students, senior citizens / $20 general admission *** Advanced Purchase: $13 members, students, senior citizens / $18 general admission.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum 

is located at  159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC

This Week at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

May 12, 2016 at 11 AM: Beekeeping: On the ground and in the cloud. Beekeeping has a rich tradition all around the world and the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina have their own unique place in that tradition. An overview of beekeeping and the use of technology in beekeeping will be presented. The talk will be accompanied by fresh coffee and locally-baked goods. Suggested $5 donation.

May 6 - 21, 2016:   Young at Art Student Spectacular. Come and see the wonderful works of art created by BRAHM's Young at Art students this year. Young at Art is an outreach program created by BRAHM to augment the arts curriculum for kindergartners through second graders at the Blowing Rock Elementary School. Students visit the museum once a month for a hands-on art class where they are introduced to a variety of art vocabulary, styles, techniques, and materials, as well as the art of visiting a museum.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) 
is located the corner of Chestnut and Main Street in 
Blowing Rock NC.

This Week at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

March 24, 2016 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM - Exhibit Reception for "Artifacts: A Tradition of Collection, photographs by Lou Murrey". Artifacts explores the use of photography as a method to collect and preserve interactions, traditions, and histories within a cultural landscape and documentary photography in Appalachia. The photographs serve as narrative windows into the everyday lives of people living in the Appalachian Mountains, while being mindful of the legacy of documentary photography within the region.

Afternoon Art Club, every Tuesday - this week features Daffodils.  3:30 - 4:30, registration required.

Doodlebug Club every Thursday - this week features Springtime!  1 - 2 PM and 3:30 - 4:30 PM, Registration required.

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

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. 

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.