Award-Winning Trio Performs Russian Musical Masterpieces

Posted November 5, 2009 – 11:54 am

The music and folklore of Russia comes to the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 4 p.m. As part of the 2009-2010 Music of the Carolinas series, Moscow Nights, an internationally renowned trio of Russian musicians, will perform pieces from Russian folklore, representing the diversity of Russian culture and ranging from gently humorous songs to elaborate, lyrical pieces. PineCone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, co-sponsors the performance. Admission and parking are free.

The trio’s pieces are predominantly traditional Russian folk music. During his conservatory years, bandleader Vitaliy Bezrodnov traveled deep into the Russian countryside, interviewing the oldest members of each village in an effort to resurrect and preserve pre-Revolution Russian culture.

The Nov. 8 program will feature rarely used folk instruments, such as the treshotki (a percussion instrument) and birch-bark whistles. The trio performs a unique program based on a culture that almost disappeared.

Led by Bezrodnov on bayan accordion, Moscow Nights was originally formed in Kaluga, Russia, in the late 1980s. After completing his conservatory studies, Bezrodnov successfully reorganized the group in the United States in 1996.

Moscow Nights’ concerts offer audiences an entertaining glimpse of old Russia through music, song and dance, bridging almost a century of discord between the United States and Russia. The dazzling, toe-tapping program is broad and varied with something that appeals to everyone.

The group also works with the charity programs Music in Mission and Rotary Children’s Fund to raise money for orphans in Russia.

For more information, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org. The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street.

The N.C. Museum of History’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The department’s Web site is www.ncculture.com.

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Illness Causes Cancellation of Art Installation

Posted November 4, 2009 – 5:03 pm

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) regrets to announce that the seventh and final artist in SECCA’s year-long public art series Inside Out: Artists in the Community ll Michel de Broin will be unable to participate in the program.

Due to family illness, de Broin is unable to travel at this time. SECCA hopes to reschedule his installation for a future date.

SECCA Curator Steven Matijcio says, “Michel de Broin has rapidly become one of the most imaginative and eccentric public artists in the world today. We will continue our efforts to share his work with our community.”

SECCA regrets any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.

SECCA is designed to involve audiences in the art of our time. SECCA is an operating entity of the North Carolina Museum of Art, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. SECCA is also a funded partner of The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

“Inside Out: Artists in the Community ll” is a program supported in part by a program grant provided by the James G. Hanes Foundation.In-kind support is provided by Sundance Plaza Hotel, Spa and Wellness Center, AdColor, Moore Self Storage, Mock Orange, Spot on the Sonic Landscape Studio, 3M/Scotch Tape, Sherwin Williams, Target and Hanes Brands Inc.

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N.C. Book Awards Offer Cecelski, Simpson and Unruly Women Tales

Posted November 4, 2009 – 5:01 pm

RALEIGH – Historian David Cecelski will discuss the search for Abraham Galloway in the State Archives, Bland Simpson will explore North Carolina’s sound country and inner islands, and books about unruly women will take top prizes at the North Carolina Book Awards. The presentations will be part of the Nov. 13-14 joint meeting of the Literary and Historical Society and the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies at Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in New Bern. Visit www.history.gov/affiliates/lit-hist/awards.htm.

Cecelski, originally from Craven County, is researching Abraham Galloway, a colorful run-away slave/Union informant during the Civil War, for an upcoming book. Bland Simpson, originally from Elizabeth City, is an expert on the sounds and waterways of the coastal North Carolina. Each will share some of his acquired wisdom on the subject. Simpson presents on Saturday afternoon; Cecelski on Saturday night. Simpson is also recipient of the 2009 R. Hunt Parker Memorial Award for Literary achievement, and teaches creative writing at UNC-Chapel Hill. (Also see the North Carolina Award and www.celebratenc.gov. Cecelski is recipient of the last Mayflower Cup Award, presented in 2002.

Registration for the two day program is $55, and includes a Friday evening reception, Saturday programs and dinner, and a two day pass to Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens www.tryonpalace.org. The Saturday workshop fee is $10; Saturday afternoon only is free. Registration is required by Nov. 10. Call (919) 807-7280 to register and for information www.ncculture.com.

The Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction will be presented to Ron Rash, of Cullowhee, author of “Serena,” a book about a couple hoping to build a fortune from the lumber industry in western North Carolina during the Depression. When Serena, the new bride, arrives to the mountains she discovers her husband has an illegitimate child. She eventually plots to murder the child, and anyone who gets in the way of her quest to build a logging empire.

The Roanoke-Chowan Award for Poetry will be presented to Pat Riviere-Seel, of Asheville, author of “The Serial Killer’s Daughter,” told from the point of view of Velma Barfield’s daughter. Barfield was executed in November 1984 for the poisoning death of her fiancé, and confessed to murdering three others, including her mother.

Redemption for the women’s tales may come from the Ragan Old North State Award for Nonfiction, which goes to Anna R. Hayes, of Chapel Hill, for “Without Precedent: The Life of Susie Marshall Sharp.” The exploration of the life of the first woman justice on North Carolina’s Supreme Court, and also first elected to be chief justice of a state supreme court in America, reveals conflicts and contradictions in the supposedly quintessential spinster’s affairs.

The adventures in “Wild Things,” by Clay Carmichael, of Chapel Hill, win the American Association of University Women Award for Juvenile Literature. It shares the story of 11-year-old Zoe, who is adopted by her sculptor uncle after her mother commits suicide. His zany artistic creations, a lively feral cat and other creatures make for a fresh and rewarding tale.

For the first time, the Hardee-Rives Award for Dramatic Arts will be presented. Endowed by retired East Carolina University Professor Ralph Hardee Rives, it recognizes achievement in the dramatic arts. Bo Thorp and the Cape Fear Regional Theater are recipients. The Tryon Palace Commission is recipient of the Christopher Crittenden Award for preservation of North Carolina history, and is only the third organization to win this award www.history.ncdcr.gov/affililates/lit-hist/awards/crittenden.htm.

Recipients of Student Awards for publications are:

High School:
First Place – The Pegasus, Myers Park High School, Charlotte; Susan Shuping, advisor
Second Place – Stone Soup, Enloe High School, Raleigh; Priscilla Chappell, advisor
Third Place – Wanderlust, Carolina Day School, Asheville; Craig Jolly, advisor
Honorable Mention – Spectrum, Arendell Parrot Academy, Kinston; Terah Archie, advisor

Middle School:
First Place – Soli Deo Gloria, Christ Covenant School, Winterville; Lisa Stroud, advisor
Second Place – Mosaic, Ligon GT Middle School, Raleigh; Lisa Covington, advisor
Third Place – Illusions, Martin Middle School, Raleigh; Chris Iadicicco, advisor

The N.C. Office of Archives and History within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, administers the N.C. Book Awards. For additional information call (919) 807-7380. DCR is the state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. Now podcasting 24/7 with information about the Department of Cultural Resources, all available at www.ncculture.com.

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N.C. Transportation Museum Hosts More Than 400 Boy Scouts During Our Annual Rail Camp

Posted November 3, 2009 – 5:22 pm

Scouts will camp at the museum, learn about railroading and earn their Railroading Merit Badge

SPENCER, N.C. – More than 400 Boy Scouts will spend a busy and fun-filled weekend at the N.C. Transportation Museum during Rail Camp, Nov. 6-8. Troops will spend Friday through Sunday at the museum, the site of the former Spencer Shops steam locomotive repair facility.

Most of the 28 troops attending this year’s Rail Camp come from North Carolina. However, troops will also be traveling from as far north as Danville, Va. and as far south as Anderson, S.C. All will learn about locomotive travel and rail transportation and earn their Railroading Merit Badge.

Many troops and their leaders have been attending Rail Camp for several years. Dwight Creason, who leads Troop 525 from Mocksville, has attended for the past eight years. Creason’s says the scouts are able to learn a lot in a few days. “Most of them, even though they’ve read this stuff in the history books, they really don’t have a concept of it until its hands on,” he said. Creason credits the location, the former Spencer Shops, as making those lessons more tangible. “Being there on site where thousands of men worked several years ago, that’s a pretty awesome experience in itself.”

Boy Scout troops will set up camp at the N.C. Transportation Museum Friday evening. Saturday morning, troops will tour the museum before taking a train ride around the museum’s 57 acre property. After a scavenger hunt, scouts will dedicate the afternoon to earning their Railroading Merit Badge. Troops will learn how a diesel-electric locomotive develops power, how to identify different types of railcars, the importance of railroad signals and railroad safety. Troops will also learn about modern railroad companies and planning a trip by rail.

Rail Camp is also a great opportunity for Boy Scouts to interact, camping alongside each other and working together to earn their Merit Badges. Flag raising and lowering ceremonies and a campfire program is also part of the fun. Creason describes it as “a real blast, a fun fellowship weekend.”

The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair facility, is part of the Division of State Historic Sites, Department of Cultural Resources. The museum is located just five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. Visit www.nctrans.org for more information. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is celebrating the 2009 theme of “Treasure N.C. Culture.” For information on the Department of Cultural Resources, call (919) 807-7385 or visit www.ncculture.com.

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New Book Chronicles 1898 Wilmington Race Riot

Posted November 3, 2009 – 5:18 pm

RALEIGH – The book recounting the only known coup d’état in American history is now available.

“A Day of Blood: The 1898 Wilmington Race Riot,” by LeRae Umfleet, is published by the Historical Publications Section of the N.C. Office of Archives and History and the African American Heritage Commission, and is available through Historical Publications.

“On Nov. 10, 1898, white rioters in Wilmington murdered blacks in broad daylight and overthrew
a legitimately elected Republican government without public opposition or intervention by the authorities,” said Umfleet. Over the next quarter of a century, in a series of similar race riots throughout the country, Wilmington’s violence led to ever-tightening controls on blacks as they lost their rights and, in many instances, their lives.

The riot was neither isolated nor spontaneous. It was the result of a series of events planned by white businessmen to regain control of government on both local and state levels. State Democratic Party strategists thrust Wilmington into the spotlight as an example of Republican corruption and bad government because of the participation of African Americans in local politics. The change in government that day—the only successful coup d’état in United States history—fully ended black participation in local government until the advent of the civil rights era 60 years later.

In this thoroughly researched, definitive study, Umfleet examines the actions that precipitated the riot; the details of what happened in Wilmington on Nov. 10, 1898; and the long-term impact of that day in North Carolina and across the nation.

LeRae S. Umfleet is chief of collections management for the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in history from East Carolina University. In 2007 she received the American Association for State and Local History’s Award of Merit and WOW Award for her work on the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Report.

“A Day of Blood: The 1898 Wilmington Race Riot” (softbound; pp. xix, 288; illustrations; index) costs $28.02 ($26.08, libraries), which includes tax and shipping. Order from the Historical Publications Section (N), Office of Archives and History, 4622 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4622. For credit card orders call (919) 733-7442, ext. 0, or visit the section’s secure online store at http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/. “A Day of Blood” is also available through local bookstores and Amazon.com.

The Historical Publications Section is administered by the Office of Archives and History, part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. Additional information is available at www.ncculture.com.

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Breaking the Silence: N.C. Vietnam Veterans

Posted November 3, 2009 – 5:08 pm

Dr. Sharon Raynor will share Vietnam War veterans’ memories of sacrifice, pride, disappointment, honor and recovery in her presentation “Breaking the Silence and Healing the Soul: The Oral Histories of Vietnam War Veterans of North Carolina.” The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex will host Raynor, a N.C. Humanities Council Road Scholar, on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Raynor’s interest in Vietnam veterans stems from her father’s war experiences, depicted in photographs and journal entries during his tour of duty. She has collected oral histories from veterans who were previously silenced by their memories of war.

This program focuses on the stories of those veterans, once bound by a strict code of unbreakable silence, who have formed a brotherhood to heal their wounded souls. Raynor will discuss the process she used to gain their trust in order to record their wartime experiences. Several Vietnam veterans will accompany Raynor to share their stories and answer questions.

The program is the final event supporting A Thousand Words: Photographs by Vietnam Veterans, an exhibit created and curated by Martin Tucker of Winston-Salem. Her appearance is made possible by a grant from the N.C. Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, call the Museum of the Cape Fear at 910/486-1330.

For more information about the museum, call 910-486-1330 or access www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov. The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, www.ncculture.com.

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“Telling Our Stories” Exhibit Opens at Henderson Library

Posted November 3, 2009 – 4:33 pm

RALEIGH – A fresh look at people and places in North Carolina is found in the “Telling Our Stories” Photography Exhibit Nov. 6-25, at H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library in Henderson. The best among North Carolina’s professional and amateur photographers are showcased in a traveling exhibit organized by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. In addition to works by contemporary professional and amateur photographers, historic photographs from the State Archives are touring for the first time.

In collaboration, the top amateur winners of the Our State Magazine 2008 photography contest, and works by 21 invited professional artists selected by a panel convened by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, are on the tour. There are color and black and white images that show the state’s mountains to the coast, as well as some distant lands. The 11 images from Our State winners, and 18 from the State Archives, complete the exhibit. Coordinated by the State Library of North Carolina, the exhibit will travel to 33 libraries statewide on an eastern and western route.

Among regional scenes is the engaging Hummingbird hovering on bee balm in Apex, by Guy Fortier, an Our State winner. Professional Titus Heagins, of Durham shares Dr. Johnson, capturing a moment of calm before Sunday church service.

The exhibit has been popular in earlier stops. Among comments in New Hanover County were, “Wonderful photos, I enjoyed each one!” “Super. I am a photographer.” “Nice art show. My 6-year-old son and I enjoyed it.” In Edgecombe comment included, “Awesome” “Great photos,” and “Terrific!” Visitors are encouraged to add their comments to a notebook in each county, which is on tour through December.

For information about the exhibit, call (252) 438-3316 in Henderson or (919) 807-7385 in Raleigh. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. Now podcasting information 24/7 at www.ncculture.com.

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Museum Program Honors Veterans and Highlights Extraordinary Stories

Posted November 3, 2009 – 3:52 pm

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day, the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh will present a program in honor of the state’s veterans. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you can’t stay the entire time, drop by for part of the presentation. Admission is free.

In addition to recognizing North Carolinians who have served, several speakers will highlight the extraordinary stories of African American soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Indian wars, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.

The keynote speaker is Capt. E. L. Brown, a U.S. Army veteran and commander of the National Organization of Buffalo Soldiers, North Carolina, Chapter Five. He is a direct descendant of Buffalo Soldiers, who were members of the first all-African American regiments in the U.S. Army. In 1866 Congress established the first all-black regiment, the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment, later nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo Soldiers eventually included five more regiments that served in military campaigns in the Southwest and Great Plains regions from 1866 to the early 1890s. After these campaigns ended, the soldiers fought in the Spanish-American War.

Brown, a Vietnam War veteran, was a member of the Shadow Company, Combat Rifle Team, of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles. After retiring from the U.S. Army, he worked for several years in Washington, D.C.

Earl Ijames, curator of African American history at the N.C. Museum of History, will present a historical vignette about Parker D. Robbins, who fought in the 33rd Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, during the Civil War. Robbins, one of the state’s free blacks, enlisted in the Union army to help end slavery and win freedom. In 1863 he left his Bertie County farm and traveled to Norfolk, Va., to enlist. Robbins eventually reached the rank of sergeant major.

A schedule of the Nov. 10 program follows.
10 a.m.: Opening Remarks
Earl L. Ijames, Curator
N.C. Museum of History

10:05 a.m.: Welcome
Ken Howard, Director
N.C. Museum of History

10:15 a.m.: Invocation
Rev. Frederick D. Smith
Charles T. Norwood, VFW, Post 157

10:20 a.m.: Recognition of Dignitaries
Joseph H. Holt Jr.
U.S. Air Force, Retired

10:30 a.m.: The Meaning of Veterans Day
Dr. Charmaine McKissick Melton
N.C. Central University

11 a.m.: Historical Vignette: Parker D. Robbins,
33rd Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops
Earl L. Ijames

11:15 a.m.: Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Earl L. Ijames

11:30 a.m.: Keynote Address
Capt. E. L. Brown
U.S. Army, Retired, and Cmdr., National Organization of Buffalo Soldiers, N.C., Chapter Five

12:15 p.m.: Intermission

1 p.m.: Historical Vignette: Priv. John Chavis,
Colored Patriot of the American Revolution
Dr. Helen Chavis Othow, Clarence Chavis and artist Michelle Nicole

1:30 p.m.: Belowdecks in the Pacific Theater in World War II
Dr. Robert E. Sharpe
U.S. Navy, World War II

2:15 p.m.: Colored Confederates and
U.S. Colored Troops
Earl L. Ijames

3 p.m.: Recognition of World War II and
Korean War Veterans
Millie Dunn Veasey
U.S. Women’s Army Corps, World War II

A commemorative program of the event will be available for $3. Proceeds will benefit the American Legion. For more information, call 919-807-7900 or access ncmuseumofhistory.org. The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street.

The N.C. Museum of History’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The department’s Web site is www.ncculture.com.

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North Carolina Symphony Resident Conductor William Henry Curry to Perform “An Evening of American Music” in Taiwan

Posted November 3, 2009 – 3:42 pm

(Raleigh, November 3) — William Henry Curry, the North Carolina Symphony’s Resident Conductor, has been invited by the American Institute in Kaohsiung, Taiwan to participate in a landmark program which aims to convey the joy of American music to the people of that city. Curry will conduct the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra, considered one of Taiwan’s most accomplished music ensembles.

“In the absence of official diplomatic relations between the US and Taiwan, our office functions as the de facto US Consulate in Kaohsiung,” says Institute Branch Chief Chris Castro, “and is therefore actively involved in promoting a wide range of US cultural programs in southern Taiwan.”

The concert, which is scheduled for November 15 at the Kaohsiung Cultural Center, will be free of charge. “This will allow a diverse array of citizens, particularly those who do not often have a chance to hear a live symphony, to enjoy this unique opportunity,” says Castro.

The program will include Broadway selections and music by Gershwin and John Williams, as well as Dvořák’s New World Symphony. A highlight of the evening will be the performance of Curry’s own composition, “Eulogy for a Dream,” a work which pays tribute to the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

In addition to leading the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Curry will participate in master classes and lectures at local community schools. “Guiding music professionals and teaching music students has been the center of my professional life for almost 35 years,” says Curry. “I am pleased to have this opportunity to share my love for American music with the musicians and music-lovers of Taiwan.”

Symphony president and CEO David Chambless Worters said, “We’re enormously pleased that our very own William Henry Curry has been invited to represent our Symphony and our State to citizens of Taiwan. We’re honored to have him represent us, our fine orchestra, and our wonderful state and are confident his work will be, as it always is, outstanding.”

Says, Curry, “I am thrilled to be involved in such a meaningful project with music that means so much to me. This will be my second time to work in Taiwan. Some 15 years ago, I conducted the National Orchestra of Taiwan in Taipei in a traditional New Year’s Eve concert. The experience was a wholly positive one. I am looking forward to my return!”

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Ft. Dobbs Celebrates King George’s Birthday Nov. 14-15

Posted November 3, 2009 – 3:37 pm

STATESVILLE –Join North Carolina Provincial soldiers at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site as they celebrate the birthday of His Majesty, King George II, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14-15. A special Ceremony for the King will be presented each day at noon. Thrill at the pageantry of arms and the roar of muskets during the weekend festivities.

Military drills, musket and cannon firings, camp life demonstrations, and diversions of the soldiers led by interpreters in period clothing will be offered from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., along with and tours of the fort. Special programming will feature a cricket match at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. A Divine Service (as the British called a church service) will be presented at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

For more information, call (704) 873-5882 or visit www.fortdobbs.org.

“Because King George was supreme commander, his birthday and coronation day were regularly observed by British soldiers in every corner of the empire with cheers, song, gunfire, bonfires and games,” says Site Manager Beth Hill.

The role of Fort Dobbs and North Carolina in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the first true world war, is an important chapter in the state’s colonial history. Built in 1756, the fort was named for Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs and was garrisoned from 1756-1761, sheltering frontier settlers during the war and serving as the colony’s western company headquarters. The fort was attacked Feb. 27, 1760, when soldiers fought off more than 60 Cherokee.

Fort Dobbs’ mission is to preserve and interpret the history of North Carolina’s only French and Indian War fort. It offers living history programs daily and is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The fort is located just one mile from I-77 and I-40 in Statesville.

Fort Dobbs is one of 27 sites in of the Division of N.C. Historic Sites and Properties within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. For more information, visit www.ncculture.com.

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