Dulatown is a documentary short about a community in Lenoir, NC established from the land of a slave owner (Alfred Dula) bequeathed to his slave (Harriet) and their eight children.
Image Credit: Christian Friedrich Mayr. Kitchen Ball at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. 1838. Oil on canvas. North Carolina Museum of Art. The music and dance traditions of southern Appalachia have often been portrayed as a culture that was brought to the U.S. from the British Isles. In fact, they have multicultural roots. They are a blend of earlier European, African, and Native American traditions, and they reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of America. In this presentation, we will identify some of the many contributions of African Americans to these uniquely “American” traditions. Website
Adults, teens, or children accompanied by an adult We will prepare a gourd, paint or etch on the gourd, string the beaded skirt around it and learn one rhythm & song on the instrument. Beads, wooden, ceramic, and pony plastic beads will be used. Other objects like seashells may be woven in -however, if they are breakable the instrument may become more a work of art than a playable instrument. African shekeres may use nut shells, seashells or hard seeds in the design. Bead colors are an individual choice. If participants do not complete the instrument in one session it is possible to continue to work on it at home. Website
Create a small bamboo Native American-style flute using hand tools which will be provided. When the flutes are finished, we will spend time learning to play. Flutes have been used by many Tribal Nations as ceremonial and healing tools, with the oldest found wooden flutes being over 7,000 years old. No prior experience is needed to make or play the flute for this workshop. Website
Come and visit with Legendary Potter, N.C. Living Treasure, and unofficial Mayor of Penland, Cynthia Bringle. She will take us through her storied career and artistic process. Stay a while and listen, you won't be disappointed. This event is limited to 30 people. Pre-registration is preferred. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. More details and registration at the link below.
Preschool-age children and a parent/guardian are invited to Doodlebug Club — a fun, educational art program focused on basic art skills (holding your paintbrush, identifying primary colors, etc.).
Children ages 6 - 10 are invited to join us for creative art-making activities through a variety of media, from watercolor to clay. Each week features a famous artist, book, or theme to serve as inspiration and guidance for the art-making activity.
Attendees will learn to needle felt a beautiful landscape using dyed wool roving. Using only barbed needles, students learn to turn a pile of fluff into a memorable scene of our amazing mountains. No experience needed and all are welcome. Kits will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring photos of their favorite mountain scene to use as inspiration. A complete instruction booklet and resource list is also included.
Dr. Jim Hamilton is Watauga County's Director of Cooperative Extension. For the last ten years, he's been huntin', plantin', transplanting, consuming, and teaching workshops about ginseng. Dr. Hamilton will discuss the significance of ginseng to western North Carolina, its role in local and global markets, and other cultural nuances of ‘seng.
Each year, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum presents a Summer Lecture & Luncheon, focused on a topic of interest for our members and friends. The 2020 Summer Lecture and Luncheon features well-known speaker, magazine editor, and flower arrangement specialist, Margot Shaw.
Curious about jewelry making? This is a great introduction to jewelry making and no experience is necessary. Learn to stamp on copper to create a lovely cohesive pattern in your jewelry designs.
Explore jewelry making using Precious Metal Clay. PMC is clay made of metal particles, which allows you to sculpt and create pieces that become solid, fine silver when fired. Each student will be able to create a pair of small earrings and a charm or a bead.