Experience art & discover history… from home!
Featuring a variety of artistic challenges, deep-dives, unique gallery tours, program highlights, and youth engagement to connect with you no matter where you are.
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If you enjoy our programs, please support BRAHM by becoming a member or donating at www.BlowingRockMuseum.org/support. No gift is too small.
Museum Share: Viewing & Listening Suggestions for this Passover
Chag aviv sameach to those who are celebrating Passover! We’re pretty lucky here in North Carolina. There are only two permanent museum collections of Judaic ceremonial art in the United States, and one of them happens to be at the NCMA in Raleigh. They feature several highlights from their amazing gallery online--please take a look! Pictured above is a spectacular silver Italian Kiddush Goblet from their collection.
Curator’s Corner: Elliot Daingerfield
Feeling a little rough these days? Taking time to reflect and connect with the arts can help when you're feeling low. For Curator's Corner today, we thought we'd take some time to reflect on the life of one of our museums' favorites... Elliott Daingerfield (1859-1932). He was a successful artist, but his life was without hardship.
Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Draw & Paint Edvard Munch's Mural "The Sun"
Draw and paint your own version of Edvard Munch's "The Sun" along with Ms. Jennifer from BRAHM.
Weekly Gallery Tour: Erik Wolken and Robb Helmkamp
We're continuing our extended feature of Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina by highlighting exhibiting artist Erik Wolken and his friend and fellow artist, Robb Helmkamp. These furniture makers and sculptors collaborate on a podcast called "Why Make?" and we encourage you to check it out!
Artist Inspiration: Edvard Munch
This week’s artist inspiration is late Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. DID YOU KNOW... Munch suffered from a sickly childhood, several losses of loved ones, family illnesses, alcoholism and mental conditions, but used his artistic creations to document his life struggles? He also was one of the millions who was infected by and recovered from the infamous 1918 Spanish Flu.
Oral History Minute: A health worker's perspective from Gene Ray
This week's oral history minute asks us to take a moment to reflect on the incredible people who serve in our healthcare system. Please listen to or read this interview with Gene Ray from Boone, North Carolina. Gene worked as a nurse at Watauga Medical for many years. He shared some stories with us about his time as a nurse.
Museum Share: Participate in Foxfire's Oral History Project
Foxfire has recently launched a campaign to collect oral histories via crowdsourcing. The project is collecting self-recorded testimonies from individuals, families, or groups located within Southern Appalachia that captures this unique moment in history.
Staff Highlight: Steve Eichner
Steve has been with BRAHM since 2016. Weekend visitors to the Museum will recognize Steve as the friendly face behind the front desk who gives museum information, answers questions, and lends an abundance of witticisms.
Young Artist Weekly Showcase
Our young BRAHM friends did an incredible job creating Laurel Burch cats and other creative works. As Pablo Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
Program Watch Party - Appalachian Cultural Heritage featuring Edd Presnell: Dulcimer Maker (1973)
Western North Carolina has a rich heritage of instrument making that stretches back generations. One of the most skilled artisans was Edd Presnell of Beech Mountain. Edd specialized in making lap dulcimers. In this short film Edd takes us into his workshop and shows us how he made his dulcimers. This short film was made by Thomas Burton and Jack Schrader from East Tennessee State University in 1973.
Throwback Thursday: Wolf Kahn
Here's a throwback honoring Wolf Kahn, an artist that some of you may remember from the exhibition we had back in 2014. Others may also know him from exhibitions you've seen of his work elsewhere.
Creative Spark: Stay at Home Scavenger Hunt
In honor of our current exhibition Branching Out: Works in Wood from NC, we challenge you to find something beautiful in your home that is crafted out of wood. Share a picture of what you find and describe what you know about it!
Curator's Corner: Lil' Docent Tours featuring Aiden Smith
How cute is this?! Our friend Aiden led a Lil' Docent Tour for us, featuring one of the works from our permanent collection. Aiden picked out "The Orange Sail, Venice" by Jane Peterson. Do you engage your kids with the exhibitions while you're at the museum? What kinds of questions do you ask them?
Guided Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: A Laurel Burch Cat
Meeeooowww to kids of all ages! It's time to create! Enjoy this step-by-step guide from Ms. Jennifer as she helps you draw your own Laurel Buch inspired colorful cat!
Weekly Gallery Tour- "Branching Out: Works in Wood from NC" featuring Paul & Kim Fuelling
This week's gallery tour features Paul & Kim Fuelling, a husband and wife team who work in fine woodworking and oil painting from a studio space they call Mabel Studios. Together, they construct a unique, custom built line of furniture, doors, and paintings with an acute attention to detail and craftsmanship. Their aesthetic can be described as rustic with a modern approach to material use and design.
Weekly Artist Inspiration: Laurel Burch
For the final week of Women's History Month we'll learn about the late artist, Laurel Burch. Similar to Frida Kahlo, Laurel suffered from a debilitating disease but persevered and created art continuously through her pain. We know her cheerful paintings from popular art prints, fashion wear and accessories.
Sunday Mornin' Museum Share: The Rubin Museum's Mindful Meditation
The Rubin Museum of Art in NYC focuses on Himalayan art and culture and offers weekly meditation sessions related to a different piece from their collection. Each session begins with an informative history of the work followed by a guided meditation led by a prominent NYC teacher.
Oral History Feature: Carol Coulter & Dave Walker
Carol Coulter & Dave Walker of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture stress the importance of a strong local food system for a healthy body, community, and economy. Photo by Ashley Warren of Natural Craft Photography.
Behind the Scenes at BRAHM: Sound Machines Deinstall
What does it take to deinstall an exhibition? Check out this hilarious video for a "quick" and fun look at the deinstallation process of the exhibition of Sound Machines: Stringed Instruments by the Capozzoli Guitar Company.
Staff Highlight: Meet Mark Brackbill, BRAHM's Facility Manager
Mark has been the Facility Manager at BRAHM since 2016. To say that Mark can do just about anything may be an understatement. His many contributions blend seamlessly into the facility, whether it is hanging the Gift Shop sign on the outside of the building, a giant wreath over the front door, or creating smooth, angled walls that appear built-in to a gallery. Mark’s painting and building skills lend uniquely to BRAHM, as does his craftsmanship (he built the bar your cold beverages come from at BRAHM receptions).