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.

Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Replicating Patterns in Nature like Frank Lloyd Wright
Artist & Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired by nature. His creations blended in with the natural surroundings. Learn about this inspirational artist and recreate the shapes and patterns you see around you in nature. We hope you too will find beauty and inspiration in nature every day!
Terra Ludis: Play Ground | Meet Naturalist Amy Renfranz
Amy Renfranz is a naturalist and writer based out of Seven Devils, NC. You may have read her recurring "Dear Naturalist" column in the Watauga Democrat. In our interview, we asked her to tell us about her favorite memories outdoors.

Staff Highlight: Courtney Baines, Marketing & Communications Director
Courtney came to BRAHM in November of 2019. As marketing director, she keeps the community informed of all that BRAHM has to offer. In a matter of months, she has designed and launched a new website, helped transition the team to new organizational & communications platforms, and led the virtual engagement effort during the pandemic.
Learn more about Courtney in this week’s staff highlight.

Deciphering Doc Watson: A Look at His Life & Influences
Arthel “Doc” Watson was one of the greatest guitarists the world has ever seen. His lightning-fast guitar licks and smooth baritone voice earned him international recognition and 8 Grammy awards. In this virtual talk, learn from Doc expert, Willard Watson III, as he explores Doc’s life, influences, style, and legacy.

Curator’s Corner: “Branching Out” featuring Jim Oleson
Jim Oleson is our featured artist this week from our current exhibition, "Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina." Oleson is a sculptor who resides in Chapel Hill, NC. Like several of our other artists, Oleson has a diverse career background outside of being an artist. Learn more about this Medical Doctor, Physicist, and Sculptor in this week’s Curator Corner.

Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Henri Rousseau Inspired Tiger Collage
In honor of Henri Rousseau’s birthday on May 21, 1844, let’s make a tropical jungle collage project!

Gone, Not Forgotten - Poems of Remembrance
This memorial day, we remember all those who gave so much. Here are a few poems of remembrance for the brave and courageous.

Staff Highlight: Jasmin McFayden, Executive Assistant
Jasmin joined the BRAHM team in February of 2018. Her role as Executive Assistant stretches far and wide. In addition to clerical tasks and supporting BRAHM’s director and Board of Trustees, she oversees membership development and BRAHM’s special fundraising events, like the Annual Gala. She works alongside volunteer committees whose members lend support, ideas, and leadership in event planning and membership engagement. “Though BRAHM has a small staff, it rolls out programs, exhibitions, and events on a grand scale. We couldn’t do it without the support of our Board and volunteers who care deeply for the museum and Blowing Rock.”
Learn more about this dynamic and positive team member that keeps us all straight at BRAHM!

Program Deep Dive | “A Deeper Creek: The Watchable Waters of Appalachia”
This program deep dive shares the work of our friends at Freshwaters Illustrated. Check out this short (6 min) documentary on the natural beauty of streams in Appalachia, A Deeper Creek - The Watchable Waters of Appalachia. Photo by David Herasimtschuk.

Curator’s Corner | “Branching Out” with Mark Gardner
Mark Gardner is one of featured artists in Branching Out: Works in Wood from North Carolina. Originally from Cincinnati, Mark now resides in Saluda, NC. Both pieces in the museum are detailed with milk paint, a nontoxic, water-based paint that has been utilized for thousands of years.

Spanish Tile Printmaking with Markers
Let’s recreate a patterned tile effect using styrofoam and water soluble marker printmaking techniques at home!

Oral History Feature: Paul Stahlschmidt
With the parks and trails reopening we reflect on our interview with Conservationist and mountain biker, Paul Stahlschmidt. He reminds us that we need to be mindful of the impact we make on our shared outdoor resources.

Staff Highlight: Lee Carol Giduz, Executive Director
Lee Carol has been leading BRAHM through a period of growth and evolution as its executive director since 2015. Through her team-oriented nature, BRAHM has truly become a reflection of its staff, board, and community. Learn more about our talented and dedicated leader.

The Basics of Fly Fishing: A Woman’s Perspective
In this “Virtual” Scholars & Scones talk, Kelly McCoy, Owner and operator of RiverGirl Fishing Company, teaches us how to learn the art of fly fishing without breaking the bank. Kelly has over a decade of experience teaching people to fly fish through her business located in a historic train depot in Todd, NC.

Curator’s Corner: Craig Kassan
Craig Kassan dreamed up the idea for this piece, called "Eclipse," during an airplane flight. Learn more about the artist and this piece for today’s curator’s corner.

Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus and Hieroglyphs
For this week’s Art with Ms. Jennifer, let's draw a gold and gem-encrusted Egyptian sarcophagus in the style of King Tut, then write our name in hieroglyphics! Don’t have gold paint? No problem! Stop by the museum for free gold paint (details found in this post).

Oral History Feature
For today's oral history feature, we sit down with Kathy "KB" Medford. KB was a river guide at the Nantahatla Outdoor Center for 20 years. We asked her to tell us about her time working at the NOC.

Staff Highlight: Willard Watson III, Programs & Outreach Director
His museum work has nourished Willard’s passion for community building and cultural preservation through the creative arts, using BRAHM as a platform to bring people together and inspire positive change in the community. “How do our exhibits and programs bring in people from all walks of life and unite them around the culture, heritage, and creativity that exists in our community?” This question guides his work at BRAHM. Get to know him more through this excellent interview conducted by Jasmin McFayden.

Kids’ Art Gallery Showcase
Wow! So much lovely art being created by our young friends this week. Artists were inspired by Cezanne, O'Keeffe, Paul Klee, Ted Harrison and more. 😍🎨
We hope there is even more handmade creative magic happening in honor of all the amazing Mothers and mother figures. 🤱💝

Throwback Thursday - Stories: YES!
In 2017, BRAHM was awarded the Stories: YES! grant. Seventeen eighth-grade students from Bethel School created four documentaries that highlighted important stories from their community. The four films produced look at the Stone Mountain General Store in Bethel, Deal Cornette Christmas Tree Farm, livestock farming in Bethel, and an interview with Dorcus Hodges, Bethel native, and school custodian.