HIDDEN
GEMS
KEEP WARM BY SPARKING YOUR CURIOSITY BY ROBYN GOSS BENNAI
A
merican anthologist Terri Guillemets said, “The color of springtime is flowers; the color of winter is our imagination.” These words serve as inspiration to seek comfort in the cold by stimulating our minds. Fortunately, we are surrounded by places that can do just this. The Triangle has been called “the Smithsonian of the South” because of its many museums. Some of the ones featured here may be familiar, but there are surely some hidden gems listed that will set your imagination on fire and keep you warm during the winter months.
FOR LOVERS OF CREATIVITY North Carolina Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh The North Carolina Museum of Art has an expansive collection consisting of more than a dozen galleries. The variety of art hails from around the world and time periods, and you can discover their many special exhibits hosted throughout the year. While visiting, you can make cool art, enjoy live performances, or take a family-friendly tour. Their engaging programs and in-gallery materials invite you to look, talk, and interpret works of art together. CAM (Contemporary Art Museum) Raleigh 409 West Martin Street, Raleigh When you step inside the expansive, light-filled gallery space that was once a produce warehouse from the early 1900s, you will instantly feel the vibe of downtown Raleigh. Showcasing multiple levels of ever-changing art and fashion displays, CAM Raleigh also offers performance pieces, video installations, and live art demonstrations for a truly one-of-a-kind museum experience. The Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State University 1903 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh Per its website, this museum “sparks creativity and encourages exploration through engaging exhibitions, relevant programming, and thought-provoking educational experiences. Focusing on outstanding examples of art, craft, and design, the museum utilizes cross-disciplinary collaborations and its extensive collections to foster critical thinking and expand worldviews.” The Gregg 20
CIRCA Magazine
Museum strives to serve the diverse population of NC State and the surrounding communities in an inclusive manner.
FOR NATURALLY CURIOUS MINDS North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh This North Carolina gem is the largest institution of its kind in the southeastern United States, and is our state’s most visited museum. Dedicated to science and nature, it hopes to empower visitors by offering an understanding of the natural world while promoting conservation. As described on their website, “Have you ever touched the bones of a Right Whale? Come face-to-face with a Cretaceous carnivore? Sat in the center of the Earth to hear a scientist talk? You can do all of that and more in the exhibits of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences! Our location in downtown Raleigh includes the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center, filled with dioramas, theaters, and interactive experiences.” Museum of Life and Science 433 West Murray Avenue, Durham “Your home for wonder, curiosity, and discovery,” the Museum of Life and Science shares with visitors 84 acres of open-ended science and nature experiences that are designed to spark imagination, creativity, and new ways of thinking about our world. Several exhibits include the butterfly house (pictured), Carolina wildlife, the Dinosaur Trail, and the insectarium. The Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum 301 Dairy Lane, Raleigh This NC State University museum provides a unique agricultural experience for children and adults – a visit shares how milk gets from the farm to the table. The interactive museum allows visitors to learn how cows are raised, how they produce milk, and how milk is used to make products we use on a daily basis. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center 250 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill Morehead Planetarium and Science Center offers visitors behindthe-scenes views of current science research through activities and
| January • February • March 2022
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