Spring 2024

PREVIEW

2 Contemporary American Indian Artists Evolving Culture

8 At a Glance

10 Great Reads: NCMA Art Books

12 New Acquisition: Esther Kohenet’s Torah Curtain

14 My NCMA

19 Membership Matters

21 Plan Your Visit

cover: Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock/Wailaki/Okinawan), Adaptation II, 2012, shoes designed by Christian Louboutin, leather, glass beads, porcupine quills, sterling silver cones, brass sequins, and chicken feathers, each H. 85/8 × W. 31/4 × D. 93/16 in., Lent by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Bequest of Virginia Doneghy, by exchange; Photo: Minneapolis Institute of Art

PREVIEW

MANAGING EDITOR

Laura Napolitano

DESIGNER

Dan Ruccia

PHOTOGRAPHER

Christopher Ciccone

CONTRIBUTORS

Cameron Allison, Wale Ejire, Laura Finan, Nicole Flynn, Moses T. A. Greene, Janette Hoffman, Molly Hull, Sabrina Hurtado, Samantha Jones, Karen Kelly, Courtney Klemens, Angela Lombardi, Lizzie Newton, Philip Pledger, Bryanne Senor, Jill Taylor, Janis Treiber, Oliver Wagner, and Billy Wilson

Preview is published by the NCMA four times a year.

The exhibitions and programs featured in Preview rely on support from people and organizations who value the Museum and its work. Please consider donating to the NCMArts Fund at qrco.de/ncmaartsdonation

Exhibitions in Preview are made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for these exhibitions is made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/ The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, D. Reid Wilson, secretary.

The NCMA’s mission is to steward and share the people’s art collection and inspire creativity by connecting our diverse communities to cultural and natural resources. Its vision is to be a vital cultural resource for the entire state and a national leader in creating a welcoming experience of belonging and joy.

The NCMA visual mark is inspired by Thomas Sayre’s Gyre (1999), a site-specific work of environmental art in the 164-acre Museum Park.

2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC | (919) 839-ncma | ncartmuseum.org | @ncartmuseum

From the Director

Dear Friends,

Our spring exhibition program focuses on three centuries of American art and history. In Raleigh we are featuring three-dimensional, contemporary American Indian art (pp. 2–7) and 18th- and 19th-century southern quilts (p. 9) alongside a show, on view in Raleigh and Winston-Salem, that surveys religious expression in the South reflected in 20th- and 21st-century representations of rituals, adornment, and physical and social landscapes (p. 8). We are also opening a new installation in the dedicated Conservation Gallery in West Building that explores the use of red pigments throughout history (p. 9), and in March we celebrate the tenth edition of our beloved Art in Bloom, with its dazzling floral reinterpretations of works in the People’s Collection (p. 14).

Speaking of the collection, we continue to reimagine it, most recently opening a new installation in the Global Contemporary Art Gallery in East Building, where we are debuting recent acquisitions and gifts by artists working in North Carolina, the US, and around the world. Our commitment to the art of our time is underscored by the exhibitions and programs in Raleigh and at our

center for contemporary art in Winston-Salem, which was founded in 1956 and has been an affiliate of the North Carolina Museum of Art since 2007. Long known as the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA), it was renamed the North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem, last fall by the North Carolina Legislature, which has generously appropriated funds to support upcoming capital improvements that will enhance the historic Hanes House, art galleries, auditorium, and 22 acres of natural grounds.

Together, the NCMA and NCMA, Winston-Salem, represent over 165 total years of supporting the arts and artists of North Carolina and beyond. We look forward to continuing to serve our members and all North Carolinians now and in the future.

With appreciation and my best,

Valerie Hillings

Photo: Louis Watts

Contemporary American Indian Artists Evolving Culture

nancy strickland fields (lumbee)

Guest Curator

linda dougherty

Chief Curator and Senior Curator of Contemporary Art

editor’s note: Guest curator Nancy Strickland Fields is the director/curator of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

This spring the NCMA welcomes the spectacular work of 75 contemporary Native artists from across the US and Canada in the exhibition To Take Shape and Meaning: Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art. The show features contemporary art that’s a continuation of the historical arts of basketry, beadwork, weaving, and ceramics as well as showcases two cars transformed into works of art and trendsetting fashion designs and jewelry. A special aspect of To Take Shape and Meaning is the display of works by eight artists from North Carolina who hail from the Lumbee, Eastern Band Cherokee, and Haliwa-Saponi tribes.

The exhibition is divided into five sections that represent themes relevant to Native artists working now. Place of being explores an existence that encompasses the spiritual and physical worlds. Rootedness refers to deep ancestral knowledge one receives by belonging to a culture. Genealogy delves into kinship among ancestors and descendants, teachers and students, partners, and families. Encoded commentary examines the idea that Native arts hold power to communicate intellectually about complex ideas and topics. Revival and evolution explores the survival and thriving of traditional arts despite historical repression of American Indian identity, culture, and artistic expression.

place of being

Objects that express place of being hold sacred importance. Kenneth Johnson (Muscogee/Seminole) honors ancestral symbols and iconography in fine jewelry made of precious metals and stones. “Mother Earth” Turtle features the venerated symbols of the turtle (Earth as our origin point) and the Southeastern scroll design, which represents a person’s emergence and journey through the four stages of life (child, youth, adult, elder). His work recalls historical adornment that conveyed shared values and belief systems.

rootedness

Rootedness is found in visual languages that support the passing down of cultural knowledge. Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy) is from a long line of Native basketmakers. As he states, “Basketry is in our DNA; we can trace the practice back seven generations, but we know it goes back even further.” His work incorporates traditional Wabanaki materials and techniques but also uses vibrant contemporary colors and complex patterns, seen especially in Multi-Top Point Basket

encoded commentary

Native artists reexamine historical events previously overlooked or misrepresented in American history and comment on issues of identity, race, class, and gender. Virgil Ortiz (Conchiti Pueblo) teaches Pueblo history by telling the story of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, which he considers “the First American Revolution.” He’s created a cast of superheroes for his narrative through a series of works, including sculptures such as Convergence, Defenders Descend from Portal to Pueblo

genealogy

The artistic fingerprint of one person can be found in the work of those they inspire. The title of the 1985 El Camino Maria by Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo) and its black-on-black design is a tribute to the renowned San Ildefonso Pueblo potter Marie Martinez, whose work is also featured in the exhibition. Martinez herself redeveloped the ancient blackware techniques found in artifacts excavated in New Mexico’s Pajarito Plateau region.

revival and evolution

Native artists, aware of previous generations’ fight for the survival of artistic practices, blend historical materials, processes, and imagery with contemporary culture and issues. Marcus Amerman (Choctaw) incorporates traditional Native techniques to create contemporary imagery. His work includes political and socially conscious themes as well as references to pop culture, as seen in his Lone Ranger and Tonto Cuff Bracelets

In the Museum Park Counterculture

In conjunction with To Take Shape and Meaning, the Museum presents the installation Counterculture by Rose B. Simpson in the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park beginning mid-March 2024. A line of concrete figures with eyes going through their heads represent watchful ancestral presences who remind visitors of what once was. They look over homelands from which Native communities were forcibly removed, standing in for those who were silenced by colonial powers. According to Simpson, they remind us that “we are not independent, that the inanimate are watching, and that we are responsible not only to the present but to the ancestral spirits that inhabit a particular place.”

Counterculture was organized by guest curator Jamilee Lacy in partnership with the Trustees and staff at its deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, Massachusetts, as part of its Art & the Landscape initiative. The Trustees gratefully acknowledge support for Art & the Landscape 2022 from the Wagner Foundation and from the following individual donors:

To Take Shape and Meaning is open from March 2 to July 28, 2024. We invite you to come get acquainted with the work of these and other contemporary Indigenous artists. They are among the most acclaimed in their genres and are credited with pushing their art forms in ways that retain meaning and continue to evolve culture.

Janet and David Offensend; Valentine Talland and Nagesh K. Mahanthappa; Marjorie and Nick Greville; Chris Rifkin; and an anonymous donor.

The installation at the North Carolina Museum of Art is made possible, in part, by the Hartfield Foundation; Libby and Lee Buck; the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North

Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this installation was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

Related Exhibition Events

Exhibition Opening Reception:

To Take Shape and Meaning

Thursday, February 29, 7–9:30 pm

Ticket purchase required

Gather to celebrate the opening of this exciting exhibition. Includes light nibbles, one drink ticket, and cash bar.

Member Preview Day

Friday, March 1, 10 am–5 pm

free for members

Join fellow members for an intimate, early glimpse into our latest exhibition and enjoy curator insights on a day reserved for our most dedicated supporters.

Indigenous Understanding of Shape and Meaning in American Indian Art

Friday, March 1, noon–1 pm

free with registration

Kenneth Johnson, Virgil Ortiz, and Margaret Roach Wheeler, artists featured in the exhibition, discuss contemporary American Indian artwork with guest curator Nancy Strickland Fields.

Artistic Insights:

Studio Visit with Senora Lynch

Video released Saturday, March 16 free

Learn about the inspiring journey of Senora Lynch, a celebrated contemporary potter and distinguished member of the HaliwaSaponi tribe.

Art in Movement: To Take Shape and Meaning

Wednesday, April 10, 17, and 24, noon–12:45 pm

Ticket purchase required

Join choreographer Frankie Lee for a three-part dance class that explores the exhibition.

Mindful Museum:

Virtual Sensory Journey through Art

Thursday, April 11, 7–8 pm

free with registration

Join us for a virtual journey led by artist Virgil Ortiz. Intended for adults who are blind, low vision, or have a learning need that would benefit from a sensory-style experience.

Spring Teacher Tuesday: Special Exhibition Access for Educators

Tuesday, April 16, 4–7 pm free with registration

Educators enjoy exclusive access to spring exhibitions. This is a self-guided program; tickets are limited and are available on the hour at 4, 5, or 6 pm

Member Monday

Monday, May 6, 10 am–3 pm free for members

Escape the crowds, enjoy behindthe-scenes insights, and take advantage of your member discount in the Exhibition Store.

NC Indigenous Artist Festival

Saturday, March 2, 10 am–4 pm free

Celebrate Indigenous arts and culture from across the state, meet artists and buy traditional crafts and contemporary jewelry, drop in for free workshops and a performance by Lumbee culture dancers, and enjoy free admission to the exhibition.

Basket Weaving Workshop with Cindy

Locklear

Saturday, May 18, 10 am–4 pm

Ticket purchase required

Learn traditional basket-weaving techniques, select natural materials, and craft your own basket under the guidance of artist Cindy Locklear (Lumbee).

Museum Store

To

objects focusing on quilts and the multilayered stories they tell.

Partnering with North Carolina artists and artisans across the state

To

Take Shape and

East Building

Photo: Negin Naseri

To Take Shape and Meaning

Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art

March 2–July 28, 2024

East Building, Level B, Meymandi Exhibition Gallery

TICKETS

Reserve at ncartmuseum.org/shapeandmeaning free for Members

$20 Adults, $17 Seniors age 65 and older, $14 Youth ages 7–18 free for children 6 and under and college students

Questions about ticketing? Email help@ncartmuseum.org.

To Take Shape and Meaning is organized by the North Carolina Museum of Art. This exhibition is made possible, in part, by the Hartfield Foundation; Libby and Lee Buck; the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

Bonnie and John Medinger, Mindy and Guy Solie, Cathy and Jim Stuart, Libby and Lee Buck, Liza and Lee Roberts, and an anonymous donor page 4

Kenneth Johnson

nole), “Mother Earth” Turtle, 2023, silicon bronze

H.

19 × D. 18 in., Gift of

Jeffrey

above: Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Raven Ladle, 2014, blown and sand-carved glass, H. 231/2 × W. 63/4 × D. 81/4 in., North Carolina Museum of Art, Promised gift from an anonymous collection in honor of Valerie Hillings; Photo: Russell Johnson page 2, page 4 middle right: Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo), Convergence, Defenders Descend from Portal to Pueblo, 2023, Cochiti red clay, white clay slip, red clay slip, and black pigment (wild spinach plant), H. 281/2 × W.

Alan and Benjamin King,

Childers and Onay Cruz Gutierrez, Joyce Fitzpatrick and Jay Stewart, Valerie Hillings and B. J. Scheessele, Marjorie Hodges and Carlton Midyette, Stefanie and Douglas Kahn,

top:

(Muscogee/Semi-

cast,

20 × W. 17 × D. 31/2 in., Courtesy of the artist; Photo: Justin Rogers Photography; middle: Jeremy Frey (Passamaquoddy), Multi-Top Point Basket, 2020, black ash, cedar bark, sweet grass, and synthetic dye, H. 19 × W. 10 × D. 4 in., The Robert and Barbara Buker Collections; Photo: Saygo Studios; bottom: Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo), Maria, 2014, 1985 Chevy El Camino, H. 54 × W. 72 × D. 202 in., Courtesy of the artist; Photo: Kate Russell

page 5 top: Marcus Amerman (Choctaw), Lone Ranger and Tonto Cuff Bracelets, 1999, glass beads, leather, and thread; H. 2 × W. 27/8 × D. 21/4 in. and H. 2 × W. 25/8 × D. 21/4 in., Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gift of Don and Rita Newman, 2009.5.1 and 2009.5.2; © Marcus Amerman; bottom: Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo), Counterculture, 2022, dyed concrete, steel, clay, and cable, seven sculptures, H. 128 × W. 24 × D. 11 in. each, Commissioned by Art & the Landscape, a program of the Trustees, Massachusetts; Courtesy of the artist, Jessica Silverman, San Francisco, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, and private collection, Boston; Photo: Stephanie Zollshan

AT A GLANCE

The Creative Lives of Educators

NCMA Teacher Exhibition

NCMA, East Building, Education Gallery

Through May 12, 2024

North Carolina educators of all disciplines were invited to submit original artwork and artist statements reflecting on their creative practices and experiences with the Museum. Participants work in Buncombe, Durham, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Orange, Pender, Sampson, and Wake counties.

From Alpha to Creation Religion in the Deep South

NCMA W-S, Potter Gallery

February 15–May 26, 2024

NCMA, East Building, Level B, Video Gallery, Photography Gallery 1 (Julian T. Baker Jr. Gallery) and 2 (Allen G. Thomas Jr. Gallery)

February 17–August 18, 2024

For the first time, the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (NCMA, Winston-Salem) present a shared exhibition on both campuses. Examining place and theology from North Carolina to eastern Texas, the show incorporates photography, video, and sculpture to survey iconography and rituals in our landscape.

Stephen Lursen, Nesting, acrylic and gold leaf on canvas, 36 × 24 in., Courtesy of the artist

Alec Soth, Patrick, Palm Sunday, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2002, chromogenic print, 40 × 30 in., Gift of Allen G. Thomas Jr. in honor of Lawrence J. Wheeler; © 2023 Alec Soth

CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

Layered Legacies

Quilts from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts at Old Salem

NCMA, East Building, Level B, Joyce W. Pope Gallery

March 9–July 21, 2024

Layered Legacies invites audiences to consider the multilayered stories stitched into quilts made in the American South between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. Featured are more than 30 bed coverings and related objects that foreground the masterful artistry of women, both white and Black, wealthy and enslaved.

Community Threads A Maker Space

NCMA, East Building, Gallery 3

March 9–July 21, 2024

In this community quilt installation and maker space, visitors are invited to design and create quilt squares from Friday to Sunday. Local artists Aliyah Bonnette, Michelle Wilkie, and Patrizia Ferreira, whose fabric works are on view, will sew the squares together to make one large community artwork.

Seeing Red

NCMA, West Building, Conservation Gallery

Opening June 15, 2024

Seeing Red focuses on our long relationship with red, arguably the most important color to human beings. The study of red substances in art can provide insight into artists’ works, giving us technological, cultural, and art historical information that we may not discover in any other way. Red dyes and pigments used by artists throughout history

Pieced and appliquéd quilt, household of Harriet Kirk Marion, Berkeley County, South Carolina, 1840, cotton, 1071/2 × 1083/4 in., MESDA, Gift of the family of Samuel Cary Beckwith, Jr. (6064.1)

Patrizia Ferreira, The Deluge, 2023, repurposed fabric, yarn, thread, embroidery floss, plastic and glass beads, repurposed single-use plastic, and found shells, Courtesy of the artist

great reads

laura napolitano, Editor and Manager of Book Publishing

The NCMA is an art museum, park, performing arts venue— and a publisher too. The Museum produces at least one or two books per year, including exhibition catalogues, handbooks of the collection, systematic catalogues documenting specific artworks, conservation-related books, and special projects. In 2024, a banner year, we are publishing four titles. The first two, To Take Shape and Meaning: Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art and Layered Legacies: Quilts from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts at Old Salem, accompany exhibitions with the same titles and are available in the Exhibition Store in East Building right now.

From start to finish, producing a book can take 18 months to two years. Most often, Museum curators initiate book projects related to an exhibition they have organized. Catalogues can contain more in-depth information on an artist or subject, feature stunning high-resolution images, and often serve as records of short-term exhibitions. At the NCMA curators often ask guest authors with specific expertise to contribute essays, which allows for the perspectives of other voices.

Once the authors are finished drafting their text, about a year before the exhibition opens, the production team starts building the book. First, the project editor goes through the manuscript and makes changes related to style, usage, and grammar. The photo editor collects high-resolution image files from different sources, such as artists, representatives of artists, and other museums, and obtains the rights to reproduce them. The graphic

clockwise from top: Editor Laura Napolitano finishes copyediting text for

To Take Shape and Meaning and proofs its cover design; Graphic designer Dan Ruccia checks the color accuracy of images in Layered Legacies; Senior editor Karen Kelly proofs the table of contents pages for Layered Legacies

the Museum Store for these NCMA titles

WIM BOTHA

Still Life with Discontent

Jennifer Dasal, Elizabeth Perrill, and Alice Gray Stites

2019, 136 pp., softcover, full color

Co-published with 21C Museum Hotels

LEONARDO DREW

Making Chaos Legible

Linda Johnson Dougherty with Brooke Kamin Rapaport 2020, 132 pp., softcover, full color

THE BACCHUS CONSERVATION PROJECT

The Story of a Sculpture

Edited by Caroline M. Rocheleau 2020, 120 pp., softcover, full color

YOU ARE THE RIVER

Literature Inspired by the North Carolina Museum of Art

Edited by Helena Feder 2021, 222 pp., softcover, full color

THE MUSEUM LIVES IN ME

Written by Victoria Scott-Miller, illustrated by JP Jermaine Powell 2022, 40 pp., hardcover, full color

designer, meanwhile, designs the layout of the book, making choices to suit the subject matter and following specifications (such as trim size and page count) decided on during the planning phase. Once the design concept is approved by different parties at the Museum, the designer typesets the book using the final manuscript and image files obtained from the editors.

The proofing stage of book production involves collaboration among the curators (or authors), editor, and designer. All pages are carefully scrutinized to make sure the layouts are consistent, text is as error free as possible, and images are representative of the artworks being reproduced. The final book file is sent to a company that conducts prepress, or color management, which involves separating images into four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) in order to make printing plates. The printer uses this information to set up their press, and after a series of proofs is checked by NCMA staff, the book is printed, bound, and shipped to the Museum for exhibition opening day.

Publishing books is an important way the NCMA fulfills its mission to steward the People’s Collection and to share multiple, diverse histories, voices, and perspectives. Exhibition catalogues and other collection-centered publications further art historical scholarship and serve as a lasting record of the Museum’s exhibitions and other initiatives.

Photos by Negin Naseri

Spring Exhibition Catalogues Available Now!

TO

TAKE SHAPE AND MEANING

Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art

Nancy Strickland Fields, with Rose B. Simpson and Stephen Fadden 2024, 180 pp., hardcover, full color

Featuring 3-D works by 75 contemporary Indigenous artists from throughout the US and Canada, the book highlights how Native artists use their art forms to retain meaning and continue to evolve culture.

LAYERED LEGACIES

Quilts from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts at Old Salem

Introduction by Daniel K. Ackermann and Lauren Applebaum, essays by Lea C. Lane, Aleia M. Brown, and Jenny H. Garwood 2024, 192 pp., softcover, full color

Featuring quilts and bed coverings made in the American South between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries.

sean burrus

New Acquisition Esther Kohenet’s Torah Curtain

One of the most incredible works to come into the Judaic collection— in terms of combined artistic achievement and historical significance— is an 18th-century parokhet, or Torah curtain, from Northern Italy. The piece is a real tour-de-force of intricate embroidery and sumptuous materials, an outstanding example of the long tradition of luxury textiles characteristic of the silk industry of Venice and its environs. It is also the only known example of a Torah curtain with the complete text of the Ten Commandments, a motif that was popular (in abbreviated form) in synagogues of the region. What’s more, the arrangement of the commandments on the curtain perfectly mirrors how they would be encountered in a Torah scroll in the period.

Remarkably, we know the identity of the artist who made the piece, Esther Kohenet, and the date she completed it in 1717, because she embedded these details in a pair of cryptic inscriptions at the bottom of the curtain.

Synagogue textiles like Torah curtains and mantles were often created by women of the community, and in fact a special blessing is traditionally said in Italian synagogues recognizing the role of these women. But knowing such details about the identity of the artist and the date of the work is incredibly rare. Esther Kohenet’s virtuoso embroidery skills and her intimate knowledge of Hebrew and the Torah are remarkable testaments to the learning and accomplishments of generations of Italian women who played an active, important role in their synagogues. The acquisition of historical textiles like this Torah curtain marks an important development for the collection in representing the range of sumptuous materials that have decorated Jewish ceremonial objects and spaces.

Curator of Judaic Art

Esther Kohenet, Torah Ark Curtain, 1717, silk embroidered with silk and metallic threads; seed pearls, 78 × 62 in., Gift of Marion Meyer Robboy and Stanley Robboy, the Drs. Ronald H. and Elizabeth Kanof Levine Endowment for Judaic Art, and other Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery

The newest member of the NCMA curatorial team, Sean Burrus is an art historian specializing in the art of the Jewish diaspora. As curator of Judaic art, Burrus brings a decade of archaeological experience to his background in Jewish studies at both UNC–Chapel Hill and Duke University, where he earned his PhD. He held positions at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC; the Bowdoin College Museum of Art; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the University of Michigan.

MEET THE CURATOR

“I am thrilled to have joined the team at the NCMA,” says Burrus. “I grew up in Raleigh and have many fond memories of visiting the Museum with family over the years. The opportunity to be part of the next chapter for the NCMA and to curate experiences and programming that inspire the next generation is incredibly meaningful to me … Ours was the first gallery of Jewish art in the nation to be established in a global museum, and I’m excited to be celebrating its 40th year in 2024.”

An inscription in delicate seed pearls records the Hebrew year the artist dedicated this masterpiece to her synagogue, “Shanah [5]477,” or “The Year 1717.”

An enigmatic inscription contained in the column bases hides an acrostic: the first letter of each word is marked by an accent (‘) and spells out the name of the artist herself, Esther Kohenet.

Photo: Negin Naseri

MY NCMA

The Museum offers many types of accessibility accommodations for events and tours. To find out what is available or request an accommodation, contact Accessibility and Inclusion Coordinator Molly Hull, mhull@ncartmuseum.org. Please note that requests require a minimum two-week notice.

SPRING EVENTS

The events in My NCMA represent a selection of programs taking place at the Museum in March, April, and May 2024. Watch for email newsletters and go to ncartmuseum.org/programs for details and to find more programs.

*Programs related to the exhibition Layered Legacies: Quilts from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts at Old Salem

ADULT PROGRAMMING

Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/adultprograms

Jaki Shelton Green and Beverly McIver in Conversation: New Artistic Strivings

Friday, March 1, 7–8:30 pm free with registration

NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green holds a discussion with artist Beverly McIver, whose work reflects her commitment to

Crafting Nature’s Canvas: Building a Native Garden with Brie Arthur

Thursday, March 14, noon–1:30 pm

This presentation by Brie Arthur offers insights and inspiration for everyone to garden with the amazing variety of native plants North Carolina has to offer.

producing art that consistently examines racial, gender, and social and occupational identity.

I ♥ Purim Party:

Hollywood and Hamantashen

… the award goes to Esther!

Saturday, March 9, 7–10 pm

Ticket purchase required

Join the Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery for a red-carpet-award Purim celebration on the eve of Hollywood’s most anticipated night of the year. Featuring hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, a specialty cocktail, and dancing.

Weinberg Lecture of Egyptology

Sunday, March 10, 2–4 pm

free with registration

This talk coalesces physical and art historical evidence to offer some of the most comprehensive interpretations we have to date on the practice of tattooing in ancient Egypt.

Ticket purchase required for Art in Bloom events. Visit ncartmuseum.org/bloom for more programs, including Chef’s Table (March 8) and Art of Tea in Bloom (March 13–17).

Zoe Webster Floral Demonstration with Steve Taras

Wednesday, March 13, noon–1:30 pm

Steve Taras of Watered Garden Florist shares his favorite Art in Bloom memories and designs from the stage, all while creating sumptuous arrangements live.

Avant Garden Designer Reception

Wednesday, March 13, 7–9 pm

Step into a whimsical garden inspired by fashion and art. Your ticket includes light hors d’oeuvres and a specialty cocktail.

The Beauty in the Broken: Floral Demonstration with Special Guest Ace Berry

Friday, March 15, noon–1:30 pm

This live floral design presentation features Ace Berry, owner of Ace in Full Bloom and participant on HBO’s Full Bloom

Floral Perspectives Demonstration with Once Gathered

Saturday, March 16, noon–1:30 pm

This demonstration by husband-andwife team Francisco and Jenn of Once Gathered showcases their differing design styles using the same floral elements.

*Mixed Media Quilt Collage Workshop with Noelle Gunn

Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, 10 am–4 pm

Ticket purchase required

In this two-day workshop students create a quilt collage with personal meaning using a variety of mixed-media materials and techniques, including hand stitching, use of a sewing machine, and a variety of layering techniques.

*Writing the Object with Julia Ridley Smith

Wednesday, April 10, 6–8 pm

Ticket purchase required

Objects offer rich material for narrative. In this workshop we explore the reactions, memories, and cultural associations that objects evoke for us and write in response to a few specific works in the Museum.

Freedom Seder 2024:

The Presence and Power of Water

Thursday, April 18, 7 pm

free with registration

Join the NCMA and Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery for a virtual special event that focuses on the centrality of water—as life sustaining, life threatening, and symbolic of freedom—in the Exodus story and across cultures.

Artistic Insights

In this video series, we bring the studio directly to you, offering an exclusive opportunity to discover the creative processes of artists. After each demonstration we delve deeper with a Q&A. free with registration

Studio Visit with Jason Blyskal

Saturday, April 20

Studio Visit with Mike Geary

Saturday, May 18

The Art and Science of Nature Sketching and Journaling with Patricia Savage

Saturday, April 27, 10 am–4 pm

Ticket purchase required

This workshop combines science and art to help develop the beginner student’s skills as a naturalist and artist. Students receive lessons in different techniques to help them draw subjects from plants to landscapes.

MINDFUL MUSEUM

Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/mindfulprograms

Spring Slow Art Appreciation

Wednesday, March 20, 6–7 pm

free with registration

Slow art is a practice to mindfully observe and communally appreciate art. Participants are guided through a brief centering practice followed by an intentional observation of a single work from our collection.

*Community Sewing Circles

Thursday, March 21, May 16, July 18, 6–7 pm

Ticket purchase required

In conjunction with Layered Legacies, join local fiber artist in residence Patrizia Ferreira for community connection and a relaxing, inspirational time creating fabric art.

Outdoor Therapeutic Dance

Thursday, March 28, April 25, May 23, 6–7:30 pm

Ticket purchase required

Join Express & Release Therapeutic Dance for a fun and powerful exploration of the body and emotions through movement and art. Each session draws on a different theme inspired by works in our collection.

Spring Creative Self-Care

Wednesday, May 15, 6–7:30 pm

Ticket purchase required

Take time out to connect with yourself and the expansive qualities of spring. A variety of art-making materials and reflective discussions guide you through this creative exploration of self-care and community connection.

PERFORMING ARTS

Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/pafprograms

Co-Presented with Community Music School Youth Music Day

Saturday, April 6, 10:30 am–3:30 pm free

Join us for a day of free outdoor music performances by young children, youth, and young adult musicians, including soloists, a pop band, jazz ensemble, chamber music group, and orchestra.

PERSIAN NOWRUZ (NEW YEAR) CELEBRATION

free with registration

Film Screening: Where Is the Friend’s House? (1987)

Saturday, March 23, 1–2:30 pm

An Iranian schoolboy scours a neighboring village for a classmate’s house so that he can return an important notebook.

Presented with Come Hear NC Music, Dance, and Discussion

Saturday, March 23, 5–6:30 pm

In-person and virtual

This event begins with a brief presentation of the role of women in Persian art and music, followed by a concert by Sayeh Ensemble, performing Persian Sufi traditional and folk music.

Presented with Come Hear NC Peder & Hendrik:

Live from the NCMA

Saturday, April 6, 3–4:30 pm In-person and virtual free with registration

This experimental engagement begins as an artist lecture on the duo’s seven-year collaborative relationship before dissolving into an improvised audio-visual exploration between the artists and audience.

Art in Movement

From Alpha to Creation:

Religion in the Deep South

Wednesday, April 10, 17, and 24, 1–1:45 pm

Ticket purchase required

Where Is the Friend's House? Courtesy of Janus Films

Peder & Hendrik; Photo: Whitney Gilchrist

Join choreographer Frankie Lee for an invigorating and powerful three-week dance class that explores the exhibition From Alpha to Creation: Religion in the Deep South.

Kuumba Cultural Arts Collective: Djembe Drumming (Spring Intensive)

Wednesday, April 10, 17, and 24, 6:30–7:30 pm

Ticket purchase required

Join Robert J. Corbitt III for a three-week class designed to cultivate your comfort on the West African djembe and dundun and expand your knowledge of rhythms that originated in the African diaspora.

Co-presented with the American Dance Festival GOOD EFFORT

Friday, April 19, Saturday, April 20, 7 pm free with registration

“GOOD EFFORT” is a performance work by choreographer Londs Reuter in the Museum Park in which each dancer determines their level of effort throughout, offering permutations of shared choreography and exploring ways a dancer can meet the moment.

FILM

Ticket purchase required. Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/films

NCMA Cinema

After Sun (2022)

Saturday, March 9, 2–3:45 pm

Directed by Charlotte Wells, 96 min., R Twenty years after their last holiday at a fading vacation resort, Sophie reflects on the rare time with her father, trying

to reconcile the parent she knew with the man she didn’t.

Cinema Paradiso (Director’s Cut) (1988)

Saturday, April 13, 2–5 pm

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, 173 min., PG

Young Salvatore discovers the perfect escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village: the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where projectionist Alfredo instills in him a love of films.

Three Identical Strangers (2018)

Saturday, April 27, 2–3:45 pm

Directed by Tim Wardle, 96 min., PG-13

Identical triplets become separated at birth and adopted by three different families. Years later, their amazing reunion becomes a global sensation and unearths a secret with radical repercussions.

NCMA Matinee

Adoption (1975)

Wednesday, March 6, 2–4 pm

Directed by Márta Mészáros, 86 min., NR

The viewer is immersed in the worlds of two women, each searching for fulfillment: Kata, a middle-aged factory worker, and Anna, a teenage ward of the state.

Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête) (1946)

Wednesday, April 3, 2–4 pm

Directed by Jean Cocteau, 93 min., NR

This adaptation—in which the pure love of a beautiful girl melts the heart of a feral but gentle beast—is a landmark of motion picture fantasy.

The Big City (1963)

Wednesday, May 1, 2–4 pm

Directed by Satyajit Ray, 135 min., NR

This film follows the personal triumphs and frustrations of Arati, who decides, despite the initial protests of her bankclerk husband, to take a job to help support their family.

NCMA Loves Anime

Belle (2021)

Saturday, May 17, 8–10:10 pm

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, 122 min., PG Suzu is a shy high school student. When she enters the virtual world of “U,” however, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a globally beloved singer.

Lu over the Wall (2017)

Wednesday, May 22, 6–8 pm

Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, 112 min., PG When Kai’s classmates invite him to play the keyboard in their band, their sessions bring an unexpected guest: Lu, a young mermaid whose singing causes humans to compulsively dance.

NCMA Loves Anime Bazaar

Wednesday, May 22, 11 am–8 pm free; films ticketed separately

In conjunction with Animazement, join us for a day of anime films, vendors, and fun.

The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017)

Wednesday, May 22, 8:30–10:10 pm

Directed by Masaaki Yuasa, 92 min., PG-13

When a group of teens go out, a sophomore experiences a series of surreal encounters with the local nightlife.

PARK

Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/parkprograms

Adaptive Tai Chi in the Park: Mindful Movement for Everyone

Thursday, April 4, May 2, 6–7 pm free with registration

Tai Chi combines slow and gentle movements with focused attention. During this accessible class for all abilities, participants are guided through visually and vocally descriptive cues and have the option to sit or stand.

Spring Service Project in the Park

Saturday, April 20, 9–11 am free with registration

Help steward the Museum Park by supporting staff in their restoration initiatives. After a brief introduction, volunteers plant native species around the Park to increase biodiversity and provide habitat for wildlife.

FAMILIES

Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/familyprograms

What’s in the Box?

Wednesday, March 6, April 10, May 1, 10–11 am

Afternoon session for Week of the Young

Child, Wednesday, April 10, 2–3 pm

Ticket purchase required

Meet a work of art, enjoy movement and play, and get your creative juices flowing in this artful workshop for 3- to 5-year-olds and their caregivers.

NCMA to Go Activity Kits: Clay Claws and Paws

Saturday, March 9, 10 am–noon free with registration

Reserve an activity kit for a hands-on project with instructions in English and Spanish. This kit provides the materials to create an animal coil pot of your own creation, inspired by our Costa Rican Jaguar Vase.

Artful Story Time

Wednesday, March 20, April 17, 10:30–11 am free with registration

Story time with an artful twist! Come look, listen, and move as we make connections with original works of art and children’s books. Rotating featured readers means there’s always a new perspective to enjoy.

Pop-Up Art

Sunday, March 24, May 19, noon–3 pm free

Enjoy the fun of drop-in art-making activities for all ages popping up across the Museum galleries and Museum Park. Check ncartmuseum.org for specific activities and locations.

Belle, Courteys of GKIDS

Family Studio

Saturday, April 13, May 18, 10 am–noon or 1–3 pm

Ticket purchase required

Guided by expert artists, look closely at original works of art and find inspiration to create your own projects during these two-hour studio workshops. Best for families with children ages 5 to 11.

NCMA to Go Activity Kits: Paint Collage

Saturday, May 11, 10 am–noon

free with registration

Reserve an activity kit for a hands-on project with instructions in English and Spanish. This kit provides the materials to create a textured and collaged painting from dried paint skins, inspired by Angel Otero’s Laughing Clouds

Story Time in the Garden

Wednesday, May 15, 10:30–11 am

free with registration

Join us for a lively story time surrounded by nature! Look, listen, and move to children’s books with our featured readers in a beautiful outdoor garden.

TEENS AND COLLEGE

Interested in learning more about the Teen Arts Council or the College Advisory Panel? Keep up-to-date with all happenings on our Teens and College programs web pages.

Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/teencollegeprograms

Teens Sketch the Galleries

Saturday, March 2, April 6, and May 4, noon–2 pm

free with registration

Spend time sketching with other teens in the galleries. Follow prompts or find your favorite sketching spot with a friend. For ages 13–18.

College Conversations

Sunday, March 10, April 14, and May 5, 2–4 pm

free with registration

Join the monthly conversation at the NCMA! Meet other college students, share your thoughts about art, and create something uniquely your own.

*Teen Quilting with Michelle Wilkie

Saturday, April 13, noon–2 pm

free with registration

Dive into the world of quilting with modern quilt designer Michelle Wilkie. Learn about her work, explore Layered Legacies, and learn quilting basics. For ages 13–18.

TOURS

The NCMA offers free tours of the People’s Collection to the public and to school, youth, and adult groups. Guided Park tours resume in March. To select the right tour for you, visit ncartmuseum.org/tours.

Public Tours

Every Thursday and Saturday, 1 pm free

Tours vary—docents may explore several galleries, focus on specific artists, or delve into the elements of art. All ages welcome! To participate, meet your docent in West Building at the public tour sign.

Family-Friendly Tours

Saturday, March 2, April 6, April 20, May 4, May 18, 10:30–11 am free with registration

Find new favorites alongside old friends on these playful tours. Tours are 30 minutes long and are best for kids ages 5–11 with their adult companions.

Museum Tour in ASL

Saturday, April 20, May 18, 10 am–noon free with registration

This tour in American Sign Language is intended for adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing; no English is spoken. It takes place in both East and West buildings, and the theme varies each month.

EDUCATORS

Additional information: learn.ncartmuseum.org

World Languages Pedagogy Workshop

Saturday, March 9, 10 am–3 pm free with registration through UNC–Chapel Hill

How does learning through objects connect us with the products, perspectives, and practices of cultures taught about in world language classrooms? Sponsored by the NCMA, NC Dept. of Public Instruction, UNC–Chapel Hill, and Duke Area Studies Centers.

Online Course:

Art and Science Minicourses

Tuesday, May 7–Tuesday, August 6 Ticket purchase required

The NCMA offers educators a series of minicourses on the connections between art and science. Each course is self-paced and should take around three hours to complete.

Photo: Negin Naseri

Membership Matters ART & COMMUNITY

Your membership matters to the Museum in so many ways. Here are just a few.

1. Annual membership dues and donations: Unrestricted funds support the greatest needs of the Museum. Your dues help to fund exhibitions, educational programs, and member activities, ensuring the NCMA remains a vibrant cultural resource.

2. Enhanced programming: With the backing of members, the NCMA can expand and diversify its programming. This includes organizing special events, workshops, and lectures that enrich the visitor experience and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of art.

3. Community engagement: Members build a sense of community around the Museum. They engage with the NCMA at a high level, bringing friends and family to see exhibitions and promote

our offerings. Members also give their time and talent, volunteering as docents or at special events.

4. Show of confidence: Having nearly 20,000 members renewing their support annually galvanizes foundations and corporations who provide grants and other forms of assistance to the Museum. Your membership shows that the NCMA is thriving with community support.

5. Accessibility initiatives: Member support allows the NCMA to implement accessibility initiatives, such as free or discounted admission for educational groups, outreach to underserved communities, and the development of resources for visitors with diverse needs. These initiatives align with the Museum‘s commitment to making art accessible to a broad and inclusive audience.

at the

Saturday, April 27 4:30–11 pm

special guests

with

Rissi Palmer and Shana Tucker

with Ian Chang and Riley Mulherkar

Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park North Carolina Museum of Art

Photos: Courtesy of the artists; Rafiq Bhatia: John Klukas; Thao: Shervin Lainez

NCMA Café

West Building

Coffee service:

Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm

Lunch and brunch service:

Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–3 pm

Reservations encouraged for table service

Dining at the NCMA

East Café East Building

Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–4 pm Sandwiches, snacks, crafted coffees, cold drinks

SPECIAL EVENTS

Visit ncartmuseum.org/dine to reserve.

Family Tea

Saturday, April 6, 10 am–3 pm, East Café Festive finger sandwiches, savory and sweet treats

Spring Tea

Friday, April 12, 10 am–3 pm, East Café Finger sandwiches, canapés, and desserts

The Art of Wine

Friday, April 12, 7–9 pm, NCMA Café Wine and food pairings

Mother’s Day Tea

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, May 10, 11, 12, 10 am–3 pm, East Café Savory canapés, finger sandwiches, and inspired pâtisserie

Through

David

April

A

Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–4 pm (open until 8 pm on Thursdays)

info@secca.org secca.org

Photos: Hans Rosemond Photography

The Threads We Follow; Photo: Negin Naseri

Plan Your Visit

ALL THE WAYS TO PLAY

HOURS

EAST AND WEST BUILDING GALLERIES, MUSEUM STORE AND EXHIBITION STORE, NCMA CAFÉ

Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm

EAST CAFÉ

Friday–Sunday, 11 am–4 pm

ANN AND JIM GOODNIGHT MUSEUM PARK

Daily, dawn to dusk

WELCOME CENTER

Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm (weather permitting) beginning March 20

TICKETS

Admission to the People’s Collection is free. Members receive free admission to ticketed exhibitions and outdoor films.

For exhibition, performance, and program tickets, go to ncartmuseum.org.

VISITOR EXPERIENCE

help@ncartmuseum.org | (919) 715-5923

Please contact us via email for the quickest response.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Museum seeks to make a welcoming space for all. Visit ncartmuseum.org/accessibility-and-inclusion for details about on-site accommodations and more information.

DON’T MISS

New Installation in West Building’s Lobby

Two vibrantly colored geometric murals by North Carolina artist Martha Clippinger are inspired by artworks in the People’s Collection.

Global Contemporary Art Gallery Reinstall Yayoi Kusama’s popular LIGHT OF LIFE is back on view. Revisit it and see many new works, including a powerful installation by Clarissa Sligh, a video work by Tony Oursler, and a sci-fi landscape by Elliott Hundley.

Photo: Dan Ruccia

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