PREV IEW
cover Rembrandt van Rijn, A Jewish Heroine [possibly Esther] from the Hebrew Bible (detail), 1632–33, oil on canvas, 43 × 371/8 in., National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Purchased 1953, 6089
PREVIEW
MANAGING EDITOR
Laura Napolitano
DESIGNER
Dan Ruccia
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Christopher Ciccone, Vann Powell, Keith Quick
CONTRIBUTORS
Cameron Allison, Lori Cowherd, Wale Ejire, Laura Finan, Jessica Gorelick, Moses T. A. Greene, Miles Hall, Molly Hull, Sabrina Hurtado, Karen Kelly, Courtney Klemens, Kayla Miles, Lizzie Newton, Philip Pledger, Sean Sabye, Bryanne Shepard, Jill Taylor, Oliver Wagner, Rachel Woods, and Jeffrey Yelverton
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, Pamela B. Cashwell, 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.
From the Director
Dear Friends,
With campus renovations underway in Raleigh and a host of community-wide events happening this fall, I am reminded of the vital role collaboration plays in the story of progress at the NCMA. Each time we gather in celebration of the arts, exchanging perspectives and uplifting the cultural resources of North Carolina, we expand the impact of the Museum. I am excited to see how the support of our wonderful members and visitors continues to define what we’re capable of achieving in the year ahead.
This fall we welcome a queen into the Museum for The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt, co-organized by the Jewish Museum, New York (pages 2–5). A frequent subject of works by Rembrandt and his contemporaries, the biblical story of Queen Esther takes on new life in this exhibition examining the episode’s influence on the visual and popular culture of 17th-century Holland. We also consider our state’s rapidly changing social, economic, and environmental landscape in the media-spanning show Then and There, Here and Now: Contemporary Visions of North Carolina (pages 6–7). You can visit both exhibitions during the weekend of End Paper 2025, our second art book fair featuring over 70 vendors, a postcard art show, live poetry readings, and more (pages 8–9).
Just in time for back-to-school season, this issue dives into recently developed programs and resources offered by our award-winning Education Department (pages 10–11). We also explore how picture frames influence our interactions with artworks (pages 12–15) and highlight prime locations throughout the Museum Park for keeping cool in the early autumn heat (pages 16–17).
This season’s schedule is packed with events and programs for all ages (pages 18–22), inviting you to participate by listening, learning, watching, and creating. You can also make your mark at the NCMA by contributing to the Reimagining the Possible campaign (page 23) or renewing your membership (page 24). Together, we can deepen our shared experiences with the arts and find new ways to welcome the communities we serve.
With appreciation and my best,
Valerie Hillings
Outdoor gallery space for temporary installations
Refreshed landscape design showcasing diversity of native plants
Planned renovations outside East Building
An Ancient Jewish Heroine Captivates a New Audience
michele frederick Curator of European Art and Provenance Research
This fall, the NCMA is proud to present The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt. Co-organized in partnership with the Jewish Museum, New York, this exhibition features more than 120 exquisite objects loaned from collections across the country and the world.
In the age of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), the biblical Book of Esther was a key source of inspiration for diverse communities in Holland, both Jewish and Christian. The story recounts Queen Esther’s heroic salvation of the Jewish people from near annihilation in ancient Persia. Esther has long been held in Jewish tradition as the quintessential heroine and has been a subject in Christian art for hundreds of years. This exhibition explores how different artists, patrons, and audiences in Rembrandt’s time fashioned their own imagery from this story.
Although the Book of Esther was distant in time and space from the 17th-century Netherlands, it remained current—and captivating—to Jewish communities and to the newly emerging Dutch nation. In the 1600s the story held special resonance for the Jewish immigrants that began arriving in Amsterdam at the end of the previous century seeking a religious and cultural haven.
Today Jewish communities throughout the world congregate twice in synagogues on the holiday of Purim, which takes place annually in February or March, to hear public readings of Esther’s story as written in the Megillah (scroll). Through fasting and feasting, Purim commemorates both the solemn and joyous aspects of Esther’s story. In the Netherlands Jewish immigrants had the liberty to celebrate Purim more openly than in their previous
homelands, including Spain, Portugal, and Central and Eastern Europe, among other places of religious persecution. The celebration of Purim—notably through finely produced Esther scrolls and theater productions—became symbolic of this freedom and marked their presence in Amsterdam.
Widely read in the 17th century, the Book of Esther also offered a wealth of dramatic subjects for Dutch artists. The Dutch interpreted the story of Esther’s bravery as a symbol of the Netherlands’ ongoing fight for religious and economic independence from Spain, and Esther’s heroism came to represent their emerging nation’s identity. The Dutch identified themselves as descendants of the biblical Israelites, seeing the struggle of the Jews in ancient Persia as equivalent to their own war with Spain. In Esther’s triumph they saw a path to their own victory. In addition, the dramatic, suspenseful narrative of the Book of Esther offered rich material from which Dutch artists could draw inspiration.
Rembrandt was part of a larger cultural trend that reimagined Esther’s story for a new century, new secular art market, and new national purpose. Rembrandt’s naturalistic approach to biblical paintings and his talent for capturing human emotion made Esther highly accessible to his audience. Rembrandt and other Dutch artists depicted essential scenes from Esther’s story in paintings, prints, drawings, and decorative arts, transforming her into a new kind of heroine—a young woman symbolic of a young nation.
In six thematic sections, this exhibition showcases the impact and popularity of Esther’s story and gives expression to its full range of meanings in Rembrandt’s time and beyond. “Queen
Esther in the Netherlands” introduces visitors to the plot of the Book of Esther, the appearance and function of Esther scrolls, and the Dutch vision of Esther.
“Rembrandt’s Amsterdam” focuses on the Netherlands’ largest city, which fostered artistic creativity and religious freedom in Rembrandt’s time. “Rembrandt and His Circle Imagine Queen Esther” presents Rembrandt’s revolutionary approach to the subject and its impact on his contemporaries, featuring an exceptional Rembrandt painting of a biblical heroine.
“Living with the Story of Esther” explores the representation of Esther’s story in paintings, prints, Jewish ceremonial objects, and objects for the home.
“Esther’s Feast in the Dutch Republic” showcases how the expanding global reach of the Netherlands influenced depictions of the ancient Persian setting of the Book of Esther in one of its key narrative moments. Finally, “Performing the Book of Esther in Rembrandt’s Time” examines Esther’s role as a theatrical muse in both the Dutch and Jewish communities of the 17th-century Netherlands.
The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt includes a range of objects in diverse media all centered around Esther, from prints and a painting by Rembrandt to scrolls by Sephardic Jewish printmaker
Salom Italia (above), and from intimate Dutch drawings to an expansive Flemish tapestry. We are also pleased that the exhibition includes several treasures from the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam, many of which are still in ritual use and have never been lent to the United States. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue published by Yale University Press in collaboration with the Jewish Museum, New York, and the NCMA. It includes essays by the exhibition’s curators, noted scholars, and artists examining how Esther’s representation in art and popular culture evolved throughout Rembrandt’s time and into the present day.
top: Gerrit Pauw (probably), Tazza (Purim collection cup), 1642, silver, 45/8 × 57/8 in., Jewish Cultural Quarter, Cultural Inheritance of the Portuguese-Israelite Congregation (CEPIG), Amsterdam, inv. no. 0418a
bottom: Southern Europe, Tebah Cover (Dotar Society lectern cover for the Portuguese Synagogue), 17th century, embroidered silk, silk velvet, metal thread, and wool, 673/8 × 921/2 in., Collection of the Santa Companhia de Dotar de Orphas e Donzellas, on loan to the Jewish Cultural Quarter, Cultural Heritage Foundation of the Portuguese Israelite Community (CEPIG), Amsterdam
opposite: F. de Wit, after Romeyn de Hooghe, Dedication of the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam, 1675, etching, 19.69 × 15.35 in., Jewish Cultural Quarter, Amsterdam, Purchased with the support of the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund, M005419
page 2: Gerrit van Honthorst, Elizabeth Stuart as Esther, circa 1632, oil on canvas, 28 × 227/16 in., Private collection, by courtesy of the Hoogsteder Museum Foundation, The Hague
page 3, top: Salom Italia, Esther Scroll, Amsterdam, 1640s, printed and handcolored border, handwritten text, ink, and gouache on parchment, scroll H. 4 in., carved ivory and silk roller, H. 9 in., Jewish Museum London, C 1973.4.2.4
page 3, bottom: Jan Lievens, The Feast of Esther, circa 1625, oil on canvas, 511/2 × 641/2 in., North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, Purchased with funds from the State of North Carolina
ESTHER Age of Book of REMBRANDT The in the
September 20, 2025–March 8, 2026
East Building, Level B, Meymandi Exhibition Gallery
TIC K ETS
Reserve at ncartmuseum.org free for Members
$20 Adults, $17 Seniors age 65 and older, $12 Students (ages 7–22), free for children 6 and under Questions about ticketing? Email help@ncartmuseum.org
The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt is co-organized by the Jewish Museum, New York, and the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh.
In Raleigh the exhibition is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation, Inc.; Samuel P. Mandell Foundation; Lisa and Steve Feierstein; Dawn F. Lipson; Dutch Culture USA, a program of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United States; 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.
E X HIBITIO N -REL A TED EVE N TS
Exhibition Screening:
Rembrandt (1936)
Friday, September 12, 7:30–9:30 pm
Ticket purchase required
Directed by Alexander Korda, 1 hr. 25 min., biography/drama, NR
Following an introduction to the exhibition by curator Michele Frederick, the film begins when Rembrandt’s reputation was at its height and tracks his wife’s death, the unveiling of The Night Watch, and the excommunication of his lover.
Exhibition After Hours
Thursday, September 18, 7:30–10 pm
free
Join us for a night of festivities in celebration of two exciting new exhibitions, The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt and Then and There, Here and Now: Contemporary Visions of North Carolina
Member Preview Day
Friday, September 19, 10 am–5 pm free for members
Members receive access to the exhibition a day before it opens to the public. Enjoy the show without the crowds and take advantage of the member discount in the Exhibition Store.
opening lecture
“Three Exemplary Women in the Art of Rembrandt’s Time: Esther, Susanna, and Lucretia”
Friday, September 19, 1–2 pm free with registration
Dr. Shelley Perlove presents an illustrated lecture that focuses on Dutch artworks that dramatize the challenges and courageous actions of three famous women of valor—Esther and Susanna of the Hebrew Bible and Lucretia of ancient Roman legend.
Duke’s OLLI at the NCMA— Stories of Migration: Esther in Amsterdam and the Harlem Renaissance
Thursday, September 25, October 9, October 23, November 6, 10:30 am–12:30 pm free with registration
What do 17th-century Amsterdam and 1920s Harlem have in common? Join Duke’s OLLI at the NCMA to explore the parallel journeys of Jewish life in Rembrandt’s Amsterdam and African American culture during the Harlem Renaissance.
Docent-Led Tours
Wednesday–Sunday, October 3–February 20 (by request) free with exhibition ticket purchase
Join us for a tour that explores how different communities living in the 17th-century Netherlands looked to and used the figure of Esther and her story in various ways. Request at ncartmuseum.org/visit/tours
Teen Day: Book of Esther
Saturday, October 4, noon–4 pm
free with registration
Find pop-up art activities related to the exhibition and enjoy a day at the Museum with the Teen Arts Council.
Mask Making, Symbolism, and Tradition with Vera Wienfield
Saturday, October 11, 1–4 pm
Ticket purchase required
The tradition of masquerade on Purim can be traced back to Esther’s own disguised and revealed identity, which gave her the power to save her people. In this workshop participants create their own masks using simple materials and techniques.
kanof lecture
The World of Amsterdam-Based International Dowry Society Dotar: From Oppression to Relief
Sunday, November 2, 2–3:30 pm free with registration
Scholar Tirtsah Levie Bernfeld focuses on the Amsterdam-based international Jewish charitable organization Dotar, with particular emphasis on the early modern period when young women and their families faced persecution and hardship in their journey toward the free Jewish world.
The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt Chamber Music Concert
Sunday, November 16, 3 pm
Ticket purchase required
Experience the vibrant intersection of biblical narrative and music in a captivating chamber concert blending historical storytelling with timeless compositions inspired by the baroque era.
OFF THE SHELF & INTO THE GALLERIES
andrew wang Head Librarian
In 2023 the NCMA hosted its first art book fair, attracting over 2,600 visitors. Many of the exhibitors, including students and professionals, were overjoyed to see book arts represented in the Museum.
This fall, book arts break out of their silo and are featured in the exhibition Then and There, Here and Now: Contemporary Visions of North Carolina
THEN AND THERE, HERE AND NOW CONTEMPORARY VISIONS OF NORTH CAROLINA
For better or worse, North Carolinians have observed rapid social, economic, and environmental changes in recent years. Though this phenomenon is not unique to our state, recent population booms and unprecedented climate disasters present pressing considerations for our future. In fact, North Carolina is expected to become the seventh most populated state by the early 2030s. As we face an exciting and uncertain future, many of us may wonder, “How did we get here?”
The exhibition Then and There, Here and Now, on view through January 18, 2026, addresses this broad question by examining the passage of time in North Carolina. Contemporary artists explore the state’s history, present, and future on varying scales. While some, such as Kennedi Carter, Kayla E., Amy Herman, and Margaret Sartor, reflect on deeply personal and familial memories, others consider broader themes. Titus Brooks Heagins, for instance, investigates Black Southern identity through his photograph of the historic African American section of the cemetery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Others, such as Justin Cook, draw attention to the transformation of our built and natural environments, including documentation of the fallout from Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Helene. From Salvo to the Appalachian Mountains to NCMA’s own campus, the array of locations represented in this exhibition captures complicated and diverse experiences within our state.
Although primarily composed of photography, Then and There, Here and Now features other media that offer different approaches to representing the passage of time, including comic panels, recycled textiles, videos, and even fish skeletons. A selection of artist books from artists exhibiting in End Paper, including Stephen Parks, Catherine Cross Tsintzos, Jessica Greenfield, and Jessica C. White, are also featured.
The works in this exhibition exemplify our state’s persisting legacies but also encourage contemplation of what we have lost and what we are currently at risk of losing as well as how we can work collectively toward a brighter future. In the words of Søren Kierkegaard, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”
top: Margaret Sartor, Front porch with cowboys and Indians, Durham, North Carolina, 1994, printed 2005, pigmented inkjet print, 22 × 213/4 in., NCMA, Gift of the artist bottom: Titus Brooks Heagins, Troublefield, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, African American Section, 1998, printed 2004, gelatin silver print, 16 × 20 in., NCMA, Gift of the artist opposite: Elizabeth Matheson, Pinecrest, 2004, printed 2019, archival pigment print, 48 × 48 in., On loan from Ellen Cassilly, Frank Konhaus, and the Cassilhaus Collection; © Elizabeth Matheson
End Paper 2025
NCMA’S SECOND ART BOOK
FAIR
Back for its second iteration, End Paper: NCMA Art Book Fair presents over 70 vendors and exhibitors who feature original art books, prints, comics, zines, and more for sale on Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21. This year’s calendar of events includes hands-on art-making workshops and open studios, special printed matter tours of the People’s Collection and exhibition The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt, and the return of our juried competition, which includes a People’s Choice winner chosen by End Paper visitors. Selected winners of the juried competition are purchased for the NCMA Library’s collection.
The fair also includes a number of new collaborations. We are thrilled to partner with Tar River Poetry to host a live poetry reading from selected winners of the Tar River Poetry Contest. Return to Sender, an interactive postcard art show, will be on view in East Building during the fair and at the NCMA WinstonSalem following.
This year, we’re offering more ways to participate, with a slate of free satellite programs and partnerships occurring before the fair and at various locations throughout North Carolina. Join the Photobook Dummies, a local group of photography lovers, to view photo books from the NCMA Library’s collection; engage with art journalists and writers at a Fireside Chat at the NCMA WinstonSalem; explore art making at the Belk Library’s makerspace at Appalachian State University; and much more!
Visit ncartmuseum.org/endpaper for updates on events, satellite programs, and fair exhibitors.
Photo: Courtesy of Triangle Screen Printers Guild
End Paper Events
Visit ncartmuseum.org/endpaper for tickets or to register.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
10:30–12:30 pm Washi Wooden Bookmarks (ticket purchase required)
11 am–4 pm College gallery guides (free)
11:30 am–2:30 pm Print Jam with Triangle Screen Printers Guild (free)
1–4 pm Introduction to Gelli Printing with Freddie Bell (ticket purchase required)
1:30–3:30 pm Zine Workshop: Fostering Local Communities (free open studio)
2–3:30 pm Out of the Picture film screening (free)
Free End Paper Satellite Programs
Photobook Dummies Gathering
Sunday, August 24, 2–4 pm, NCMA
Optional: bring your own photo books to share!
Fireside Chat: Art Criticism in Focus
Thursday, September 4, 6:30–8 pm, NCMA Winston-Salem
Panel discussion exploring art criticism and the need for local and regional arts writing with Sarah Higgins (Art Papers), Robert Alan Grand (Burnaway), and Colony Little (Culture Shock Art)
Community Zine Making at ECU
Saturday, September 6, time TBD, Eastern Carolina University School of Art and Design, Greenville
End Paper: Preface at App State
Friday, September 12, 11 am–3 pm, Appalachian State University, Boone
Panel discussion with End Paper co-organizers, artist book viewing in Belk Library
Special Collections, and exploratory zine, collage, and print workshop in the makerspace
Leave Your Mark: A Zine Making Workshop
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
10:30 am–12:30 pm Bookbinding with Gerald Ward (ticket purchase required)
11 am–noon Tar River Poetry Contest live reading (free with registration)
11 am–noon NCMA printed matter tour of The Book of Esther with Michele Frederick (free with registration)
11 am–3 pm Live screen printing with LaBoosh (free)
1–2 pm Intro to Linocut with Dominick Rapone (ticket purchase required)
1:30–2:30 pm Crankie performance by Jessica C. White with live music (free)
2–3 pm NCMA printed matter tour with Lyle Humphrey (free with registration)
2–4 pm Drop-in linocut station (free open studio)
3–4 pm Juried selection announcement (free)
Become part of Return to Sender, a one-of-a-kind art show popping up at End Paper, then moving on as a rotating exhibition at the NCMA W-S.
Saturday, September 13, 2–5 pm, Knight Theater Lobby, Charlotte
Presented by Charlotte International Arts Festival, a Blumenthal Arts Original
Artists’ Books Book Club: Show-and-Tell
Wednesday, September 17, 2–4 pm, Sloane Art Library, UNC–Chapel Hill
Optional: bring your own artists’ books and zines to share!
You still have time to create a small but mighty piece of art inspired by the NCMA’s or NCMA W-S’s collections and exhibitions. Drop off your 4×6 postcard at the NCMA, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, or mail it by Monday, August 25, to NCMA, Attn: Ollie Wagner, 4630 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699.
New Opportunities for Learning This School Year
michelle harrell Director of Education kristin smith Manager of School Outreach
Exciting renovation projects are now underway on the NCMA’s campus. The Museum galleries and Park are still open daily Wednesday through Sunday, and on-site programming and events continue. With everyone in back-to-school mode, we take this opportunity to highlight new educational resources and learning for all ages accessible at the Museum and online.
For K–12 Classrooms across the State
Virtual Field Trips
The NCMA is committed to being a vital cultural resource to schools across our state. Virtual field trips reached over 5,000 students this past school year, bringing the Museum’s collection into classrooms across 30+ North Carolina counties and multiple cities worldwide. Virtual field trips not only offer the opportunity for students to engage with objects in the People’s Collection but also provide relevant activities and arts kits for teachers to use before and after a visit.
learn.ncartmuseum.org/vft
NCMA Explore
Did you know that the NCMA has an amazing collection of ancient art? NCMA Explore provides resources and extended reality activities for classrooms to learn more about ancient sites. Go on scavenger hunts and play minigames while learning about the arts and cultures in ancient Mexico, Italy, Egypt, Peru, and Greece. ncmaexplore.org
NCMA W-S Educational Programming
The NCMA Winston-Salem recently received a large gift that will support education and community-based programming. The donation will enable the expansion of professional development offerings for teachers, create year-round student and teacher exhibitions and performances, grow the Portable Gallery mobile exhibition platform for local K–12 schools, and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Brooks Magnet Elementary School
Photo: Jess Blackstock
For All Ages
Art on the Dot
Art on the Dot is the Museum’s newest way to learn about art in the galleries. Join us on weekend mornings at 11 am for a bite-size tour. You can expect three 10-minute stops with a 15-minute break between each round. We hope you enjoy one, two, or all three rounds and come back to see what works of art the next Art on the Dot includes. Tours are adapted to the needs and age level of the group—all ages are welcome! See page 22 for Art on the Dot dates this fall.
Learning Before, During, and After a Visit
Did you know that you can explore highlights of each gallery on the Museum’s educational website, NCMA Learn? From the top menu, click Galleries and choose either East or West to see the maps. Click on a gallery for an introduction by the curator and 10 to 20 favorite works of educators and docents. You can use these resources to prepare for your visit or extend learning in the galleries or at home afterward. The Seeing Red and Devotion gallery resources include videos, self-guided tours, and additional standard-based lessons. learn.ncartmuseum.org
Exhibition of Teen Art
Visit the Education Lobby in East Building through November 9 to view Interconnected: Teens Inspired This exhibition showcases selected works from high schoolers who participated in Artists in Process, a program that supported students’ exploration of the artistic process through guided access to NCMA online resources and an on-site or virtual visit. Come celebrate the perspectives and ideas of these young artists.
sean sabye Marketing Copywriter
A Particular Frame of Mind
It’s easy to get lost in the symbolic puzzle of Michiel van Musscher’s Allegorical Portrait of an Artist in Her Studio. The painting’s winged putti, sculptural allusions to mythology, and bafflingly small canines work together to present its central figure as the perfect artist. Its visual excesses cloud the painting’s less overt details, such as the painted frame within the frame. The artist’s freshly completed still life is encased within a dark wood frame, and many other artist portraits and self-portraits from the 17th century contain a similar scene—the figure at the easel adding the finishing touches to a painting that has already been framed. While this motif could be read as an affirmation of the artist’s talent—even their in-progress works are worthy of display—it also contains a powerful lesson about the aesthetic balance struck by painting and frame. Frames exert significant influence on a spectator’s first encounter with a work of art. At art museums no one is more conscious of this fact than conservators.
During an interview in early May, Perry Hurt, recently retired director of conservation at the NCMA, explained how institutional awareness of the relationship between a painting and its frame has “changed dramatically in the last 30 to 40 years.” Until recently, few museums considered period-appropriate frames (frames specific to an artwork’s time and place of composition) a priority. For example, museums displayed 17th-century Dutch works such Allegorical Portrait in highly decorative gilded frames rather than the more modest wood frames typical of the period. This often had to do with shifting ownership. Over the course of a painting’s lifespan, it goes through many owners’ hands. Each new owner has an interior style they would like their artwork’s frame to conform to, precipitating the frequent replacement of frames. “Even one hundred years ago,” Hurt said, “people would acquire a 17th-century Dutch painting and put it in a gold, frilly frame without thinking about it.”
The reduced supply of authentic, period-appropriate frames has caused prices to inflate steadily over time. Sometimes, Hurt explained, frames become “more valuable than the paintings put in them.” This change in the market has forced art museums to be creative when deciding how to protect and hang newly acquired works. According to Hurt, the most common solution is collaborating with “frame companies that will find a frame appropriate for a work of art’s period or style and then reproduce it.” Although the NCMA currently employs contractors for this purpose, there used to be a full-time
above Michiel van Musscher, Allegorical Portrait of an Artist in Her Studio, circa 1675–85, oil on canvas, 45 × 357/8 in., Gift of Armand and Victor Hammer, in its period-appropriate frame
opposite Three fanciful frames by Lori Cowherd, senior graphic designer at the NCMA
conservator of frames on staff, David Beaudin, who would both source frames and create them by hand.
In a telephone interview, Beaudin described his 23 years at the NCMA with a focus on his frame-making experience. He outlined his process using the example of a frame he built for Eleonora di Toledo, a 16th-century Italian painting from the studio of Bronzino. While attempting to source a period-appropriate frame in New York or Rome, Beaudin stumbled across an illustration in a book on Italian frames that suited the Bronzino perfectly. His only hurdle was devising how to transfer the frame from page to wall. Fortunately, the NCMA’s curatorial team granted him the time and resources to construct the frame from scratch. Because his studio was located in the conservation wing, where sawdust is forbidden, Beaudin employed the materials, methods, and tools of a 17th-century craftsperson. After eight months he had meticulously constructed and gilded the frame, prioritizing authenticity above all.
The Bronzino is not currently on view, yet there are countless other finely executed frames to admire in the People’s Collection. I asked Hurt and Beaudin to tell me about their favorites. Hurt joked that asking for a single favorite frame is “like asking if one has a favorite artist or period.” He eventually landed on the five-paneled Peruzzi Altarpiece by Giotto. This 14th-century polyptych was donated to the NCMA as part of a larger donation from the collection of Samuel Kress in 1961. Kress was such an influential patron that artworks from his collection can be identified by their distinct frame aesthetic. Since we retain little information about what frames from this period looked like, Kress helped shape how we view and understand medieval Italian artwork in the present.
Beaudin’s favorite frame has less to do with the frame itself and more with a memory related to it. He recalled strolling through the galleries with Mario Modestini, conservator of the Kress collection from 1949 to 1961, and pointing out an Italian frame (supposedly) made in the 17th century. As Beaudin elaborated on the characteristics of the frame that confirmed its age, Modestini listened attentively, waiting to reveal that he knew the man who made the frame until after Beaudin finished. Beaudin’s story underlines the skill of 20th- and 21st-century framers to emulate the defining features of any era’s frames.
Whether centuries old or constructed to look so, periodappropriate frames “breathe new life” into works of art long paired with frames of conflicting style, according to Hurt. One needs only to imagine Allegorical Figure displayed in an ornate French classical frame to understand how sober Dutch wood turns a scene of extravagant abundance into one of dusky backgrounds and objects meant to be contemplated. Frames compose context in an art museum setting, structuring our outlook in ways we are often unaware of. By remaining attuned to this, we may deepen our appreciation for the authority and artistry of the frame.
above: Studio of Agnolo Bronzino (Agnolo di Cosimo), Eleonora di Toledo (1522–1562), circa 1560, oil on canvas, transferred from panel, 463/8 × 347/8 in., Gift of Mrs. George Khuner
opposite, top: Giotto di Bondone, Christ Blessing with Saint John the Evangelist, the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Francis (known as the Peruzzi Altarpiece), circa 1311–15, tempera and gilded gesso on poplar panel, H. 415/8 × W. 981/2 × D. 6 in., Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
with heartfelt appreciation
The NCMA honors and thanks one of the most popular department heads and art lecturers at the Museum, Director of Conservation Perry Hurt. In June 2025 Hurt retired after 27 years of working for the NCMA’s distinguished art conservation program.
In his first 10 years, Hurt successfully ran the Regional Conservation Service, performing conservation work for many state institutions and universities. In 2006 he co-curated with David Steel the Revolution in Paint exhibition, a companion show to Monet in Normandy. He published an influential article in 2011 on improved ways to handle, install, and preserve artworks by Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, using the NCMA’s Lines That Link Humanity as example. Becoming director of conservation in 2021, Hurt helped rebuild the department and plan the new conservation facilities now being constructed. His interactive Seeing Red gallery installation—all about the history and use of the color red—opened in 2024 in West Building and is currently still on view.
“The new Conservation Center will provide the room and updated infrastructure for the department to grow with the People’s Collection and programming,” says Hurt. “The public-facing part of the new facilities will give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at conservation but also a better understanding of the time and resources that go into the experiences the Museum offers.”
During his tenure at the NCMA, Hurt concurrently worked on the North Carolina Museums Council and its board, receiving their top Professional Achievement Award for advancing the role of museums statewide.
Photo:
Park It in the Park
Let’s face it— September and much of October are still hot in the Triangle. But there are plenty of places in the Museum Park to stop for a shaded rest while you’re walking the dog, on a jaunt with a friend, or pushing a baby stroller. Take a load off at one or more of these cool spots!
Welcome Center
Stop here to tie up your laces and use the facilities before your outing or to enjoy a cold drink before heading back to the parking lot. The building’s overhang provides plenty of shade and the seating offers great views of the smokestack and Musical Swings.
The shed in the Carla McKinney Volunteer Garden is an excellent place to enjoy a snack brought from home. Use the covered picnic table there, then download the Explore Plant Life guide at ncartmuseum.org/museum-park to identify the dozens of native plants featured in this woodland oasis. Or enjoy the shaded bench located at the back of the garden as you listen to birds and take in the forested landscape below.
Located in the heart of the Park’s meadow, this pavilion was designed by North Carolinians Mike Cindric and Vincent Petrarca in 2007. The metal cladding is perforated to provide a refreshing breeze. It also creates a space that feels simultaneously secluded and part of the landscape. Surrounded by several paths, it’s a great spot
Lowe’s Pavilion
V olunteer Garden
Possibly the coolest site in the Park on a hot Cloud Chamber is a must-experience for first-time visitors. Step inside for a respite from the heat and a visual treat as your eyes adjust to the faint light coming from a single hole in the roof. Don’t forget to check out the recently completed stream restoration in the woods below.
Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky
Are we still in the Park? Yes!
Trails in the Park surround West Building, and its North Courtyard is a wonderfully tree-covered space to meander through on a toasty day. When you’re ready for more sun, head around the corner to the Rodin Garden, which displays several of the 19th-century French sculptor’s works, the centerpiece being the life-size Shades located at the north end of the water lily pool. Wim Botha’s 21st-century winged works displayed alongside offer a compelling contrast to his hero Rodin’s emotionally charged bronzes.
Off the beaten path, the Highwoods Picnic Grove sits among the pine trees at the northeastern edge of the Park. This lightly trafficked area offers plenty of seating in the shade and overlooks the pond, which boasts interesting wildlife activity.
Highwoods Picnic Grove
North
Courtyard
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 Coordinator Molly Hull, mhull@ncartmuseum.org. Please note that requests require a minimum two-week notice.
FALL EVENTS
The events in My NCMA represent a selection of programs taking place at the Museum in September, October, and November 2025. Please be aware that due to renovation work in and around East Building, some programs may be taking place in the Park or off site. Watch for email newsletters and go to ncartmuseum.org/programs for details and to find more programs.
ADULT PROGRAMMING
Participate in programs developed to give you meaningful avenues to explore the arts. Studio workshops give you time to create along with professional artists; lectures provide in-depth examinations of exhibitions and the Museum’s collection. Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/adultprograms
Write Your Life!
Thursday, September 11, October 9, November 6, 10 am–noon
Ticket purchase required
This creative-writing workshop gives you strategies for getting started or revising
a memoir, personal essay, or work of autofiction. Participants then draft a vignette and share it with the group for feedback.
Drawing Meditation Workshop with Maureen
O’Neill
Saturday, September 20, 10 am–noon
Ticket purchase required
In this workshop exercises help participants connect to the present moment. Through guided mark making, students experience how a beautiful line or color can bring them into a meditative place that is both healing and creative.
friends of greek art lecture
Disability in Ancient Greece: A Case Study in Mobility
Sunday, October 5, 2–3:30 pm free with registration
Join Debby Sneed (Cal State, Long Beach) as she considers some of the ways that disabled ancient Greeks navigated “misfit” relationships with their physical environments by means of assistive technologies and other aids.
After Hours
Thursday, October 9, 5–9 pm free
This is your chance to spend time at the Museum once your workday is over. Join
a tour, listen to live music, enjoy food and drink specials, and browse the Museum Store. Free entry to special exhibitions.
Animated Landscapes with David Anyanwu
Saturday, October 11, 5–7 pm
Ticket purchase required
In this session participants learn techniques for drawing landscapes and environments commonly featured in animation. They’ll develop their own setting alongside a mini-story concept, enhancing their understanding of how background elements support animated storytelling.
Timeless Art of Wax Seals with Sonia Pal
Thursday, November 6, 13, and 20, 1–4 pm
Ticket purchase required
Unlock the art of wax sealing in our hands-on three-week workshop. Whether you’re looking to add a personal touch to letters, embellish craft projects, or simply explore a new hobby, this class is for you.
Sculpture Meditation with Meg Stein
Saturday, November 15, 10 am–noon
Ticket purchase required
Engage in hands-on sculpting while practicing embodied meditation, fostering relaxation and artistic expression. Led by sculptor and certified mindfulness instructor Meg Stein, this workshop invites participants into deeper self-connection.
The Art of the Possible Gala
Thursday, October 30, 6 pm
Proceeds from this fundraising evening of art, dining, and dancing support Reimaging the Possible, a comprehensive campaign to expand the NCMA’s capacity to inspire, educate, and connect.
Sponsorship opportunities available; contact Billy Wilson, bwilson@ncartmuseum.org.
MINDFUL MUSEUM
Mindful Museum programs offer opportunities to process emotions, cultivate inspiration, and find more connection both with art and our community. Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/mindfulprograms
Fall Slow Art Appreciation
Wednesday, September 17, 6–7 pm
free with registration
Participants are guided through a brief centering practice followed by an intentional observation and inquiry-based discussion of a single work from our collection.
Fall Meditative Moments with Art
Wednesday, October 15, 6–7 pm
Ticket purchase required
A mindful observation of art is followed by gentle seated movements and an extended guided meditation related to the featured artwork to create opportunities for moments of calm and self-reflection.
Fall Singing Bowl Sound Bath
Wednesday, November 19, 6–7 pm
Ticket purchase required
Enjoy a restorative sound bath in the peaceful setting of our galleries. Sound baths are a meditative practice that use resonant instruments to calm the nervous system, decrease stress, and enhance rest.
PERFORMING ARTS AND FILM
Multigenerational performing arts, film, and literary arts events foster belonging and deepen engagement with the collection and exhibitions.
Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/pafprograms
Dancing with Light: Film, Performance, and Conversation
Friday, September 5, 6:30 pm
Ticket purchase required
Join us for Obsessed with Light (2023), a documentary about the wildly original early 20th-century performer Loïe Fuller, and a dance performance by Time Lapse Dance inspired by Fuller, followed by a Q&A with choreographer Jody Sperling.
Buskers Day 2025
Saturday, September 13, 1–5 pm free
Get ready for a vibrant afternoon of live music, movement, and creativity in every corner of our 164-acre Museum Park. Discover an eclectic lineup of musicians, dancers, and performers turning pathways into stages and open air into atmosphere.
Chuseok Festival and Film Screening of Cobweb (2024)
Saturday, October 4, 10 am–5 pm Festival free; film ticketed
In collaboration with InWave Movement, celebrate Korea’s harvest festival with a day full of Korean cultural experiences, performances, food, and family-friendly activities that highlight the traditions of Chuseok, plus a screening of the film Cobweb.
Notes on View
Join us for a pop-up music series featuring live performances that respond to and resonate with artworks on display.
Thomas Hinds
Saturday, September 13, 2–3 pm free
Thomas Hinds, a troubadour from northern Georgia, has spent the last four years playing original songs that share the struggles of life, love, and finding oneself within the melodies.
North Carolina Chamber Music Institute
Saturday, October 11, 2–3 pm
Sunday, November 9, 2–3 pm free
The NCCMI fosters musical excellence through collaborative education, offering talented musicians of all ages a platform to hone their skills, perform, and connect with the chamber music community.
Still. Moving
This performance dance series explores timeless works in the People’s Collection, reimagining the galleries as stages where past and present meet and where the boundaries between objects and experience dissolve.
Support for Still. Moving is provided by Dawn F. Lipson.
The Cathedral as Interpreted by Panoramic Dance Project
Saturday, October 18, 11 am, 1 pm free
The Panoramic Dance Project, NCSU, offers a living response to The Cathedral by French sculptor Auguste Rodin. This work is being interpreted by Christa Oliver, associate teaching professor and director of the Panoramic Dance Project.
Isla (Tierra Prometida) as Interpreted by Arts Together Rainbow Dance
Saturday, November 8, 11 am, 1 pm free
Dancers offer a living response to Isla (Tierra Prometida) by Cuban artist Yoan Capote. This work is interpreted by Arts Together Rainbow Dance under the artistic direction of Kathryn Auman.
Panoramic Dance Project; Photo: Courtesy of the organization
Thomas Hinds; Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Performances for Young Audiences
Divinity Roxx
Saturday, September 13, 2–3 pm
Ticket purchase required
Celebrate self-love and positivity with Divinity Roxx, a Grammy-nominated musician who’s toured with Beyoncé and now brings her uplifting energy, infectious grooves, and empowering lyrics to encourage kids to become the best versions of themselves.
Circle and Square
Saturday, October 11, 10–10:30 am, 11:30 am–noon
Ticket purchase required
Enjoy a morning with two very different shapes who learn how to get along in this interactive play designed for children ages 2–5 and their caregivers. Presented by Small Is All Productions.
Elena Moon Park
Saturday, November 1, 2–3 pm
Ticket purchase required
Take an “unhurried journey” around the globe through song. Elena Moon Park and Friends perform folk and children’s music from East and Southeast Asia, reimagined to celebrate various musical traditions, languages, styles, and stories.
From Acro to Zumba: An ABC Movement Adventure for Kids!
Saturday, November 15, 11 am free with registration
Get ready to wiggle and groove your way through the alphabet. Join us for a high-energy family event based on the
children’s book ABC Dance and Move with Me by author and NCMA choreographic fellow Dr. Kristi Vincent Johnson.
Indoor Films
Taking Venice (2023)
Wednesday, October 8, 6:30–9 pm free with registration
Directed by Amei Wallach, 1 hr. 38 min., documentary, NR
In 1964 American art insiders plan to win the Venice Biennale’s top prize with artist Robert Rauschenberg, turning the art show into a Cold War cultural battleground. A conversation between Valerie Hillings and Amei Wallach follows.
animation is art
Metropolis (2001)
Saturday, October 11, 8–10 pm
Ticket purchase required
Directed by Rintaro, 1 hr. 48 min., animation/adventure/drama/sci-fi, PG-13
A Japanese detective and his nephew pursue a dangerous scientist in this interpretation of Fritz Lang’s classic film of the same name and based on Osamu Tezuka’s 1945 illustrations.
family movie night
Matilda (1996)
Friday, November 14, 6–8:45 pm
Ticket purchase required
Directed by Danny DeVito, 1 hr. 38 min., comedy/family/fantasy, PG
Enjoy this classic film about a girl gifted with a keen intellect and psychic powers. Come at 6 pm for magical art making and sweet treats that are much too good for children.
jewish film series
Shari & Lamb Chop (2023)
Thursday, November 20, 6:30–8 pm
Ticket purchase required
Directed by Lisa D’Apolito, 1 hr. 32 min., documentary, NR
This heartfelt and entertaining doc charts the life, loves, and career hits and misses of Shari Lewis, a children’s television pioneer best known as the ventriloquist behind sock puppet Lamb Chop.
Outdoor Movies
at moore square
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
Friday, September 26, 6–9 pm free, Moore Square
Directed by Jeff Fowler, 1 hr. 50 min., action/adventure/comedy/family, PG
Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance.
at dorothea dix park
Frankenweenie (2012) and Halloween (2018)
Friday, October 31, 6–10 pm free, Dix Park
Children’s screening: Frankenweenie, directed by Tim Burton, 1 hr. 27 min., animation/comedy/family/horror, PG
Adult’s screening: Halloween, directed by David Gordon Green, 1 hr. 46 min., horror/thriller, R
PARK
The Museum Park lends itself to unique experiences designed to deepen connections to nature, art, and people.
Divinity Roxx; Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films
Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/parkprograms
Adaptive Tai Chi in the Park: Mindful Movement for Everyone
Thursday, September 4, October 2, November 6, 5–6 pm free with registration
The ancient Chinese martial art of Tai Chi combines slow and gentle movements with focused attention. During this accessible class, participants are guided through visually and vocally descriptive cues and have the option to sit or stand throughout.
Drop-In Honey Tasting with Bee
Downtown
Thursday, September 25, 5:30–7 pm free
Join our partners at Bee Downtown for a honey tasting and DIY sachet project. Learn about pollinators, discover different honey varieties, and fill an herbal sachet to take home and enjoy the power of plants!
Fall Service Project in the Park
Saturday, October 11, 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.
Stream Celebration
Saturday, October 11, 1–3 pm free
In honor of the Museum Park’s ongoing stream restoration project, join us and our local community partners to celebrate clean water and healthy streams. Enjoy fun and educational activities for all ages.
Lantern-Making Workshop: Large Paper Stars
Saturday, November 15, 10 am–noon and 1–3 pm
Ticket purchase required
Make a magical paper lantern to bring to our Winter Lantern Walk on December 13. This all-level workshop guides you through making a large, beautiful, and sturdy starshaped lantern.
save the date
Winter Lantern Walk
Saturday, December 13, 4:30–6:30 pm free with registration
Shine your light at our annual lantern walk! Bring a homemade lantern (no flames) and come together as we honor the quiet beauty of the approaching winter season with a magical paper lantern procession through the Museum Park.
FAMILIES
There’s always something new for families to discover at the NCMA! Family programs allow artists of all ages to experience the power and wonder of arts and nature.
Tickets, registration, and additional events: ncartmuseum.org/familyprograms
What’s in the Box?
Wednesday, September 3, October 1, November 5, 10–11 am
Wednesday, November 5, 2–3 pm
Ticket purchase required for participating child
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
Saturday, September 13, November 8, 10 am–noon
free with registration
Get creative with NCMA art and artists at home. Reserve an activity kit with materials for a complete hands-on project plus written instructions. Kits are designed for all ages. In English and Spanish.
Artful Story Time
Wednesday, September 17, October 15, November 19, 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, October 12, November 16, noon–3 pm free
Enjoy the fun of drop-in art-making activities for all ages popping up across the Museum galleries and Park. Check ncartmuseum.org for specific activities and locations.
Family Studio
Saturday, November 8, 10 am–noon or 1–3 pm
Ticket purchase required
Look closely at original works of art and find inspiration to create your own projects guided by expert artists during these twohour studio workshops. Best for families with children ages 5–11.
TEENS AND COLLEGE
Get involved with art and community at the NCMA through programming, artist workshops, conversations, and opportunities to share your own creativity.
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, September 6, October 4, November 1, noon–2 pm free with registration
Spend time sketching with other teens in the galleries. Bring a pencil and your sketchbook and follow prompts or find your favorite sketching spot with a friend.
Art on the Dot: Students
Friday, October 3, 2 pm, 2:45 pm, 3:30 pm free with registration
Art on the Dot is expanding to college students. Join a student gallery guide for a bite-sized tour of the People’s Collection. Engage with about three works of art for 30 minutes.
College Day: Winter Market
Friday, November 7, 11 am–4 pm free with registration
Explore the galleries with your friends, browse through a market of student art, and enjoy interactive tours of the People’s Collection.
TOURS
The NCMA offers free private tours of the People’s Collection to school, youth, and adult groups.
To select and request the right tour for you, visit us at ncartmuseum.org/tours.
NCMA Public Tours
Every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 1 pm free
These tours of the People’s Collection are great for first-time visitors, as an afterlunch treat, or if you’re curious about the
5,000+ years of art and culture on constant rotation in the NCMA galleries.
Museum Park Tours
Every Saturday, 10:30 am free with registration
Enjoy art and nature on a guided two-mile walk. This tour leads you past site-specific works of art and sustainable natural areas. The route has variations in surface and incline.
Art on the Dot
Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am, 11:45 am, 12:30 pm free
Join a docent in the galleries for a bite-size tour. Engage with about three works of art for 30 minutes. Each round includes different works—stay for all three!
Family-Friendly Tours
Saturday, September 6, October 4, November 1, 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, September 20, October 18, 10 am–noon free with registration
NCMA Café
West Building
Enjoy meals inspired by the Museum’s latest exhibitions and the People’s Collection
HOURS
Coffee
Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
Lunch and brunch
Wednesday–Friday, 11 am–3 pm
Saturday–Sunday, 10:30 am–3 pm
This docent-led 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
For additional information, visit learn.ncartmuseum.org
Educator Expo
Tuesday, October 7, 4–7 pm free timed tickets at 4 pm and 5 pm
Educators: join us for a night devoted to you. Relax, snack, and enjoy being with your fellow educators and Museum community. Attend a gallery talk with an artist, visit a new exhibition, and try hands-on activities.
online course
Art and Literacy
October 7–December 9
Ticket purchase required
How can art be used to develop student growth in literacy skills? This self-paced online course explores methods for integrating art and literacy strategies to support North Carolina’s Literacy Instruction Standards across classrooms.
Autumn Tea
Sunday, September 7, October 5, November 16, 10:30 am–3:30 pm
Prepaid reservations required
This afternoon tea experience features a fixed price menu that includes savory canapés, finger sandwiches, and autumninspired pâtisserie. Premium teas or coffee included.
Art Inside the Bottle: Devotion
Thursday, September 25, 6:30–9:30 pm
Prepaid reservations required
Discover the meaning of devotion as it relates to art and wine. Take a curator-led tour of the new installation Devotion, then experience a multicourse dinner featuring wine education and pairings.
In 2022 the NCMA launched Reimagining the Possible, the Museum’s first major fundraising campaign in over a decade.
Why has the Museum launched a comprehensive campaign?
As we look ahead to the future of the North Carolina Museum of Art, we see incredible opportunities to build upon our recent growth and become a national leader in creating a welcoming experience of belonging and joy. This comprehensive campaign supports initiatives that invite our audiences to experience the Museum in new ways, extend our offerings to even more North Carolina citizens, and sustain our cultural and natural resources for generations to come.
What is the next phase of the campaign?
With 90 percent of our overall $75 million fundraising goal met, we are excited to invite our members and the broader public to help support the NCMA and NCMA Winston-Salem’s next chapter. Members and the public will play an essential role in getting us to the finish line.
Reimagining the Campaign FAQ
How does the campaign connect to current campus renovation projects?
Supporting the NCMA’s vision of creating a more cohesive and welcoming experience across its campuses is a major campaign priority. Renovation projects are designed to transform the Museum into a community gathering place, with art and nature as springboards for connection, conversation, and inspiration. The projects put visitors first, ensuring they have opportunities for comfort, rest, fun, and curiosity.
How can I support the Museum?
Contribute to a specific pillar of the campaign (art, connection, campus) or choose to sustain the Museum’s mission through the unrestricted NCMArts Fund. Know that you’re helping the Museum to be a vital cultural resource for the entire state!
Where can I learn more about the campaign?
Visit the campaign website to read more, view the campaign video, and donate. ncartmuseum.org/campaign
top: A rendering of the updated interior of East Building's Level C; Rendering and design courtesy of HH Architecture; bottom: A rendering of the reshaped front lawn of the NCMA Winston-Salem providing seating for outdoor concerts; Courtesy of Szostak Design Inc.
Membership Spotlight MADRE MACK
Wale Ejire, membership manager, recently spoke with Madre Mack, a member docent at the NCMA since 2023, to learn more about her interest in and relationship with the Museum.
What first inspired you to become a member of the NCMA?
I first visited the NCMA in spring 2023 to see the Ruth E. Carter exhibition, which featured costumes she’d designed for major movies: Coming 2 America, Malcolm X, Selma, and Black Panther, just to name a few. I became a member of the Museum after that visit. I had no connection to the North Carolina art community because I am not from here originally.
Do you have a favorite work of art in the collection? I’m in love with Tippy Toes by Alison Saar. This piece resonates with my soul, as it describes me—a confident and resilient Black woman. My hands are positioned like hers to remind me to serve (as a docent) in a most positive, informative, and joyous manner. I am also fond of False Door of Ni-ankh-Snefru (Called Fefi), as it was the subject of my first docent peer review and public tour.
How has being a docent enhanced your connection to the arts and the Museum community?
Being a docent has provided me with an amazing opportunity to learn a great deal about art. I always had an appreciation of art, however, I never studied anything about it. I wake up each morning with a purpose: to learn more about and share the People’s Collection with my tour groups. Becoming a docent has been a very challenging experience, as I feel like I am in graduate school on this continued learning journey.
What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a member of the NCMA?
I always encourage membership, as you receive many benefits: the advantage of attending exhibitions as many times as you desire, discounts on programs and films, discounts in the Museum stores and NCMA Café, and early access to event tickets.
NOT YET A MEMBER?
One year of NCMA membership starts at $50! ncartmuseum.com/membership membership@ncartmuseum.org | (919) 664-6754
top: Madre Mack poses in front of Tippy Toes (2007) by Alison Saar;
Photo: Nicosia Merkerson
bottom: Egyptian, possibly from Saqqara, Dynasty 6, reign of Pepy I or Merenre, False Door of Ni-ankh-Snefru (Called Fefi), circa 2321–2278 bce, white limestone with traces of paint, H. 631/2 × W. 441/2 × D. 41/2 in., Purchased with funds from the North Carolina State Art Society (Robert F. Phifer Bequest) and funds from the bequest of Elsie M. Kramer, the bequest of W. R. Valentiner, and Mrs. William Gage Brady, by exchange
Plan Your Visit
ALL THE WAYS TO PLAY
HOURS
GALLERIES, STORES, NCMA CAFÉ
Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm
EAST CAFÉ
Closed
ANN AND JIM GOODNIGHT MUSEUM PARK
Daily, dawn to dusk
WELCOME CENTER
Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm (weather permitting)
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
help@ncartmuseum.org | (919) 715-5923
Please contact us via email during open hours for the quickest response.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Museum seeks to make a welcoming space for all. Visit ncartmuseum.org/accessibility for details about on-site accommodations and more information.
TICKETS
Admission to the People’s Collection is free. Members receive free admission to ticketed exhibitions.
For exhibition, performance, and program tickets, go to ncartmuseum.org.
DAY TRIP TO WINSTON-SALEM
Brandon Sadler, The Sage Arises & All Creatures Follow Him with Their Eyes (triptych), 2025, ink on paper, 10 × 7 feet, Courtesy of the artist; Image: Courtesy of Brandon Sadler
Brandon Sadler:
The Path of Totality
July 10–December 27, 2025
Figurative and calligraphic works reflecting the Atlanta-based artist’s diverse passion for storytelling, ink painting, and East Asian art forms
We Belong Here:
The Gutierrez Collection October 23–December 27, 2025
A collection built over the past decade by NC–based collectors Onay Gutierrez and Jeff Childers featuring works created by some of the biggest names in contemporary art today
Visit the NCMA W-S for two exciting contemporary art exhibitions.
750 Marguerite Drive Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Wednesday–Saturday, 11 am–4 pm Thursday, 11 am–8 pm
Admission: free for Members and Youth (ages 17 and under); $8 Adults; $6 Seniors, Military, and College Students ncmawinstonsalem.gov
NC Museum of Art Foundation
4630 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4630
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Camping Out
in the Galleries
NCMA summer camps offer curious kids the freedom to pursue their creative interests in a one-of-a-kind setting. In celebration of our wonderful 2025 campers, we share their musings on artworks in the People’s Collection.
Will (age 12) discussed Tightrope 9 (2009–14) by Ethiopian artist Elias Sime. Pointing out the symbols scattered across the surface, he explained, “They make me feel like art is full of mysteries that have to be solved at some point in life. And there’s no single way to solve them.”
Dido (age 9) recognized The Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (1777) by Pierre-Jacques Volaire as her teacher’s favorite. She focused on the human figures, wondering how on earth these people didn’t realize “they were living right next to a volcano.”
Taylor (age 7) gave her thoughts on the portrait Louis XV (1710–1774) after learning that the French ruler was only five when he became king. “Anyone can do something special with their life. That’s what makes them who they are.”
Want to hear more from our campers? Read the full article on our blog, Circa, by visiting ncartmuseum.org/blog.
Elias Sime, Tightrope 9, 2009–14, reclaimed electronic components on panel, six panels, overall: 63 × 2361/2 in., Purchased with funds from Mr. and Mrs. N. Richard Miller in memory of Martin B. Rosenthal, by exchange