I had been working at the North Carolina Museum of Art for about a month when my colleague asked if I wanted to lead a summer workshop for teens the following the summer (my first clue that everything happens months, no, years, in advance!). I said yes, of course! My background in broadcast journalism and video lent itself to constructing a filmmaking workshop for teens, using the Museum as their backdrop.
Flash forward eight months, when six teens, ranging from a rising 8th grader who had no experience in filmmaking to a rising 12th grader preparing his portfolio for NYU film school, sat in the conference center ready to learn. The diversity of ages and experience startled me for a minute, but there was no time to waste! Three hours a day for one week is not a lot of time. The best way to learn video is not by sitting in a classroom reading a textbook. It’s by getting out, learning the technology, drafting scripts, scouting locations, and collaborating with your group. This is exactly what we did. Read More
The exhibition 
As an art history student at UNC–Chapel Hill, I have always enjoyed learning about new types of art and new artists. However, my tastes until recently were pretty narrow. I stuck mainly to European art, was always drawn to paintings, and never really took the time to research beyond what I was taught in class. Last semester I decided to broaden my horizons by taking a course on African art, and it has turned out to be one of my favorites—mainly because of the short section on El Anatusi. Shown on the huge projector screen at the front of the lecture hall, the images of his dazzling metal wall hangings took my breath away. So I rightly expected these works to blow me away when I walked into the exhibition.
This year has been a great time for Museum visitors to learn about the wonderful world of book illustrations through the work of author and artist Ashley Bryan. Bryan began writing while growing up in Depression-era New York and gained success as an artist in the late 1960s. After illustrating several books of American myths, he noticed a lack of books geared toward minorities, particularly African Americans. In response Bryan became interested in retelling original African stories for children. By interpreting these stories with boldness and vibrancy, Bryan provided a fresh perspective on traditional tales, inspiring a new generation of readers. A similar treatment of African American spirituals translated his love of music and dance into print.
On the flight from New York to Johannesburg (“Jo-burg” as the locals call it), I thought about Africa and wondered whether I might find echoes of the colors, textures, and imagery in El Anatsui’s work during my travels. A vast continent—the artist’s homeland of Ghana is almost 3,000 miles from South Africa, yet the possibility of finding some sort of connection intrigued me.
One of the privileges of working at the North Carolina Museum of Art is having the opportunity to provide visitors of all ages with a diverse range of exhibitions to pique their interests and to create unique educational experiences. Rhythms of the Heart: The Illustration of Ashley Bryan, open through August 19, celebrates the career of the renowned author and illustrator, and it certainly is a unique visual opportunity.
A family of Scotts moved into the Museum in 1967, but you’ve likely seen neither hide nor hair of them. The portraits were a gift from North Carolinian Col. James MacLamroc, who traced his history to the Scott family. Shortly after the paintings were donated, they found their way to the Museum storage vaults, largely because of the poor state of their appearance (discolored varnish and retouching from past restorations).
