October programs will cover a range of topics at the Museum of History in Raleigh, from Russian music to a Russian movie to the governor’s gardener, Gerald Adams, who will highlight the history of the Executive Mansion and its gardens. Children’s programs will focus on El Diá de los Muertos, a Mexican celebration that honors deceased loved ones. In addition, two complementary exhibitions will be opening Friday, October 4, The Tsars’ Cabinet and Windows into Heaven: Imperial Russia is Coming!
You won’t have to travel overseas this month to see some hidden treasures of Imperial Russia. Discover them, instead, in two exhibitions that will open Friday, October 4 at the Museum of History in Raleigh. The Tsars’ Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs will run concurrently with Windows into Heaven: Russian Icons from the Lilly and Francis Robicsek Collection of Religious Art. The exhibitions will be on view through March 5, 2014.
The Tsars’ Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs
The Museum of History is the only mid-Atlantic venue to host The Tsars’ Cabinet, a traveling exhibition showcasing more than 230 objects that exemplify the craftsmanship of artisans under the Romanov tsars. A feast for the eyes, the exhibit features decorative arts dating from the reign of Peter the Great (1689–1725) to that of Nicholas II (1894–1917). From richly ornate table services designed for coronation banquets and state dinners to jewel-encrusted personal items, the objects in The Tsars’ Cabinet reveal the extreme lavishness and opulent lifestyle of the Romanov reign. Many of the pieces were made for the ruling tsars and their families. The Tsars’ Cabinet is organized by the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William &Mary from the Kathleen Durdin Collection, in collaboration with International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.
Windows into Heaven:Russian Icons from the Lilly and Francis Robicsek Collection of Religious Art plumbs the mystical depth of the Russian spirit and offers a glimpse into eternity via the dignified grandeur of the Russian Orthodox Church. The exhibition brings together more than 35 Russian icons dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, during the time of the Romanovs, from the collection of Lilly and Francis Robicsek, of Charlotte.
When Russia converted to Byzantine (or Eastern Orthodox) Christianity in 988, its churches adopted the ancient tradition of painting icons. Over time, Russians developed a distinctive style of iconography featuring religious scenes in the Byzantine tradition. Eastern Orthodox Christians venerate icons as conduits to God and as a focus for their prayers and meditation. Thus, icons were seen as “windows into heaven.” Beautiful to behold, icons were often made by monks or nuns and brought comfort to many in times of sorrow and hardship. The variety of icons presented in Windows into Heaven provides an intimate look at Russia’s complex past.
Exhibition Sponsors of The Tsars’ Cabinet and Windows into Heaven include North Carolina News Network, Duke Energy, News &Observer, Ragland Family Foundation, and Mr. and Mrs. Everette C. Sherrill. Additional sponsors are Catering Works Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Hoch, Mr. George R. McNeill III, Our State magazine, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Howard, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Replacements Ltd., Smith Family Foundation, ThemeWorks Creative Events, and the Mary and Elliott Wood Foundation.
For more information, including details on admission, special events, and the opening gala call tel:919-807-7992.
Time for Tots: A Clean Sweep Tuesdays, Oct. 1 or 8, 10–10:45 a.m. Ages 3–5 (with adult) $1 per child To register, call tel:919-807-7992 . Find out how housecleaning has changed over time, and make your own miniature broom to take home.
History Corner: Halloween en Español Ages 6–9 (with adult) $1 per child. To register, call 919-807-7992.
What do good food, costumes, candles, and memories have in common? They are all parts of El Diá de los Muertos, a Mexican celebration for remembering deceased loved ones.
History Hunters: El Diá de los Muertos Wednesday, Oct. 2 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Ages 10–13 $1 per child. To register, call 919-807-7992. Is the Mexican Day of the Dead the same as Halloween? Do people celebrate it in North Carolina? Find out and learn more about this fall holiday.
Storytime in the Gallery Ages 3 and up (with adult) Thursdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 10–10:30 a.m. Meet a staff member at the information desk and follow your guide to one of the museum galleries. There, you can look around and listen to a history-related story.
Make It, Take It: The Write Way Saturday, Oct. 5 1–3 p.m. (drop-in program) How’s your penmanship? Could you use a steel-nib pen like the pens that were common in the 1800s? Come and try your hand.
History à la Carte: The Governor’s Garden, Wednesday, Oct. 9 Noon–1 p.m. Bring your lunch; beverages provided. Meet the governor’s gardener, Gerald Adams, and hear him talk about the history of the Executive Mansion and its gardens and grounds. He will also share some green thumb tips that everyone can enjoy.
Saturdays in the Garden, Oct. 12 1:30–2:30 p.m. Join our garden staff for an informal tour of History of the Harvest, along Bicentennial Plaza. Tours begin at the information desk in the lobby. Music of the Carolinas: Zingaresca Sunday, Oct. 13, 3–4 p.m. Zingaresca is a duo that consists of Vadim Kolpakov and Oleg Timofeyev, who perform music for the Russian seven-string guitar. Their selections will include an assortment of Russian and Roma (gypsy) music from different times and will feature the duo & arrangements of guitar music by Mikhail Vysotsky (1791–1837), traditional arrangements by Sasha Kolpakov, and variations by Sergei Orekhov (1935–1998). Presented with PineCone, and support from the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, Williams Mullen, WLHC-FM/WLQC-FM, and Harry’s Guitar Shop of Raleigh.
At the Movies: The Admiral Sunday, Oct. 20 1 p.m. Dr. Donald J. Raleigh, UNC Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies. The Admiral (2008, Russian with subtitles) glorifies Admiral Alexander Kolchak, a naval hero who led White Russian forces into battle against the Bolsheviks in Siberia and briefly became supreme governor of Russia—before meeting his end at the hands of a communist firing squad. Raleigh will introduce the film and lead a discussion following. For more information about October programs, call tel:919-807-7900" or access http://ncmuseumofhistory.org
Exhibits:
The Story of North Carolina. This permanent exhibit uses artifacts, multimedia presentations, dioramas, interactives, and other components to chronicle life in North Carolina from the areas earliest inhabitants through the 20th century.
Watergate: Political Scandal & the Presidency Through August 10, 2014. This national political scandal engrossed Americans in the early 1970s as a congressional committee, led by North Carolina senator Sam Ervin, investigated the Nixon White House.
Freedom Coming, Freedom for All January 26, 2014 (Gallery closed from October 7 through 13. Learn about some of the most significant documents in US history including the 13th Amendment.