Curiouser and Curiouser
An elaborate electric train set, owned by Anne and Graham Denton, is central to the new ‘Curious Collections’ at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. Most of the train and track parts were made by the Lionel company.
If you’ve ever watched the show “American Pickers,” you know
that the vast majority of Americans collect at least one or two types of items.
The Blowing
Rock Art and History Museum asked collectors to show them what they collect, and the result is one
of the most amusing exhibits around.
“Curious Collections,” an exhibit in BRAHM’s Main
Gallery that opened this past Wednesday, is a look at what your friends and neighbors have
accumulated over the years.
Some of it is definitely fine art, such as an original Frederick
Remington bronze sculpture, while other pieces have more of a historical or regional importance.
“Curious Collections” includes antique cameras, folk art, colorful tobacco tags, handmade
quilts, G-scale model trains, quizzical face jugs and much more. There is even a collection of
modern art pieces created by the late High Country artist, William “Wiili” Armstrong.
The
exhibit includes a wide variety of fascinating objects from nearly 30 collectors from across North
Carolina, exploring not only the rich histories of the objects, but also delving into the psychology
of collecting, which is deeply entrenched in human nature. In the process, exhibit guests will be
encouraged to uncover the collector in each of us.
The exhibit, chosen because of its
wide-ranging appeal and lighthearted nature, will run from April 11 through the first of August.
The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday,
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is
closed on Monday.
Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children, students and active
military personnel. It is free for children ages four and under.
For more information, call
BRAHM at (828) 295-9099 or visit http://www.blowingrockmuseum.org.
