JUNE 4, 2009 ISSUE
Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Annual Meeting and Groundbreaking Ceremony June 7
A groundbreaking for the 23,000-square-foot Blowing Rock Art and History Museum will take place on Sunday, June 7, at 5:00 p.m. at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) will make its own history on Sunday, June 7, when the organization breaks ground for its long-planned 23,000-square-foot museum on South Main Street in Blowing Rock. The groundbreaking ceremony will follow BRAHM’s annual meeting, which begins at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church. The group expects about 200 members and guests to be present for the meeting and groundbreaking.
Included among the Shovel Brigade—that will help turn the first spades of dirt on the site—will be Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence; Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce President Rita Davis; Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority Chair Kent Tarbutton; Blowing Rock Elementary School Principal Patrick Sukow; Steven C. Price, original architect; former BRAHM Board member Rep. Cullie Tarleton (D-93); Ginny Stevens from the Blowing Rock Historical Society; and BRAHM President Welborn Alexander. Five members of the audience will also be chosen to use specially decorated miniature shovels to help with the ceremonial beginning of the site preparation.
The museum building, which is expected to take about 24 months to complete, will be located adjacent to the two historic churches—Rumple and St. Mary of the Hills. The museum will be built behind Edgewood Cottage, the restored home of artist Elliott Daingerfield. Daingerfield’s influence will be strongly felt in the museum, as the start of its permanent art collection was a gift of 67 of his works. St. Mary’s is also known for the magnificent alter painting, “Madonna of the Hills” given by Daingerfield in the 1920s.
Plans for the building have been underway for six years. The building was designed by Steven C. Price, AIA, who recently worked closely with Bonnie and Jamie Schaeffer on the restoration of Westglow Resort and Spa, another former Daingerfield home, and architecture firm Calloway, Johnson, Moore and West of Winston-Salem.
Once opened in 2011, the museum will provide diverse cultural opportunities for the entire region, including educational classes for children and adults; a vast collection of local historic artifacts telling the story of those who settled in the area and continue to contribute to its culture; and a wide-ranging collection of art from local, regional and nationally recognized artists, including a significant collection of decorative arts containing many works in glass and North Carolina pottery.
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