Ackland Events

TOUR: A Closer Look at the Collection
2023-11-04 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-11-18 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-11-19 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-12-02 13:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Join Ackland educators for a lively half-hour look at two works of art. These engaging conversational tours offer a closer look at and new perspectives on works on view from the Ackland’s collection.

A Closer Look at the Ackland Collection
2023-11-05 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-11-12 13:00 - 13:30 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States

Ackland Film Forum: "The Double Life of Veronique" (K. Kieślowski, 1991)
2023-11-07 19:30, 2023-11-07 21:30 | Varsity Theatre, 123 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
The Double Life of Véronique
Dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1991
Introduced by Prof. Gregory Flaxman, English & Comparative Literature
The most visually stunning film in our series this semester, The Double Life of Véronique concerns the intersecting lives of two women who are unknown to one another: a French music teacher and a Polish singer who are both played by the same actress, Irène Jacob. Kieślowski’s metaphysical style conveys their links through a system of doublings that never spells things out for us. Not unlike the protagonists, we feel profundity without exactly knowing why. Prepare for an emotionally rapturous, strangely suspenseful experience that the greatest art cinema provides. This film’s use of music and ambient sound makes it a feast for the ears no less than the eyes.
Register for a FREE Ticket below!
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This Fall’s Ackland Film Forum series, Nineties Flashback, is presented by the Ackland Art Museum and the UNC Film Studies Program, part of the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of English and Comparative Literature.
All Ackland Film Forum screenings are part of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Campus Life Experience program. Scan the QR code at the event for CLE credit.

TOUR: A Closer Look at "The Outwin"
2023-11-10 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-11-17 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-12-01 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-12-08 13:00 - 13:30, 2023-12-15 13:00 - 13:30 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Join Ackland educators for a lively half-hour look at two works of art. These engaging conversational tours offer a closer look at and new perspectives on works on view from The Outwin: American Portraiture Today.
Free. No ticket needed!
The Outwin: American Portraiture Today has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The competition and exhibition are made possible by the Virginia Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, established by Virginia Outwin Boochever and sustained by her family. The Ackland’s presentation is supported in part by Caroline and Arthur Rogers.
Organized by:

2nd Friday ArtWalk: "Step This Way" Interactive Performance
2023-11-10 19:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
“Step This Way” is a site-specific performance featuring live music and dance by Mark Gabriel Little and Maura García. The performance takes place on and around the pARC, an interactive playful installation designed and created by The Urban Conga on the Ackland’s Terrace. Throughout the performance, elements of the composition and choreography will shift based on a predetermined pattern and depending on how audience members interact with the space. The performance will loop and restart throughout the evening, with new sets beginning at 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.
“Step This Way” transforms the seemingly unrelated elements of the Museum and the surrounding areas into a unifying performance experience, with music and choreography that change as the environment and the people within it change throughout the duration of the piece. “Step This Way” celebrates place, the arts, and the capacity that we have to listen to, relate to, and beautifully respond to one another.
Free and open to the public. No tickets needed.
“Step This Way” is supported by a Grassroots grant from the Orange County Arts Commission and a gift from Allen Anderson and Tama Hochbaum. Technical support has been given by PlayMakers Repertory Company. The program is presented as part of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2nd Friday ArtWalk.
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UNC-Chapel Hill Students can receive CLE credit for attending this performance. Scan the QR code at the event.
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Maura García (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet) is a dancer, dancemaker, entertainer, facilitator, thought leader and artistic director. From theater stages, to nightclubs, to museums, to conferences, to universities, to private events, to site-specific outdoor performances, Maura’s powerful work transforms time and space. At the root of all of her endeavors is the desire to heal and create more space for joy in the world.
As an artistic director, Maura collaborates with Indigenous and POC artists to realize multi-media performances, interactive dance experiences and community arts projects. Her narrative driven work uncovers stories hidden by colonialism and reflects the power they have to change our realities. As a human and as a creator, Maura works to uplift Indigenous cultural values, perpetuate ancestral knowledge and actively respect the living earth.
Maura is an international touring artist and shares her work with the world via specially-designed commissions, repertoire performances, multi-day residencies and longer-term community programs. Her performances have been presented throughout North America. Learn more on her website.
Mark Gabriel Little is a composer, singer, and musician based in Chapel Hill, NC. His work builds on a deep foundation in Negro musical traditions and incorporates elements from many other musical traditions including Indigenous southeastern woodlands of North America, Caribbean, West Africa, Classical European, and East Asia. Throughout his career, he has balanced producing boundary-breaking compositions with live performances as a solo act, in a band, or accompanying other performing artists. Commissions include a choral piece for the Maura Garcia Dance Company (Charleston, South Carolina) and an experimental symphony, “Fracking Music!” for the Ackland Art Museum (Chapel Hill, North Carolina). In his collaborations, MGL bridges visual and performing arts with an unconventional sound and music vocabulary. In addition to his portfolio of commissioned work, MGL writes and performs electric soul songs as MGL & The Rev. Hear some of Mark’s music on his website.

A Closer Look at the Ackland Collection
2023-11-11 13:00 - 13:30 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Join Ackland educators for a lively half-hour at two works of art. These engaging conversational tours offer a closer look at and new perspectives on works on view from the Ackland’s collection.

Lecture-Demonstration with Maura García and Mark Gabriel Little
2023-11-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Join choreographer/dancer Maura García and composer/musician Mark Gabriel Little for an interactive lecture-demonstration that extends the creative experience of their commissioned immersive performance Step This Way, which will be performed on Friday, November 10, 2023 from 7-9 p.m. during the 2nd Friday ArtWalk. On Sunday, November 12, Dancer-musician duo García and Little will return to the Ackland to lead an interactive event that looks at their creative process, discusses their artistic practices, and encourages participants to ask questions and try out elements of their techniques.
Free and open to all ages. No experience necessary. Space is limited, so please register for a free ticket.
“Step This Way” is supported by a Grassroots grant from the Orange County Arts Commission and a gift from Allen Anderson and Tama Hochbaum. Technical support has been given by PlayMakers Repertory Company. The program is presented as part of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2nd Friday ArtWalk.
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Maura García (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet) is a dancer, dancemaker, entertainer, facilitator, thought leader and artistic director. From theater stages, to nightclubs, to museums, to conferences, to universities, to private events, to site-specific outdoor performances, Maura’s powerful work transforms time and space. At the root of all of her endeavors is the desire to heal and create more space for joy in the world.
As an artistic director, Maura collaborates with Indigenous and POC artists to realize multi-media performances, interactive dance experiences and community arts projects. Her narrative driven work uncovers stories hidden by colonialism and reflects the power they have to change our realities. As a human and as a creator, Maura works to uplift Indigenous cultural values, perpetuate ancestral knowledge and actively respect the living earth.
Maura is an international touring artist and shares her work with the world via specially-designed commissions, repertoire performances, multi-day residencies and longer-term community programs. Her performances have been presented throughout North America. Learn more on her website.
Mark Gabriel Little is a composer, singer, and musician based in Chapel Hill, NC. His work builds on a deep foundation in Negro musical traditions and incorporates elements from many other musical traditions including Indigenous southeastern woodlands of North America, Caribbean, West Africa, Classical European, and East Asia. Throughout his career, he has balanced producing boundary-breaking compositions with live performances as a solo act, in a band, or accompanying other performing artists. Commissions include a choral piece for the Maura Garcia Dance Company (Charleston, South Carolina) and an experimental symphony, “Fracking Music!” for the Ackland Art Museum (Chapel Hill, North Carolina). In his collaborations, MGL bridges visual and performing arts with an unconventional sound and music vocabulary. In addition to his portfolio of commissioned work, MGL writes and performs electric soul songs as MGL & The Rev. Hear some of Mark’s music on his website.

Ackland Film Forum: "The Legend of Drunken Master" (Lau Kar-leung, 1994)
2023-11-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Nelson Mandela Auditorium, FedEx Global Ed Center, 301 Pittsboro St., Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
The Legend of Drunken Master (also known as Drunken Master II)
Dir. Lau Kar-leung, 1994
Co-sponsored by Carolina Asia Center and presented at the Nelson Mandela Auditorium, FedEx Global Education Center, 301 Pittsboro St, Chapel Hill
Introduced by Prof. Rick Warner, English & Comparative Literature, Director of Film Studies
Jackie Chan, the most highly skilled and daring combiner of comedy and martial arts in the history of cinema, plays the historical figure Wong Fei-hong in this exuberant action showcase that Time magazine calls one of the 100 greatest films ever made. Set in early 20th century China, the plot hinges on family conflicts and a national confrontation with British colonial rule. Will Wong Fei-hong be able to harness his remarkable command of the “drunken boxing” style of hand to hand combat, despite the fact that this very style brings his family public embarrassment? A long-delayed sequel to a 1978 production that also starred Chan, this anticolonial action comedy from Hong Kong elicits laughter and awe in equal measure as it sets out to reclaim for onscreen martial arts a sense of physical veracity and grace that had gotten lost on account of wirework and other special effects for which Chan and legendary director/action choreographer Lau Kar-leung have little use.
This Fall’s Ackland Film Forum series, Nineties Flashback, is presented by the Ackland Art Museum and the UNC Film Studies Program, part of the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of English and Comparative Literature. Tonight’s screening is co-sponsored by the Carolina Asia Center.
Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
All Ackland Film Forum screenings are part of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Campus Life Experience program. Scan the QR code at the event for CLE credit.

ModernExtension's Improv Show at The Ackland
2023-11-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Annually, ModernExtension, the sole dance sport club affiliated with UNC, graces the stage with its fall improv show. Each piece in this event features purely improvised movement utilizing “structures” created by company members. This year’s show will be held in The Ackland Art Museum, where the dancers will draw inspiration from the surrounding artwork in their respective galleries. The audience will be guided through these galleries to see how the dance pieces align with the themes and motifs of the art.

Please secure a tour for you and your party using the sign up link below. Registration is handled by the ModernExtension Dance Company. The performance is free!
ModernExtension Dance Company: Ackland Improv Show (signupgenius.com)

Follow our Instagram account for more information! @Mxdancecompany

Drawing in the Galleries
2023-11-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-12-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Join us for our popular Drawing in the Galleries program this month during Studio Saturday! Amanda Hughes leads participants in a creative exploration of a particular object in the Ackland’s collection. Participants all draw from one object using their own gallery-safe materials (paper/notebooks and dry media like crayons and pencils), then discuss what they’ve noticed through the process of drawing. All levels are welcome.

Art Adventures (Morning Session)
2023-11-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
This art-inspired, hands-on art-making class for six- to nine-year-olds, participants will create their own masterpieces inspired by works of art at the Ackland. Classes are led by instructor Allison Tierney. This month’s class we will look at portraits by Kira Nam Greene & Tim Lowly, whose works are featured in The Outwin: American Portraiture Today.
Cost: $5; Free for Ackland Members at the Household Level and above. Register below. Each session limited to twelve participants.
The Outwin: American Portraiture Today has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The competition and exhibition are made possible by the Virginia Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, established by Virginia Outwin Boochever and sustained by her family. The Ackland’s presentation is supported in part by Caroline and Arthur Rogers.
Organized by:

Drawing for Tweens
2023-11-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
This program invites ten- to thirteen-year-olds to look at selected works in the Ackland’s collection and identify techniques that the artists used to make them. Gallery teacher Daniel Hammer demonstrates and teaches participants technical skills, which they can then apply to their own artistic creations. A mix of drawing from works on display and creating one’s own original works is offered in each session. Materials are provided. Cost: $5; free to Ackland Members at the Household Level and above. Register below. Class sessions will be limited to 10 participants.

Art Adventures (Afternoon Session)
2023-11-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries: Picturing Portraiture in "The Outwin"
2023-11-19 13:00 - 17:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Visitors of all ages are invited to explore The Outwin: American Portraiture Today through a variety of hands-on portrait-making activities and take a self-guided tour of portraiture in the Ackland’s galleries.
The Outwin: American Portraiture Today has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The competition and exhibition are made possible by the Virginia Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, established by Virginia Outwin Boochever and sustained by her family. The Ackland’s presentation is supported in part by Caroline and Arthur Rogers.
Organized by:

Crafty Hour: Paired Portraits at Craftboro Brewing
2023-11-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Craftboro Brewing, 101 Two Hills Dr. Unit 180, Carrboro, NC, 27510, United States
Head to Carrboro’s Craftboro Brewing for an evening of art-inspired fun and local beer. Bring a partner for a lesson in making Paired Portraits, presented in connection with the Ackland’s current exhibition The Outwin: American Portraiture Today.
You and your partner — could be a spouse, a friend, or even a first date! — will take turns making portraits of one another as Ackland teaching artist Allison Tierney (MFA ’15) shares techniques for successful portraits. No experience necessary!
Tickets are on a sliding scale: $0 – $15 per person/$0 – $30 per pair. Please register for both participants in the pair when purchasing your Ticket for Two below! All materials included with ticket price; Craftboro beers and non-alcoholic craft beverages sold separately at the event.
The Outwin: American Portraiture Today has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The competition and exhibition are made possible by the Virginia Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, established by Virginia Outwin Boochever and sustained by her family. The Ackland’s presentation is supported in part by Caroline and Arthur Rogers.
Organized by:

Semester Revue: Student Research & Responses to the Collection
2023-12-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Each semester, the Ackland Art Museum works with thousands of UNC-Chapel Hill students through courses and internships. The Semester Revue offers a glimpse into the quality and variety of the students’ research, projects, and performances. Come learn about the collection and see it anew through their short, dynamic presentations.

The Ackland Semester Revue is part of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Campus Life Experience program. Scan the QR code at the event for CLE credit.

Holiday Arts Market
2023-12-08 17:00 - 21:00, 2023-12-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
The Ackland’s Holiday Arts Market, presented in partnership with Downtown Chapel Hill, will be held Friday, December 8 from 5-9 p.m. during the 2nd Friday ArtWalk and Saturday, December 9 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Purchase handmade holiday gifts both Friday and Saturday. Come for the gifts and enjoy music from Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
Handmade gifts from local artists include statement jewelry from Bold Standard (shown in bottom left of image); upcycled bags and jewelry from Calico Creates; jewelry from Pflora Metal Arts (shown in top right of image); prints, cards, and calendars from Ellie Snow (shown in bottom right of image); gemstone and wire jewelry from Creations by Guido; cyanotype nature prints on paper and textiles from Legacy Prints and Paper (shown in top left of image); colorful jewelry from Suijin Li, and fused art glass from Jennifer Strickland. While you’re here, explore The Outwin: American Portraiture Today.

The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle Presents: The Durham Fellows (part of the UpClose Chamber Orchestra Series)
2023-12-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Featuring The Durham Fellows, UpClose Chamber Music Series is the essence of ensemble playing. With performances in a variety of intimate settings across the Triangle, this dynamic and interactive series brings audiences even closer to the music and its performers.

This performance is hosted by the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle and will take place at the Ackland Art Museum.

Tickets may be purchased on the COT website.

Art Adventures (Morning Session)
2023-12-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
In this art-inspired, hands-on art-making class for six- to nine-year-olds, participants will create their own masterpieces inspired by works of art at the Ackland. Classes are led by instructor Allison Tierney.
Cost: $5; Free for Ackland Members at the Household Level and above. Register below. Each session limited to ten participants.
