Charleston
South Carolina
The Charleston Museum Newsletter - August 2022
Arts and Entertainment
August 2, 2022
From: The Charleston MuseumAugust Calendar Of Events
Tours for both historic houses are on the half hour from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 12 to 5 pm Sunday. Last tour of the day begins at 4:30 pm.
August 1 - 5 - Museum Camp 1 SPACE LEFT!
August 3 - Kid Tours: Mummy Madness
August 5 - Fossil Friday with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson
August 6* - Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Workshop
August 12 - Fossil Friday with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson
August 19 - Fossil Friday with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson
August 26 - Fossil Friday with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson
August 27* - Punch Needle Workshop with Local Artist Daisy McClellan
*Reservations Required
Fall Lecture Series
A Legacy in Silk: Eliza Lucas Pinckney's Gown Lecture with Curator of Historic Textiles
Virginia Theerman
Thursday, September 22 | 6:00 PM
Join Curator of Historic Textiles, Virginia Theerman, as we kick off The Charleston Museum’s 2022 fall lecture series. Theerman will be speaking about one of the treasures of the Museum’s collection: Eliza Luca's Pinckney's pink silk robe à la française. Theerman will discuss the history of the gown, its time in the Museum's care, and dressing the gown for new photography. Learn more about the delicate balance of preservation versus accessibility, as preparations are made for the gown to be temporarily exhibited next year in honor of The Charleston Museum's 250th anniversary.
Registration is encouraged. This lecture is FREE and open to the public.
***SUGGESTED DONATION $10***
Register online or call 843.722.2996 ext. 235
SAVE THE DATE:
October 27 | 6 PM
Joshua Lockwood: Revolutionary Clockmaker of Charles Town with
Curator of History Chad Stewart
November 8 | 6 PM
TOURS
Exclusive Archaeology Tour: The Heyward-Washington House with Curator of Historical Archaeology Martha Zierden and
Dr. Sarah Platt of the College of Charleston
Wednesday, August 24 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM
The Museum’s Heyward-Washington House, built in 1772, is 250 years old. However, archaeological excavations at the property tell a much longer and varied tale, with evidence of two 18th century occupations and households before the Heywards. Join Martha Zierden, Curator of Historical Archaeology, and Sarah Platt, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, College of Charleston, as they share the results of two recent research projects. There is always something new to learn about 87 Church Street!
Registration is required.
$40 Museum Members | $55 Non-Members
Register online or call 843.722.2996 ext. 235
Conversations with a Curator: Parrots with
Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson
Friday, September 9 | 10:30 AM
Join Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson for a close up look at parrots from the Museum’s ornithology collection. Learn about the interesting biology of these beautiful animals and what their colors, body shape, and beaks can tell us about how they live. Gibson will also talk about the parrot pet trade in early Charleston and its impact on wild populations. Of particular importance will be the story of the Carolina parakeet, the once only native parrot to North America, and its subsequent extinction.
Conversations with a Curator allows visitors a chance to have an in-depth look at an object or exhibit in the Museum galleries, ask questions and spark conversations. The Charleston Museum’s collections are both extraordinary and diverse and each Curator-led tour allows participants to immerse themselves in a different aspect of Charleston’s rich history.
This program is FREE for Members and FREE with admission.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
Kid Tours: Mummy Madness
Wednesday, August 3 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Come take a closer look at our mummy by examining X-rays and learn about the mummification process. Make your own Egyptian collar and learn to write your name in hieroglyphics just like the ones you find on sarcophagi. Kid Tours is a series designed to highlight artifacts from our collection that have fascinated children for years. Kid Tours meets every Wednesday during the months of June and July at 3:30 PM. This program includes a tour highlighting the weekly theme and an engaging craft project or educational activity.
FREE for Members and FREE with admission to The Charleston Museum.
For more information call 843.722.2996 ext. 236
Kid Tours: At the Beach
Wednesday, September 7 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM
What is a mermaid's purse? Where does sand come from? Do shark's have dentists? Learn about all the weird and wonderful things you may find on the beach! Make your own sand art and decorate a jellyfish. Kid Tours is a series designed to highlight artifacts from our collection that have fascinated children for years. Kid Tours meets every Wednesday during the months of June and July at 3:30 PM. This program includes a tour highlighting the weekly theme and an engaging craft project or educational activity.
FREE for Members and FREE with admission to The Charleston Museum.
For more information call 843.722.2996 ext. 236
WORKSHOPS
Kid Tours: Charleston in Sports
Wednesday, July 13 | 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Join local artisan Sarah Edwards-Hammond for in-depth instruction on sweetgrass basketry which has been an integral part of the Lowcountry’s Gullah Geechee community since the 17th century. Edwards-Hammond comes from a long line of basket makers and has passed down the tradition to her family and others in the community. She will share a brief history of the artisanal craft of basket making. Participants will then spend the remainder of the class making their own basket guided by Edwards-Hammond. Come learn about an extraordinary craft that has been a staple of culture, art, and history in Charleston for centuries.
Registration is required. All materials and instruction provided in this workshop.
$75 Museum Members | $105 Non-Members
Register online or call 843.722.2996 ext. 235
Punch Needle Workshop with Local Artist
Daisy McClellan
Saturday, August 27 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Learn the art of punch needle with local artist Daisy McClellan. While this traditional embroidery technique has been around for centuries, it has recently come back in a big and modern way in the crafting community. McClellan will teach you everything you need to know to get started with this meditative and relaxing craft. Beginners are welcome - no experience is required. Participants will learn about the best supplies to get started, how to thread a punch needle, stretch a frame, draw your own design to fabric, how to punch, as well as tips and tricks for turning your piece into a wall hanging, pillow, purse, trivet, and more.
Registration is required. All materials and instruction provided in this workshop.
$150 Museum Members | $180 Non-Members
Register online or call 843.722.2996 ext. 235
Fall Wreath Design Workshop with Local Designer & Master Certified Florist Pia Geraghty
Saturday, September 10 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Join Pia Geraghty, European Master Certified florist, as she leads a floral design class at The Charleston Museum! Participants will have the chance to craft a beautiful fall wreath with preserved and fresh botanicals. Using mosses, local produce, long lasting and fresh flowers create a vibrant wreath that can go on a front door. This workshop will include a brief educational introduction on the historical, botanical, and professional aspects of floral design followed by a demonstration and personalized instruction.
Registration is required. All materials and instruction provided in this workshop.
$150 Museum Members | $180 Non-Members
Register online or call 843.722.2996 ext. 235
MUSEUM BLOG
Discovery of a Parrot in the Privy
The 1970s excavations of the Heyward-Washington House have yielded an archeological boon to the collections of The Charleston Museum. This trove of eighteenth and nineteenth century artifacts collected via Dr. Elaine Herold’s efforts include Native American pottery, varied samples of colono ware, and European colonial ceramics. Of the various sites explored through excavation around the Heyward-Washington House grounds, some very curious pieces were discovered from a privy containing discarded material spanning the house’s long history. Interestingly, this included the skeletal remains of a very surprising bird.
CURRENT EXHIBITS
Charleston In Sports: A Photographic History, 1890s - 1960s
March 28 - December 18, 2022
Lowcountry Image Gallery
April 2 - December 4, 2022
Historic Textiles Galley
SUPPORT US
As the Museum recovers from the disruptions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, we need your help more than ever, and ask for your continued generous financial assistance through membership and donations.
Thank you.
COLLECTIONS ONLINE
The Charleston Museum offers an online catalog of the Museum's collections. This catalog represents only a portion of the collections, but it is regularly updated, so check back often.