Mar 18, 2014 Bentonville, AR – Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art welcomes spring with a derby themed party, college night, a lecture and film by renowned artist Bo Bartlett, plus a chance to visit with him during our biggest event yet, Art Night Out. Members of artinfusion, the museum’s young patrons group, are invited to a derby party, complete with mint juleps, hats and bowties, on April 11. Guests who are not artinfusion members may purchase tickets. Join artist Bo Bartlett, whose work, Lobster Wars, may be seen in the museum’s 20th century gallery, for a special screening of his film, SEE: An Art Road Trip, on April 25. Bartlett will be a special guest the following night at Art Night Out, the museum’s major spring party, on April 26. The evening will feature an Earth Day theme, complete with outdoor tours and nature inspired art activities. Guests will enjoy a performance by indie group Elephant Revival and world music by local group Unzaa. A full listing of April programs is below. Information and registration are also available on the calendar of events on Crystal Bridges’ website: http://calendar.crystalbridges.org/. April Public Programs: Wednesday, April 2, 1:30 to 2:30 pm Art Book Club | The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas was written by Toklas’s life partner, Gertrude Stein, the famed modern visionary and American writer living in Paris. This book is an excellent read to accompany the temporary exhibition The William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism by bringing the artists to life through Stein’s stream-of-consciousness writing. The book is described as “Stein’s most famous work; one of the richest and most irreverent biographies ever written!” Join Librarians Catherine Petersen and Elizabeth Bradshaw to uncover Stein’s close relationship with Toklas as well as with friends Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Matisse, and Joseph Stella, and their famous Saturday evening gatherings at 27 rue de Fleurus in Paris, better known as “The Stein Salon.” Free with online registration, meet in the Library. Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and May 7, 6 to 8:30 pm Adult Program | Studio Studies Series: Using Acrylics Like Watercolors Explore an exciting alternative to traditional watercolor with local artist Charles Harrington. You’ll paint with acrylics while retaining the fluidity and beautiful aesthetic qualities characteristic of watercolor. Charles will show the class how to use many traditional transparent watercolor techniques, while discovering advantages that acrylics offer, including their versatility, a greater degree of permanence, and so much more! The series is best for high school and adult students with some watercolor painting experience. All materials are provided. Visit Charles’s website at http://www.charlesharrington.com/. $200 ($160 for Members) / 6 classes. Register online or at Guest Services Wednesday, April 2, 6:30 to 8 pm Spotlight Lecture Series & Concert | Edward Hopper’s Transient America and Hotel Songs Presented by Scholar Leo Mazow Journey through scenes of transient America from the perspective of Edward Hopper’s hotel series. In this unique lecture and concert, University of Arkansas Art History Professor Leo Mazow presents new research on America’s great artist Edward Hopper for his book-in-progress, Hopper’s Hotels: Edward Hopper and the Promise of American Mobility. After the lecture, Mazow and his band, The Coverlettes, will perform a series of hotel songs with the backdrop of Hopper paintings. After the presentation, we encourage you to visit our Edward Hopper special exhibition. Free with online registration, or register at Guest Services. A cash wine and beer bar will be available in the south lobby. Fridays, April 4, 11, and 25, 2 to 3:30 pm Homeschool Friday Fun | Influences This program is designed for families who want to provide their homeschool students with enriching and fun activities that incorporate inquiry, discovery, and studio art-making. In this session, we will discuss some of the foreign art that was influential to American artists in Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection, and explore how those influences played out in American art. $45 ($36 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services. Friday, April 4, 7 to 9 pm First Friday Connection | The French Riviera with Wino Vino Go off the trail from Downtown Bentonville Inc.’s First Friday and visit Crystal Bridges for this evening program with a French twist, in honor of the special exhibition, A Taste of Modernism! Join us in turning Crystal Bridges’ Twin Bridges area into a French Riviera, featuring the Austin-based French gypsy jazz band, Wino Vino, and street performers! Wine and crepes by Crepes Paulette will be available for purchase. To get to the Twin Bridges, take the Crystal Bridges Trail from Compton Gardens and then follow the Art Trail to the Museum’s South Lawn area. Free, no registration required. Saturday, April 5, 12, and 19, 1 to 2:30 pm Children’s Art Class | Artists in the Garden Children ages 5 to 12 will learn about the artists in Crystal Bridges’ collection while making art inspired by their work. We will discover a new artist each week by exploring the galleries and working with a variety of art supplies in the studio. Concurrent classes are offered for two age groups (5 to 8 and 9 to 12). Cost includes three consecutive Saturdays. $45 ($36 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services Saturday, April 5, 7 to 10 pm College Night: Le Carnaval des Couleurs Let your free spirit wander at Le Carnaval des Couleurs, a magical circus extravaganza inspired by the bohemian scene in Paris’s Montmartre district. Begin the evening with an outdoor performance by Wino Vino featuring fire dancers and street performers—then go inside for dancing with DJ Devon from the group FayetteChill. Find your heart’s rhythm with poetry readings in our sheet-fort café, Le Chat Noir, interact with human statues, or become part of the art in a photo booth where you can step into the paintings! College Night is hosted by the Crystal Bridges College Ambassadors who invite all to attend. A cash bar will be available, along with complimentary French baguettes and cheese. Open to guests ages 21 and up (Photo ID required for entry). Crystal Bridges’ College Ambassadors program is sponsored by Stephen and Claudia Strange and Phat Tire Bike Shop. Admission is free, but tickets are required as space is limited. Register online or at Guest Services. Sunday, April 6, 4 to 5 pm Spotlight Lecture Series | Picasso and His Times presented by Duke University Art History Professor and author Patricia Leighten Patricia Leighten, Professor of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies at Duke University, will provide insight into the life and times of Pablo Picasso. Leighten’s recently published book, The Liberation of Painting: Modernism and Anarchism in Avant-Guerre Paris, explores the period before World War I, a time of social and political ferment in Europe that would profoundly affect the art world. A major center of this creative tumult was Paris, where many avant-garde artists sought to transform modern art through their engagement with radical politics. Leighten examines the circle of artists—including Picasso, Juan Gris, František Kupka, Maurice de Vlaminck, Kees van Dongen, and others—for whom anarchist politics informed the concepts of avant-garde art. After the lecture, join us for a book signing with Leighten in the south lobby. Her book will be available for sale in the Museum Store. Free with online registration or register at guest services. A special Members-only Meet & Greet with Patricia Leighten will take place from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm The Great Reveal | View the rare Haggadah For Passover, illustrated by Ben Shahn Join Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft of Congregation Etz Chaim, as he leads a moving journey through the pages of one of the most stunning modern Haggadahs, Haggadah for Passover, illustrated by Ben Shahn, Boston, 1965. This first edition, signed copy—number 66 of only 228 copies—includes 21 color pictorial borders and line drawings, including a double-page Menorah frontispiece. Library Director Catherine Petersen will introduce the session with an overview of the artist Ben Shahn, who created many of the illustrations for this Haggadah around 1930, while working on his well-known series of paintings of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial. It was not until thirty years later that Shahn reproduced his original watercolors for the limited-edition Haggadah for Passover. Several other modern illustrated Haggadahs will be available to view, as well. The Great Reveal is sponsored by John and Emily Douglas. Free with online registration, meet in the Great Hall. Wednesday, April 9, 16, and 23, 1 to 2:15 pm Preschool Art Class | Flowers For ages 3 to 5 with an adult. These classes are unique opportunities for our youngest guests to begin experimenting with art materials. Parents or caregivers participate with their preschoolers in gallery conversations and art-making activities each week. Each session includes three consecutive Wednesday classes. $30 ($24 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 to 8 pm Boundless | Evening Book Discussion on Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan Guests may order a glass of wine from Eleven and bring it with you to Boundless, Crystal Bridges’ evening book discussion group that selects literary stories pushing the boundaries on our view of popular culture, current trends, and our diverse individual interests. Librarian Elizabeth Bradshaw leads a discussion on Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan. This traditional murder-mystery for technology lovers “enthusiastically embrace[s] the tension between the digital and analog books.” Clay Jannon, a graphic designer living in San Francisco—along with his CEO startup best friend, and his Google-employed love interest—seek to find the truth about Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and the strange behavior of its clientele. No “book” audience is left out as Robin Sloan addresses both audiences—those who cannot part with the traditional paper novel, sold at a brick-and-mortar store, and those who believe print is dead. Sloan harnesses the power of the Internet while maintaining the importance of paper in this national bestseller. Free with online registration, meet in the lower lobby. Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 to 9 pm International Student Day! Crystal Bridges welcomes all to join us in celebrating multiculturalism in the region. We encourage international students to explore the Museum’s art collection in discussions across languages, as well as to share their cultures through food, dancing, music, and a fashion show in the Great Hall. All are invited to join this Museum-wide celebration of international culture found in NW Arkansas. Free, no registration required. Thursday, April 10, 11:30 am to 2 pm Preschool Playdate | YELLOW Monthly Preschool Playdates feature art projects, creative play, and story time, based on themes from our collection. This month, “The Kiddos” will perform in the Great Hall at 11:30 am. Activities are geared for children ages 2 to 5 with an adult. Sponsored by The Hershey Company and The Original Wet-Nap. Free, no registration required. Thursdays, April 10, 17, and 24, 4 to 5:30 pm Afterschool Art Class | Painting with Acrylics Children ages 5-12 will have fun discovering works of art in the Museum galleries and exploring the world around them through acrylic painting with our engaging art instructors. Concurrent classes are offered for two age groups (5 to 8 and 9 to 12). Cost includes three consecutive Thursdays. $45 ($36 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services Friday April 11, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Photo Salon | Featured Photographer: Stephen Ironside Join Crystal Bridges’ Photo Salon to explore the Museum’s stunning architecture, landscape, and views. This month’s guest artist is Stephen Ironside, a talented photographer from our region who will share his work and lead the group on a photo excursion. Explore Stephen Ironside’s photoworks here: www.ironsidephotography.com. Special thanks to the Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas for their collaborative support. $10 for non-members, free to Members. Register online or at Guest Services. Friday, April 11, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Art by the Glass | Painting with Acrylics Spend an evening painting the town any color you choose! Enjoy wine, cheese, and great conversation while having fun experimenting with acrylic paint through playful brush strokes and color! The registration fee includes two glasses of wine. All supplies are provided. $45 ($36 for Members). Register online or at Guest Services. Friday, April 11, 8 to 11 pm Artinfusion Event | Derby Day Ladies and Gents of artinfusion, mark your calendars for Friday, April 11 and plan to gallop in to Crystal Bridges for artinfusion’s Derby Party! We’re not horsing around here, so don’t say neigh—just raise your mint juleps and make a run for the roses! It’s an evening celebration featuring a build-your-own-hat competition, bowties, and a celebration of all things equine from 8 to 11 p.m. artinfusion is sponsored by Blue Moon Brewing Co. Free for artinfusion Members, $25 for non-members. Reserve tickets online or at Guest Services. Saturday, April 12, 10 am to 6 pm Museum Store Event | Basket Weaving Demonstration by artist Jerris Palmer For over twenty years, Bentonville artist Jerris Ann Palmer has created distinctively unique works of basketry art—ranging from natural fiber and vine creations to utilitarian oak varieties—every detail contributing to the overall attractiveness and functionality of each piece. Saturday, April 12, 10 am to 6 pm Slow Art Day The average viewing time for most museum visitors is a mere 17 seconds per artwork. Slow Art Day is celebrated annually in museums around the world to encourage guests to slow down, take their time, and savor great works of art. Join a variety of slow art experiences throughout the galleries at Crystal Bridges. To learn more, visit SlowArtDay.com. Saturday, April 12, 9 to 10:30 am Discover the Grounds | Transient Beauty Slow down and take in the ephemeral moments of the spring season. Join us for the first Discover the Grounds class of the year to celebrate the spring blossoming of plant life at Crystal Bridges. Horticulturist Cody George and Arts Educator Lori Lincks will discuss the idea of transient beauty, in art and in nature. Afterwards, join a guided trail tour, leaving at 10:30 a.m., to explore native ephemerals like White Trillium and Spring Beauty. Meet at the Tulip Tree Shelter off the Tulip Tree Trail. This Trail is a moderate hike on a gravel surface, with steps. Free with online registration. Saturday, April 12, 9 am to noon Saturday Session for Teachers | The Paley Collection K-12 teachers are invited to experience our new educational tour of the exhibition: The William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism, then return to the studio for an art-making activity based on the themes of this collection. $10. Register online or at Guest Services. Saturday, April 12, 10 to 11 am Yoga & Art Series Yoga takes over the 20th Art Gallery: a peaceful setting with views of the ponds and forest. Yoga Story’s Cindee Joslin leads this uplifting group experience uniting the power of art with the beauty of nature. The Yoga & Art series will continue through the summer and fall season. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and dress appropriately. $5 for non-members, free to Members. Register online or at Guest Services. Saturday, April 12, 1 to 2 pm Art Talk | Habl-Arte a Joan Miro, el Gran Artiste Chat with Al “Papa Rap” Lopez and Senior Educator Sara Segerlin on Spanish artist Joan Miro, from the special exhibition The William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism. Explore multicultural visuals in Miro’s painting, Figures and Stars, and move between Spanish and English dialog to explore the artist’s cultural, mythical, and political messages. Papa Rap will warm up the Art Talk with “Feed your Brain” art songs in Spanish and English! Free with online registration. This ticket waives your admission fee for the exhibition. Saturday, April 12, 7 to 10 pm Teen Night: Avant Garden Party Save the date for our second evening planned just for area high school students, organized by the Museum’s Teen Council. Expect live music, great art and lots of surprises as we celebrate the exhibition A Taste for Modernism: The William S. Paley Collection. Watch the Museum’s website for specific information as the date approaches. Free, no registration required. Sunday, April 13, noon to 5 pm Dia de los Niños Dia de los Ninos – Children’s Day – is recognized on various dates worldwide. Join us to celebrate the creativity and cultures of children in our community, through music, dance, art and fun for all ages! Sponsored by Rockline Industries. Free, no registration required. Monday, April 14, 11 am to 12:30 pm Journaling Group | Rejuvenate with Art through Writing! Inspired by Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, join Museum Educator, Sara Segerlin, in absorbing artworks through creative writing. This journaling session will explore a selection of artworks from the temporary exhibition At First Sight: Collecting the American Watercolor, followed by lessons from The Artist’s Way, and journaling techniques to open up creative language. Participants learn to share and express their writing with final readings afterwards. Free with online registration. Wednesday, April 16, 6 to 7 pm WOW | Wednesday Over Water Sample drinks & hors d’oeuvres inspired by The William S. Paley Collection, presented by Culinary Director Case Dighero and Education and Exhibitions Director Niki Stewart. Open to guests ages 21 and above. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology. $30 ($24 for Members). Purchase tickets online or at Guest Services. Thursday, April 17, 1 to 2 pm Art Talk | Tracing Pablo Picasso’s Evolution Trace Pablo Picasso’s artistic evolution in a walking tour with Director of Education and Exhibitions Niki Stewart. The Paley Collection features eight works by Pablo Picasso that trace his artistic evolution over the first three decades of the twentieth century. These include the masterpiece of his Rose Period, the monumental Boy Leading a Horse (1905-06); and Cubist experiments ranging from the highly faceted planes of An Architect’s Table (1912) to collage-inspired compositions such as Still Life with Guitar (1920). Free with online registration. Friday, April 18, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Film Series | Paris the Luminous Years: Towards the Making of Modern Art Paris the Luminous Years tells the story of modern art from an unprecedented point of view—Paris as active protagonist, catalyst, and midwife to modernity. This Perry Miller Adato directed film will be a second film screening of Adato’s work; many guests might remember that Adato visited the museum in January to present her film on Georgia O’Keeffe. The film spotlights now-famous figures in the art world’s first international avant-garde: tracing who came to Paris and why, whom they met, what they made there, and how being in Paris transformed them and their work. Through intriguing back stories of crucial relationships and of major turning points in the trajectory of the modern arts, Paris The Luminous Years examines why breakthroughs like Picasso’s radical Les Desmoiselles d’Avignon and Stravinsky’s violent The Rite of Spring could only have happened in the international, fervent atmosphere of early 20th century Paris. On-camera, dramatic and historic moments are recalled by active participants in these legendary events, including Marc Chagall, Igor Stravinsky, Jean Cocteau, Aaron Copland, Marcel Duchamp, Joan Miro, Sylvia Beach and Janet Flanner. Free with online registration. Friday, April 18th, 6:30 to 8 pm Family Workshop | Paper Making Come together on a Friday night to create art with your family. These hand-made papers are great for creating a loving greeting card, a decorative ornament, or even planting in your home garden when we add flower seeds to the mix. $20 per family ($16 for Members). Register online or at Guest Services. Sunday, April 20, 1 to 4 pm Drop-In Drawing Drop in anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. for a free, informal drawing session. Materials are provided and an art instructor will be on hand to get you started. Check at Guest Services for the specific location. All ages are welcome! Free, no registration required. Friday, April 24, 7 to 8:30 pm The Way of Color Talk | Featuring Artist Sam King on the Interaction of Color For centuries humans have sought to understand color. This search is well represented by the artist James Turrell in our Skyspace, The Way of Color. Josef Albers, another artist exploring color theory, created interactive lessons to break down variations of color. Join us in our first-ever expert Way of Color talk, featuring artist Sam King who teaches in the University of Arkansas’ Art Department. King will walk you through color patterns and illusions developed by Albers in his book, Interaction of Color, through a digital app for use at the Skyspace. Following the introduction of color theories, King will lead guests in a discussion of the eye’s experience of color and light illusions in the Skyspace during the artwork’s sunset experience. Free, no registration required. Seating is first-come, first-served. Friday, April 25, 7 to 9 pm Film + Artist Talk: Bo Bartlett and his film SEE Meet the artist Bo Bartlett at a special screening of his film, SEE: An Art Road Trip, followed by a post-discussion with the artist and his wife, Betsy Eby. Bartlett will discuss the making of the film and share his working process on large-scale paintings, such as Lobster Wars in Crystal Bridges’ collection. About the film: Artists Bo Bartlett and Betsy Eby set out to make a film about seeing. Initially, the film is about their travels across the country, stumbling upon art sites, meeting characters and luminaries. But then the unexpected happens, sending their adventure into unforeseen territory. The clear becomes unclear; the visible world, a strain to see. A moving meditation, SEE delivers the beauty of America through the eyes of two artists determined to see art in the everyday. The film invites us to open our eyes anew and see the beauty and wonder in the world around us. Admission is free, but online registration is required, as space is limited. Saturday, April 26, 10 am to 6 pm Museum Store Event | Meet the Artist: Pen Brady Missouri artist Pen Brady’s finely detailed paintings capture the grace and beauty inherent in the natural world, and trace their roots to the Native art of the Pacific Northwest. Pen will demonstrate her painting technique using acrylic and India ink for Museum Store visitors throughout the day. Saturday, April 26, 11 am to 3 pm Earth Day Celebration Discover the beautiful trails and grounds at Crystal Bridges, and enjoy hands-on nature and art activities with your family as we celebrate Earth Day at the Museum. Don’t miss a special performance by Toucan Jam. Sponsored by Rockline Industries. Free, no registration required. Saturday, April 26, 8 to 11 pm Art Night Out: Inner World Come find your inner free spirit at this Earth Day-inspired exploration of Inner Worlds. To begin the evening, be mesmerized by Cube Music, an interactive light and sound experience created by local artist Craig Colorusso, as you decide whether to select the blue (indoor) journey through the Museum’s galleries or the green (outdoor) journey along Crystal Bridges’ lantern-illuminated trails. Next, enjoy a performance by Unzaa, a world music group from Fayetteville, or visit with renowned artist Bo Bartlett alongside his painting, Lobster Wars, in the Museum’s 20th-Century Art Gallery. Then participate in some nature-inspired art-making activities, including creating earth-toned necklaces and a collaborative woven stick wall. Finally, indie music group Elephant Revival will conclude the night, complete with a musical light and color show by artist VJ Fader. A cash bar will be available, and appetizers are included in the ticket price. Doors open to the Museum at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, 7 to 8 pm Artosphere Panel Discussion: Translating Earth Crystal Bridges exhibiting artist Robyn Horn, known for her large-scale abstract wood sculptures, joins a panel discussion with the Walton Art Center’s Artosphere artists—Sean Bitter, Laura Moriarty, and Joan Hall—to explore themes of the Artosphere Festival exhibition: Translating Earth, Transforming Sea. The artists will share about their artwork, and discuss creating sculptural transformations inspired by metamorphic processes observed in the earth and sea. The panel will be moderated by Artosphere curator Andrea Packard (Gallery Director of Swarthmore College). The Artosophere exhibition opens at the Walton Art Center on Thursday, May 1. To learn more visit: www.waltonartcenter.org. Free with online registration.
