Oct 2, 2019 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art offers a variety of art experiences and programs in October, including Halloween events, Distinguished Speakers, the opening of a new exhibition, Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today, and a brand new forest experience, North Forest Lights. Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—My Heart is Dancing into the Universe (2018), a new acquisition to Crystal Bridges’ permanent gallery, opens to the public on Wednesday, October 2. This artwork is an enclosed room filled with mirrors and dotted paper lanterns that change color. This effect makes it appear like the dots expand forever into the universe. Tickets are free, or may be reserved online in advance for $1. More information and tickets can be reserved here. Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today, Crystal Bridges’ newest exhibition, will be on view Saturday, October 12 through January 6, 2020. The exhibition, organized by Crystal Bridges, explores the powerful connections between crystals and art throughout the world, spanning history and geography. The exhibition features ancient art and crystals from Egypt, Rome, China, and more alongside the works of contemporary artists, and specimens found here in Arkansas. Exclusively at Crystal Bridges this fall. North Forest Lights, a nighttime light and sound spectacular, will be open in the North Forest Saturday, October 26 through February 16, 2020. Partnering with Montreal-based multimedia and entertainment studio Moment Factory to bring it to life, this multimedia experience is unlike anything Crystal Bridges has ever presented before. Five distinct installations will bring the soul of the forest to life with light, sound, and sensory effects. Tickets will be available soon. Meet the Momentary is the Momentary’s first community gathering event taking place on the Momentary Green on Saturday, October 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. The event will offer an artist talk with Nick Cave, music from Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band, an interactive pop-up trading post called Barter Boat, community performances with For You, food and drink, and a chance to be among the first to know what the Momentary is planning for 2020. October also brings Halloween events to the museum. Halloween in the Hollow is a 21+ costume party taking place on Saturday, October 26 from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. DJ Heather from Chicago will light up the dance floor while guests enjoy food, art, and a costume contest. Crystals in Art will also be open. For families, Trick Art Treat is taking place in the North Forest on Sunday, October 27 from 12 to 3 p.m. There will be pumpkin painting, activities, and lots of candy. Guests are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Two Distinguished Speakers will be visiting Crystal Bridges in October for an evening of lively conversation with guests. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas will speak at the museum on Friday, October 4 at 7 p.m. Performance artist Marina Abramovic will speak on Wednesday, October 30 at 7 p.m. about her exploration of long durational performance, transitory objects, and the boundaries between artist and audience. Wheelchair seating is accessible at all programs. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is offered at all Distinguished Speaker Lectures and at the Collection Highlights tour on the third Saturday of each month. Based on availability, ASL is available for all programs and tours upon advanced request. Please contact access@crystalbridges.org or 479.657.2415 to schedule. Relay or voice calls are welcome. STAY IN THE KNOW! Log in or create an account to customize your eNewsletters based on your interests. A full listing of October programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events. SOLD OUT Artinfusion Happy Hour & Happening » Drag Night Wednesday, October 2, 5:30 to 8 pm Join us in the Great Hall for an evening of drinks with the Queens! The evening will begin with a cocktail hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by a Drag Show at 7 p.m. featuring some of Northwest Arkansas’s drag talent. Free, registration required. Register online or with Guest Services. Gallery Conversation » Our Town by Kerry James Marshall Thursday, October 3, 1 to 2 pm Meet Curatorial Assistant Tyra Seals for a conversation around Our Town by Kerry James Marshall. Free, no registration required. Distinguished Speaker Series » Jose Antonio Vargas Friday, October 4, 7 to 8 pm Join us for an evening with Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and theatrical producer. His best-selling memoir is Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen. $15 for non-members, $12 for members register online or with Guest Services. Nature Talk » Fall Tree ID Saturday, October 5, 1 to 2 pm Led by Crystal Bridges horticulturalist Marina McCoy, this Nature Talk encourages participants to look closely at trees and discover the beauty in the patterns and textures as the seasons begin to change. Free, no registration required. Meet the Momentary Saturday, October 5, 3 to 7 pm Be one of the first to experience and learn more about the Momentary through a community gathering on the Momentary Green. Join us for an artist talk with Nick Cave, music from Hot 8 Brass Band, a pop-up trading post by Barter Boat, community performances with For You, and food and drinks. Sponsored by founding funders Walmart, RØDE Microphones, and The Coca-Cola Company. Free, registration recommended. Register online or with Guest Services. Studio Squad » Pumpkin Carving (Ages 11-13) Saturday, October 5, 4 to 5:30 pm Design, prepare, and carve your own pumpkin here at the museum! Get inspired by your creative peers as you sketch out the possibilities. With assistance from staff, you’ll empty a pumpkin and carve your design. Free, register online or with Guest Services. Creative Connections Monday, October 7, 1:30 to 3:30 pm Join us for Creative Connections, a program for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia and their care partners. Museum Educators facilitate interactive discussions of artworks followed by hands-on art activities. No prior art experience is required! Refreshments and art materials are provided. Free, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900 ext. 8356 to register. Yoga and Art Monday, October 7, 6 to 7 pm Exercise your body and mind at Crystal Bridges with yoga and art! Join Lynn Hancock of Yoga Story in an uplifting group class that explores different facets of vinyasa as well as various disciplines of yoga practice. Open to all levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats and dress appropriately. $5 (Free for members), register online or with Guest Services. Figure Drawing from the Nude Model Wednesday, October 9, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Join us in the studio for an evening of drawing from a live model. A variety of drawing materials will be provided. Participants must be 18 or older. $10 ($5/members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Skyspace Nights » Star Party + Skyspace Anniversary Wednesday, October 9, 7 to 9 pm This Star Party will begin at sunset with a special talk inside James Turrell’s Skyspace: The Way of Color, followed by a chance to look through telescopes, chat with astronomers from Sugar Creek Astrological Society, and engage with activities inspired by the night sky. Free, no registration required. Preschool Playdate » Bad to the Bone Thursday, October 10, 11:30 am to 2 pm Join us for a playdate that’s guaranteed to tickle your funny bone! Discover a new way to paint, hear a spooky story or two, play with silly shadows, and more. Free, no registration required. Afterschool Art Class » Wonderful Words (Ages 5-12) Thursday, October 10, 17, 24, 4 to 5:30 pm Discover how artists use text in the focus exhibition, Small Talk, and have fun experimenting with different fonts through printmaking, collage, and calligraphy. $45/3 sessions ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services. Arkansas Crystal Showcase with Avant Mining Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13, 10 am to 6 pm Founded in 2008, Avant Mining is based in Blue Springs, Arkansas, and they produce the finest quartz crystals in the world. Learn more about how these stunning specimens form. A large selection of crystals will be available for purchase during this event. Free, no registration required. Member Preview » Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today Friday, October 11, 11 am to 9 pm Members are invited to enjoy a first look at the temporary exhibition, Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today. This exhibition is the first of its kind to explore the complex and varied connections between crystals and art throughout the world, spanning history and geography. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728. Homeschool Friday Fun » Wonderful Words Friday, October 11, 18, 25, 2 to 3:30 pm Discover how artists use text in the focus exhibition, Small Talk, and have fun experimenting with different fonts through printmaking, collage, and calligraphy. $45/3 sessions ($36/ members), register online or with Guest Services. Opening Exhibition Lecture » Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today Friday, October 11, 7 to 8 pm Join us for an opening discussion on the exhibition Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today, featuring artists Miya Ando and Marilyn Minter in conversation with curator Joachim Pissarro. The conversation this evening will feature a special discussion around Minter and Ando’s work included in the exhibition, Crystal Swallow, 2006 (Minter) and Tides, 2011 (Ando). Free, registration required. SOLD OUT Family Nature Workshop » Spiders Saturday, October 12, 10:30 am to 12 pm Face your phobia with this workshop all about spiders! Be introduced to a variety of spiders and how they help us. Create spider-themed art just in time for Halloween. Adult Workshop » Aluminum and Patina Painting with Miya Ando Saturday, October 12, 1 to 5 pm Join us for an aluminum and patina painting workshop with artist Miya Ando, featured in the exhibition Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today. In this workshop, Miya will give guests a taste of her process of combining chemicals on metal using black patinas on aluminum, creating a stunning two-dimensional work of art. $55 ($44 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Family Sunday » STEAM Sunday, October 13, 12 to 5 pm Let off some steam while you enjoy this STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) family day! Engage both sides of your brain while you build, create, and experiment throughout the museum. Free, no registration required. Fall Member Family Photos Sunday, October 13, 1 to 4 pm Take your holiday card photos among the beautiful fall colors surrounding our grounds. Reserve one ticket per family in your preferred time slot. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728. High South Moments » Grilling in the Autumn Forest Sunday, October 13, 6 to 7:30 pm Enjoy drinks and food specific to the Ozarks created on custom-built grills and learn about outdoor cooking from our master chefs, while enjoying fall in the forest. $60 ($48/members), register online or with Guest Services. Meditation and Mindfulness Monday October 14, 1 to 2 pm Take a break from your busy life and visit Crystal Bridges for rejuvenation in these guided meditation and mindfulness programs, surrounded by the beauty of art and nature. Led by instructor Kensi Zahl, this session will be held in held indoors. Free, no registration required. MO Member Moment » Meet the Team Wednesday, October 16, 7 to 8:30 pm Join the visual and performing arts teams as they introduce their roles at the Momentary and reveal the first performance season. Q&A session to follow. Free, for Momentary members only, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728. Forest Fun » Harvest Hoedown Thursday, October 17, 5:30 to 7 pm Bring your family to discover a night of harvest fun! Drink some yummy apple cider as you make your own fall festive craft, play games, and stomp to the music, all on Orchard Trail. Free, no registration required. Spotlight Talk » Clouds & Art with Gavin Pretor-Pinney Friday, October 18, 7 to 8 pm Join us for an evening lecture about clouds in art, featuring a look at works with clouds from our permanent collection with Gavin Pretor-Pinney, author of The Cloudspotter’s Guide and The Cloud Collector’s Handbook. Free with online registration, register online or with Guest Services. Discover the Grounds » Cloudspotting with Gavin Pretor-Pinney Saturday, October 19, 11 am to 12:30 pm Meet London-based author and founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, Gavin Pretor-Pinney in this special crash course in cloudspotting! Free, registration required. Register online or with Guest Services. Saturday Session » Crystals Saturday, October 19, 9 am to 1 pm For educators: After viewing and discussing works of art in Crystals in Art, join us in the studio to create works of wearable art using cold connecting metalworking techniques and crystals. Four hours of PD credit available. $10 ($8 members), register online or with Guest Services. Teen Night » Fright at the Museum Saturday, October 19, 7 to 9 pm Don’t miss a special night just for high school students at Crystal Bridges! Students, grades 9-12, from all over Northwest Arkansas are invited to attend our annual Halloween-themed Teen Night, featuring live music, a costume contest, murder mystery, and artmaking. Presented by the Crystal Bridges Teen Council. Free, no registration required. Figure Drawing Monday, October 21, 1 to 3 pm Ready to practice the basics? Join us in the studio for an afternoon of figure drawing at the museum with a live model. $10 ($5/members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Creative Connections Monday, October 21, 1:30 to 3:30 pm Join us for Creative Connections, a program for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia and their care partners. Museum Educators facilitate interactive discussions of artworks followed by hands-on art activities. No prior art experience is required! Refreshments and art materials are provided. Free, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900 ext. 8356 to register. Wednesday Series » Learning to Look Wednesday, October 23, 6 to 8 pm Reading a work of art with students is similar to reading a text in that it requires close looking and evidence to back up assertions and claims. Join us for this gallery workshop in which we will facilitate several close looking stops using our permanent collection and some of our favorite gallery teaching techniques. Two hours of PD credit available. $10 ($8 members), register online or with Guest Services. Art by the Glass » Craft a Clay Cheese Tray Friday, October 25, 5 to 7 pm This evening, guests will have the chance to build and decorate their own cheese tray out of clay. One glass of wine or beer and light appetizers are provided. Please note that all trays will be fired off-site and available for pick-up at Crystal Bridges three weeks following. $40 ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services. CB Babies Saturday, October 26, 10 to 11:30 am Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 months to 24 months and a caregiver. Spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art then enjoy sensory playtime. $10 per baby, free tickets for 1-2 adults per baby ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services. Featured Artisan Showcase and Sale » Woodturning Demonstration Saturday, October 26, 10 am to 6 pm Artists Kim Kenney, Bill Koch, Ron East, Randy Wright, and Kip Powers create beautiful, unique vessels using the wood-turning technique. Join us in the Museum Store to browse the collections as the artists demonstrate their work. Free, no registration required. Multisensory Saturday Saturday, October 26, 11 am to 2 pm Join us for multisensory exploration at the museum! In observation of Disability Awareness Month and in partnership with Sources and the NWA Disability Awareness Month Committee, join us for gallery activities that focus on access and inclusion and highlight all the senses. Free, no registration required. Halloween in the Hollow Saturday, October 26, 9 pm to 12:30 am Northwest Arkansas’s largest costume party is back! Get your best costume together and get ready to party the night away with DJ Heather, pioneer of the House movement in Chicago. Enjoy access to the temporary exhibition Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today and renew your spirit at our crystal healing station. Enjoy complimentary bites and a cash bar. Drinks are available for purchase. $25 ($20/members), FREE for Artinfusion, register online or with Guest Services. Forest Fun » Trick Art Treat Sunday, October 27, 12:30 to 3:30 pm Join us in the North Forest for our second-annual celebration of all things spooky! Have a ghoulishly good time pumpkin painting, eating candy, and capturing your genius costumes at the photo-BOO-th! Pumpkins will be provided. Free, no registration required. Distinguished Speaker Series » Marina Abramovic Wednesday, October 30, 7 to 8 pm Since the beginning of her career in Belgrade during the early 1970s, Marina Abramovic has pioneered performance as a visual art form. The performance artist will give a talk in which she discusses her exploration of long durational performance, transitory objects, and the boundaries between artist and audience. $15 ($12/members), register online or with Guest Services. For a complete list of current exhibitions, visit here. For news updates, follow Crystal Bridges on the Blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
