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Crystal Bridges Brings the Summer Heat this June with New Exhibitions, Concerts, and Parties

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art ushers in June with a new exhibition, concerts, parties, performances, guest speakers, and workshops.

Color Field, Crystal Bridges’ outdoor sculpture exhibition, is open from June 1 to September 30, 2019. Developed by Crystal Bridges associate curator of contemporary art, Allison Glenn, the exhibition features artists that employ lush colors and enlarged forms against the backdrop of the museum’s North Forest and select locations in the museum. Inspired by the color field style of painting, Color Field relies on abstraction, heavy color and surfaces devoid of representation. Exhibition tickets for both Color Field and Nature’s Nation are $16 and $12 for just Color Field from September 11-30. Members and youth 18 and under get in free. For ticket and more information, visit the Color Field exhibition page.

With the summer heat, Crystal Bridges’ North Forest provides a cool, shaded setting for the 2019 Forest Concert Series. Every Saturday, from June 1 to July 27 at 7 pm, the Coca Cola Stage hosts bands and artists from all over the country, creating a soundwave of blues, indie, folk, and more. Tickets are $12, $10 for members and free for youth 18 and under. ViewForest Concert Series lineup and listen to the Forest Concert Series Purchase your ticket Spotify playlist.

Join Crystal Bridges Friday, June 7 at 7 p.m. for a harmonic performance infused with art and jazz as the Watch Party for Portraits of Americaby The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) stages a series of originally-composed music, each inspired by art from the Crystal Bridges permanent collection. Free registeration.

Calling all green thumbs: Crystal Bridges’ fifth annual Garden Party will take place on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Explore our special native plant and seed sale, artmaking, nature, tasty refreshments prepared by Eleven and local food trucks, music on the trails, and more! Become one with nature and celebrate the beauty of our community. Free, no registration.

Crystal Bridges welcomes one of the country’s most exciting artists, Titus Kaphar on June 14 at 7 p.m. as part of the museum’s 2019 Distinguished Speaker Series. In this powerful session, Kaphar will amplify the voice of art and challenge the public to dive into an artist’s mind. Tickets are $15, $12 for members, and $5 for students. Purchase your ticket.

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 June programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events.

Forest Concert Series » Yarn
Saturday, June 1, 7 to 9:30 pm

Return to the North Forest this summer with our first 2019 Forest Concert of the season. Yarn, a Brooklyn-based, North Carolina-raised band will awaken your soul with toe-tapping jams.

$12 ($10 for members), free for youth ages 18/under. Register online or by calling Guest Services.

Aniwisvsgo’I: A Dance Performance by Maura Garcia
Sunday June 2 and Sunday June 9, 2 to 4 pm

Plant yourself at the museum with Maura Garcia to experience a site-specific dance performance highlighting the natural landscape of Northwest Arkansas parks–Lake Atalanta and Lake Fayetteville. Free, no registration required.

  • Lake Atalanta, Sunday June 2, 2 pm and 4 pm
  • Garden Party, Crystal Bridges, Saturday June 8, 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm
  • Lake Fayetteville Park, Sunday June 9, 2 pm and 4 pm

Pride Night
Wednesday, June 5, 6 to 9 pm

Celebrate Crystal Bridges first Pride with Northwest Arkansas Equality at ABC and Walker Landing. Join us for a post-work happy hour, followed by a guided tour through our galleries, highlighting the LGBTQ artists in our collection. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Summer Family Fun » Family Zumba
Friday, June 7, 7 to 7:45 pm

Get your summer workout on with your family at the museum! Learn new moves and dance until the sun goes down at the Frank Lloyd Wright Lawn. Free, no registration required.

Watch Party » Portraits of America by The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Friday, June 7, 7 to 9 pm

For the first time, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with Wynton Marsalis presents a new collaboration bridging visual art and jazz composition. Join us for a watch party in the Great Hall, streamed live from Lincoln Center (8 pm EST). Drinks will be available for purchase and a cash bar will be on hand during the evening. Free with registration. Register online or with Guest Services.

Discover the Grounds » River Cane and Indigenous Plants
Saturday, June 8, 9 to 10:30 am

Led by biologist and Cherokee Nation Administrative Liaison Pat Gwin, Discover the Grounds will take a close look at many traditional and culturally significant native plants in the Cherokee Nation, including the endangered River Cane. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Garden Party
Saturday, June 8, 10 am to 3 pm

Celebrate the beauty of Crystal Bridges’ trails and grounds with our fifth annual Garden Party! Explore our special native plant and seed sale, artmaking, nature, tasty refreshments by Eleven, local food trucks, music on the trails, and more! Special dance performance at the North Lawn by Maura Garcia. Free, no registration required.

Forest Concert Series » Dawson Hollow
Saturday, June 8, 7 to 9:30 pm

Get up on your feet in the North Forest with this indie-folk, Americana band based out of the Ozark Mountains. $12 ($10 for members), free for youth ages 18/under. Register online or with Guest Services.

Summer Camp » Art and Nature (Ages 6-7, Ages 8-10)
June 10-14, 9 am to 12 pm

Create art inspired by nature with natural materials for your yard and visit the temporary exhibition Nature’s Nation to see how artists depict the natural world. $150 ($120 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Summer Camp » Art Party (Ages 6-7, Ages 8-10)
June 10-14, 1:30 to 4:30 pm

It’s a pARTy in the museum every day! Discover a variety of art styles in Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection and create sculptures, prints, collages, and paintings for your home! $150 ($120 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Meditation and Mindfulness » Maura Garcia
Monday, June 10, 1 to 2 pm

Maura Garcia will lead a guided meditation and mindfulness experience that explores the artist’s perspective on experiencing artwork and a nature space through the mind and body with the audience. 

Summer Family Fun » 1, 2, 3, Andres!
Wednesday, June 12, 7 to 8 pm

Uno, Dos, Tres! Count and sing in both English and Spanish at Walker Landing with this Latin Grammy-winning group, Andres and Christina! Free, no registration required.

Adult Workshop » Moon Pod Sculpture Workshop with Craig Colorusso
Wednesday, June 12, 6 to 8:30 pm

Join us for this evening workshop with artist Craig Colorusso as you explore the relationship of light, sounds, and forms of sculptures in nature. Inspired by many concepts, each guest will create their own wooden Moon Pod sculpture to take home and place in an outdoor space. $45 ($36 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services

Preschool Playdate » Under the Sea
Thursday, June 13, 11:30 am to 2 pm

Join us in the Great Hall for an afternoon of wonderful water play! Enjoy storytime, artmaking, bubbles, and creative play inspired by the museum’s home over water. Free, no registration required.

DISH » Allison Glenn
Thursday, June 13, 6 to 7:30 pm

Enjoy an in-depth conversation in the Great Hall with Crystal Bridges’ Associate Curator of Contemporary Art Allison Glenn, as she provides an insightful glimpse into her work as a relevant curator in the exciting realm of Modern art in the United States. Drinks and appetizers will be served. $50 ($42 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Art & English
Thursday, June 13, 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Are you learning English and want to practice your conversational skills with others? Join us for Art & English where English language learners are encouraged to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing English while discussing artworks in the galleries. Free, registration encouraged, but not required. Email Emily.Rodriguez@CrystalBridges.org to register.

Featured Artisan Demonstration and Sale » Mollyjogger’s Scrimshaw
Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 16, 10 am to 6 pm

Join Mollyjogger in the Museum Store to learn about and create Scrimshaw art, an early American art form originating from the whaling industry in the late 1700s. Take home your very own bone-handled pocket with Scrimshaw images of a hunt, big catch, or simply the family name! Free, no registration required.

Distinguished Speaker Series » Titus Kaphar
Friday, June 14, 7 to 8 pm

In this powerful talk with one of the country’s most exciting young painters, Titus Kaphar imagines a renewed, more nuanced engagement with American history: envisioning new spaces for marginalized or forgotten bodies to enter, and disrupt, the evolving fabric of our culture. Join Kaphar on a revealing, intellectually nourishing tour of the issues most in need of amendment.  $15 ($12 for members, $5 for students), register online or with Guest Services.

Gallery Conversation » Opera in the Ozarks
Saturday, June 15, 1 to 2:30 pm

Opera in the Ozarks presents a dynamic performance of showtunes and opera in the modern galleries: a varied selection of performance pieces featuring two singers accompanied by a pianist exploring contemporary and historical works of musical art. Join us for a sensorial experience followed by a Q&A with the performers.

Forest Concert Series » The Werks & Friends of the Phamily
Saturday, June 15, 7 to 9:30 pm

The Spaceberry Festival in Eureka Springs brings popular band, The Werks, and Northwest Arkansas’ Grateful Dead cover band, Friends of the Phamily, to the North Forest. Come sit back and relax as these two bands get to “werk”. $12 ($10 for members), free for youth ages 18/under. Register online or by calling Guest Services.

Artosphere Festival Presents: Dover Quartet
Monday, June 17, 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Hailed by the New Yorker as “one of the world’s finest young string quartets” and returning for their ninth season as principal musicians in the Artosphere Festival Orchestra, the Dover Quartet will once again bring their unmistakable sound to the Crystal Bridges Great Hall, surrounded and inspired by the natural beauty of the Ozarks. Program: Franz Schubert | String Quartet in G Major, D. 887. $15; for tickets, please visit artospherefestival.org or call the Walton Arts Center box office.

Summer Camp » In Our Nature (Ages 6-7, Ages 8-10)
June 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 9:30 am to 3 pm

Enjoy the unique opportunity to travel between two museums for a one-of-a-kind summer camp experience hosted by the Scott Family Amazeum and Crystal Bridges. Campers will explore the Northwest Arkansas ecosystem through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities to investigate the science of nature as well as spend half of each day at the Amazeum digging into the biology of our world and at Crystal Bridges! $335 ($265 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Artinfusion Humpday Happy Hour
Wednesday, June 19, 5:30 to 7 pm

Come “wine” down the week with humpday happy hour. Enjoy a few drinks at happy hour prices, check out our appetizer menu, and stick around for dinner over the water in Eleven restaurant!

SOLD OUT Adult Workshop » Native Plants Watercolor Workshop with Leana Fischer
Wednesday, June 19, 6 to 8:30 pm

This beginner level watercolor workshop will teach students a variety of foundational watercolor techniques while studying some of the native plants that grow on the grounds of Crystal Bridges. All supplies are included, and guests will leave with a finished work. $45 ($36 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Artosphere Festival Orchestra » Live from Crystal Bridges: Mozart in the Museum
Thursday, June 20, 8 to 10 pm
The Artosphere Festival Orchestra, performing under the baton of Maestro Corrado Rovaris, returns for the seventh time to Crystal Bridges with an all-Mozart program including Eine kleine Nachtmusik, a Clarinet Concerto featuring clarinetist Andrea Levine, and Symphony No. 29. This concert will also be broadcast live on KUAF 91.3 FM. $45; for tickets, please visit  artospherefestival.org or call the Walton Arts Center box office.

Featured Artisan Demonstration and Sale » Perrion Hurd
Saturday, June 22, 10 am to 6 pm

Join us in the Museum Courtyard for a printmaking demonstration with Little Rock-based artist, Perrion Hurd. Guests will have the opportunity to try their hand at making a print with pre-cut linoleum blocks. Free, no registration required.

Summer Campout
Friday, June 21 to Saturday, June 22, 5:30 pm to 10 am

Bring your whole crew to our first overnight campout! On June 21, meet us under the stars in our beautiful Ozark North forest to enjoy a night of s’mores, artmaking, camp stories and acoustic music by Melody Pond, Jamie Lou and the Hullabaloo, Bayard Blain, and the Ozark Highballers. $50 for adults ($40 for Member adults); $20 children under 12; free for children under 2. Register by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Yoga and Art » 108 Sun Salutations
Saturday, June 22, 7 to 8:30 am

Welcome the summer season with 108 Sun Salutations on Crystal Bridges’ lush South Lawn, guided by Yoga Story. This special yoga session celebrates the arrival of the summer season with 108 poses that will refresh you and energize your yoga practice. $5 (Free for members), register online or with Guest Services.

Remember 2019 Storyshare Workshop
Saturday, June 22 11 am to 1 pm

The Remember2019 collective (remember2019.org) from Elaine (Phillips County), Arkansas will lead a community workshop for all ages about storytelling on the black experience. Come out to the Yvonne Richardson Community Center and get more connected to the community through this participatory workshop, designed to engage all ages. Free, no registration required. For more information, contact Guest Services.

Meditation and Mindfulness » Summer Solstice
Saturday, June 22, 1 to 2 pm

Celebrating the arrival of the summer season, join us for this special outdoor meditation on the North Lawn. Free, no registration required.

Forest Concert Series » Arkansauce & Delta Blues Musicians
Saturday, June 22, 7 to 9:30 pm

Arkansauce is a genre-hopping, four-piece string band from Northwest Arkansas, bending the rules and blurring the lines between bluegrass, newgrass, folk, americana, country, blues, and funk. Opening for Arkansauce are Delta Blues Musicians, including Marcus “Mookie” Cartwright, James “Gone for Good”, and Vera White. $12 ($10 for members), free for youth ages 18/under. Register online or by calling Guest Services.

Adult Workshop » Plein Air at Hobbs State Park
Sunday, June 23, 10 am to 3 pm

Capture the sweeping vistas and lush summer views of Hobbs State Park in this Plein Air watercolor workshop, led by award-winning artist Alicia Farris. Inspired by the approaches of artists from the Hudson River School, Alicia will provide techniques and guidance in rendering the landscape in watercolor. $80 ($72 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Black n’Da Blues Concert
Sunday, June 23, 4 to 5:30 pm

In Black ‘n da Blues, Arkansas Delta musicians explore the relationship between legacies of race and artistic expression – locally, nationally and beyond. Free with online registration.

Summer Camp Nerdies » Movie Making (Ages 11-14)
June 24-28, 9 am to 3 pm

Have you ever wanted to make an actual movie? In this camp, you will learn every aspect of what it takes to create something awesome, work with a team to create an actual movie, involving areas of writing, character development, acting, filming, and editing, and develop skills that you will take with you for the rest of your life! $335 ($265 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Summer Camp Nerdies » 3D Modeling and Animation (Ages 11-14)
June 24-28, 9 am to 3 pm

Do you want to know how Frozen was made? If you answered “yes,” then this is the session for you! In this camp with David Kersey, you will explore 3D modeling and animation, learn the software that artists at Disney, Sony, and Pixar use, and create a characters! $335 ($265 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Sunset Tai Chi with Master Bing
Monday, June 24, 7:30 to 8:30 pm

Wind down from your busy day and join us this evening on the South Lawn for tai chi and qigong as the sun sets! This special session will be led by Zhong Xuechao (Master Bing), a fifteenth-generation Wudang Sanfeng Kungfu master. All experience levels welcome. $5 (Free for members).

BCC Summer Camp » Week 1: Nature Explorers (Ages 6-10)
June 24 – June 28 | 9 am to 12 pm OR 1 to 4 pm

Get to know the amazing plants, critters, and colors found in our own backyard! With the help of Crystal Bridges art instructors and the Bentonville Community Center, discover the ways that artworks in the museum’s temporary exhibition, Nature’s Nation, explore and celebrate nature with planting, scientific observation, expressive painting, creative upcycling, and more. $150 ($120 for members), register through the Bentonville Community Center website.

Member Scoop » Architecture Insights
Wednesday, June 26, 6 to 8 pm

Dive a little deeper into your architectural curiosities during a night of mini tours and talks. Crystal Bridges staff and architectural experts will lead discussions in the Great Hall about Crystal Bridges, the Bachman-Wilson House, and current design trends. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.

Adult Workshop » Bundle Dye Workshop with Hillfolk Textile Studio & Shop
Wednesday, June 26, 6 to 8:30 pm

Learn the art of natural dyeing in this workshop led by Bea Apple and Trisha Logan of Hillfolk Textile Studio & Shop. The workshop will cover dye plants, mordants, different fibers, an overview of natural dyestuffs and each guest will be able to dye their own silk scarf to take home! $45 ($36 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services.

Summer Family Fun » Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre: Romeo & Juliet
Thursday, June 27, 6 to 7 pm

Bring the whole family to the museum to watch Shakespeare’s classic tale of “star-crossed” young lovers, Romeo & Juliet, reimagined for audiences of all ages in this one-hour adaptation at Walker Landing. Free, no registration required.

Summer Studio Intensive: Exploring Fibers and Textiles
Thursday, June 27 and Friday, June 28, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Calling all art teachers! Nurture yourself and gain new media ideas in this two-day studio intensive workshop where we will explore processes for working with fibers and textiles. $65, register online or with Guest Services.

Scratch & Dent Sale
Friday, June 28 (10 am to 9 pm) through Sunday, June 30, 10 am to 6 pm

This weekend, the Museum Store is running a special sale of 70% off regular priced items with packaging that experienced minor dents and dings in transit, but are in otherwise perfect condition. Members are to enjoy their 10% discount on top of sale prices. Sales continues through the weekend while supplies last. Free, no registration required.

Art by the Glass » Summer Blooms in Watercolor
Friday, June 28, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Enjoy an evening of watercolor painting with this fun, beginner level workshop. In addition to learning foundational watercolor techniques, from mixing color to using the paintbrush, students will explore a variety of easy brush strokes that can be used to capture a wide range of botanical shapes. $30 ($24/members), ages 21 and up. Register online or with Guest Services.

CB Babies

Saturday, June 29, 10 to 11:30 am
Oh, baby! Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 to 24 months with a caregiver. Spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime. $10 per baby, free tickets for 1-2 adults per baby ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Multisensory Saturday
Saturday, June 29, 11 am to 2 pm

Join us for multisensory exploration at the museum featuring gallery activities that focus on access and inclusion and highlight all the senses. Free, no registration required.

Forest Concert Series » Black Pumas
Saturday, June 29, 7 to 9:30 pm

Austin’s hottest new band, Black Pumas, is a beat-heavy soul sextet that keeps the rhythm alive in the North Forest with a mix of soul, folk, and R&B hits. $12 ($10 for members), free for youth ages 18/under. Register online or by calling Guest Services.

Visit the museum exhibitions page for a complete list of current exhibitions. For news updates, follow Crystal Bridges on the Blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

Spencer Finch, Back to Kansas, 2015130 x 186 in. (bottom of artwork is 60 inches from the ground), Collection of Christian Keesee, New York and Oklahoma