May 30, 2014 Summer arrives at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with a full slate of art and cultural events. The month kicks off on June 1 with a Family Sunday combined with Walton Art Center’s annual Trail Mix performances from the Artosphere Festival. A range of other performing arts are also offered throughout the month, including a classical music concert with the KUAF Chamber Music Series on June 3, an evening with the Oklahoma Dance Film Festival on June 13, and a family-friendly performance by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre on June 18. On June 8, visiting artist Ursula von Rydingsvard, creator of the monumental sculpture Unraveling on view in the museum, will give a free public lecture about her work, followed by a book signing. On June 25, museum architect Moshe Safdie will offer a morning talk on Walker Landing. While his evening lecture is sold out, the morning talk is available for all walk-up participants, no registration required. June Public Programs Sunday, June 1, noon to 5 pm Family Sunday | Trail Mix This very special Family Sunday will feature music on the trails from 1 to 3 p.m., provided by the Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere Festival, a family concert in the Great Hall at 3 p.m. by Time for Three, a scavenger hunt on the grounds, plus lots of hands-on fun in the museum! Sponsored by Rockline Industries, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and Kraft Foods. Free, no registration required. Wednesday, June 4, 1:30 to 2:30 pm Art Book Club | Experiencing Architecture by Steen Eiler Rasmussen How do architects perceive their surroundings and transform them into three-dimensional design-based ideas for worldwide appeal? How does architecture invite us to see the world and our environment interpreted via those individuals who create and construct? From Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water to the Trevi Fountain in Rome, join Crystal Bridges Librarian Elizabeth Bradshaw to discuss Experiencing Architecture. Free with online registration. June 4, 11, and 18, 6 to 7:30 pm Intro to Art Series | Natural History in Contemporary Art Connect with contemporary artists through the exploration of natural history in this three-part series presented by University of Arkansas’s leading expert on contemporary art, Associate Professor Alissa Walls. Join Professor Walls in an examination of present-day artists using the visual traditions of natural history. Observe the connections between artists of different time periods in Crystal Bridges’ collection, from early American artists of the Hudson River School to current artists such as Walton Ford, Roxy Paine, and Ursula von Rydingsvard, and relate these artists’ works to current global trends. This series provides an excellent foundation into one of the central themes of the upcoming exhibition, State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now. $30 ($24 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesday, June 4, 7 to 8 pm Buckyball Bike Ride Enjoy the great outdoors on a bike ridearound the Museum along the Crystal Bridges Trail. Finish the ride with a complimentary iced-tea cool-off reception at the Buckyball, an illuminated sculpture by artist Leo Villareal, featuring an acoustic musical journey with Christopher Key Cash. Meet at the head of the Crystal Bridges Trail near Compton Gardens. The ride will take us to Tiger Blvd, then on to NE J Street to finish at the Buckyball. Free, no registration required. Friday, June 6, 7:30 to 9 pm First Friday Concert | The Quality of Luminescence In Collaboration with the KUAF Chamber Music Series Enjoy this special performance of KUAF’s Chamber Music Series in Crystal Bridges’ Great Hall. Works from The William S. Paley Collection will be paired with musical compositions by Maurice Ravel, guest composer Ryan Cockerham, and Johannes Brahms to explore the ways in which luminescence— as a symbol of truth, in its property of evanescence, and as a metaphor for certainty— can be realized. Free with online registration. Saturday, June 7, noon to 3 pm Drop-In Art Making | Accordion Books Exercise your creativity! Drop in anytime between noon and 3 p.m. for a free, guided studio session. Learn a simple and fun way to build an accordion book that you can use to store stamps, photos, drawings, or poems. Materials are provided and all ages are welcome! Free, no registration required. Sunday, June 8, 1 to 4 pm Drop-In Drawing Drop in anytime 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. Sunday, June 8, 4 to 5 pm Spotlight Lecture | Ursula von Rydingsvard “The Subjectivity of Sculpture” Meet renowned sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard and hear the story behind Unraveling, her sculpture in the Crystal Bridges collection, as well as an overview of her signature abstract wood sculptures. Von Rydingsvard will discuss her art-making process using cedar beams that she and her studio assistants painstakingly cut and assemble, finishing them by rubbing powdered graphite into the work’s textured surfaces. Von Rydingsvard will be available after the presentation to sign copies of her monograph, Ursula von Rydingsvard: Working, which will be available for purchase in the Museum Store. Free with online registration. Monday, June 9, 11 am to 12:30 pm Journaling Group | Concerning the Spiritual in Art Spend the summer freeing your voice from traditional bonds through the inspirational writings of Wassily Kandinsky—known as the father of abstract art. Based on Kandinsky’s book, Concerning the Spiritual in Art, express your own personal thoughts in writing about the modern art masters in The William S. Paley Collection and the Museum’s permanent collection. Each class will be guided by Senior Museum Educator Sara Segerlin, who will guide the group through Kandinsky’s provocative ideas on color, the natural spirit of art, and his analyses of Picasso, Matisse, and earlier masters. Please bring paper and pencil for writing in the galleries. Free with online registration. Wednesday, June 11, 6 to 7 pm WOW | Wednesday Over Water Culinary Director Case Dighero welcomes local spirits guru Emily Lawson of Fayetteville-based Pink House Alchemy, a purveyor of fine syrups and bitters crafted from locally sourced roots, barks, fruits, herbs, and botanicals. Join us for a flavorful discussion on the fine art of the artisanal cocktail. Homespun bitters, syrups, and whimsy are all on the menu for this month’s Wednesday Over Water! Open to guests ages 21 and above. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology. $30 ($24 for Members). Purchase tickets online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 to 8 pm Boundless Book Club | The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker In Baker’s first novel, we are partnered with main character Howie on a trip to “the mezzanine.” Rambling footnotes, definitive childhood memories, and contemplative thoughts regarding neckties, doorknobs, and other everyday objects are meditated hilariously during a lunch break in Howie’s mind. The unusual use of footnotes in The Mezzanine leads the reader through an entertaining story of daily, common musings and contemplations. Join Crystal Bridges librarian Elizabeth Bradshaw to discuss what Baker calls his ‘opusculum’ and its Seinfeld-esque writing. Free with online registration. Friday, June 13, 6:30 to 8 pm Family Workshop | Cubist Guitars Come together on a Friday night to create art with your family! Cubist painters couldn’t get enough of the guitar’s classic curves. Have fun constructing a guitar collage that is as lively and playful as the tunes you’ll hear in the studio. All materials are provided. $20 per family ($16 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, June 13, 6:30 to 8 pm Photo Salon | Fashion Shoot featuring Photographer Victor Chalfant Join Crystal Bridges’ Photo Salon to explore the Museum’s stunning architecture and landscape in a fashion photo shoot led by fashion photographer Victor Chalfant. $10 (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, June 13, 7:30 to 9 pm Skyspace Expert Talk | Interpretation Manager Aaron Jones on James Turrell Join us at the Skyspace where Interpretation Manager Aaron Jones will describe his week-long experience working with artist James Turrell during the installation of the artwork, as well as their shared fascination for the science behind the pre-Columbian calendar. Free, no registration required. Seating is first-come, first-served. Friday, June 13, 8:30 to 10 pm Outdoor Film and Dance Performance: Oklahoma Dance Film Festival Enjoy an evening on Walker Landing with “Out of Sight,” a collection of short dance films from the Oklahoma Dance Film Festival. This evening of dance films will also feature a live performance by Tulsa Modern Movement (TuMM) and Out on a Limb Dance Collective. Both the films and the live performances play with ideas of sight: revealing and concealing, positive and negative space, here and gone. Sponsored by Demara Titzer. Free, no registration required. Saturday, June 14, 9 to 10:30 am Discover the Grounds | The Butterfly Whisperer Arkansas “Butterfly Lady,” Lori Spencer, has written several books on butterflies, including the recently published 2nd edition of the field guide Arkansas Butterflies and Moths. Crystal Bridges has created a butterfly sanctuary in the Skyspace Wildflower Meadow, which comes alive with a variety of butterflies and other insects every summer. Spencer will discuss the preservation of native butterfly species and how to decipher the differences between butterflies and moths. Afterward, go on an interactive “butterfly spotting” tour with Spencer and trail guides. Meet at the Skyspace, accessible via the paved Art Trail, which includes a medium incline. Sponsored by The Coleman Company. Spencer will be available in the Museum Store to sign copies of her field guide following the tour. Free with online registration. Saturday, June 14, 11 am to 2 pm Museum Store Event | Book signing with Lori Spencer Lori Spencer, author of the newly published 2nd edition of Arkansas Butterflies and Moths, will be present to sign copies of this fascinating field guide. The book will be available for purchase in the Museum Store. NOTE: Spencer is leading a Discover the Grounds program focusing on the butterflies of Crystal Bridges at 9 a.m. The program is free with online registration. Sunday, June 15, 1 to 3 pm Walker Landing Arts Join us for great music and hands-on art-making outdoors on Walker Landing, with music by the popular acoustic group, Farmer and the Markets! Free, no registration required. Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20, 9 am to noon Summer Camps | June Drawing Discover drawing while working from the Museum’s collection, trails, and your imagination. You’ll draw inside and outside and explore both wet and dry media while creating a series of original works of art using ink, pastels, pencils, charcoal, and much more! Concurrent camps are offered for two age groups (6 to 9 and 10 to 12). All materials, as well as healthy and nut-free snacks are included in camp fee. $150 ($120 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20, 1:30 to 4:30 pm Summer Camps | June Painting Have fun with watercolors and acrylics to paint landscapes, imaginary worlds, creatures, and more! We’ll travel through time in Crystal Bridges’ galleries and capture what we see both in the studios and en plein air (“in the open air”). Learn about color mixing, texture, composition, and more with masterworks from the Museum’s collection. Concurrent camps are offered for two age groups (6 to 9 and 10 to 12). All materials, as well as healthy and nut-free snacks, are included in camp fee. $150, ($120 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesday, June 18, 7 pm Summer Family Time | The Comedy of Errors Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre The fantastic Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre returns to Crystal Bridges this summer with a fun, family adaptation of The Comedy of Errors — one of the Bard’s shortest and most farcical comedies, presented on Walker Landing. What a great way to spend a summer evening with your family! Free, no registration required Thursday, June 19, 1 to 1:45 pm Art Talk | Ruth Asawa: Being an Artist and Japanese American Join an in-depth discussion about Ruth Asawa’s artistic journey, guided by Gayle Seymour, Professor of Art History and Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Central Arkansas. Seymour traces Asawa’s life from her roots in Arkansas at a Japanese internment camp during WWII to her success as one of the leading sculptors and public artists in the nation. This talk explores the influences of Asawa’s Japanese ancestry on her work, as well as the experiences of Asawa and her family in the internment camp, which would profoundly change her perspective and lead her to discover new possibilities in life. Free, no registration required. Saturday, June 21, 7 am, 9 am, and 11 am Yoga and Art | Sunrise Solstice Yoga on the South Lawn Celebrate the Summer Solstice on the Museum’s South Lawn with one of three invigorating yoga sessions presented by Soul Yoga Lounge. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and dress appropriately. Free with online registration. Saturday, June 21, 6:30 to 10 pm Summer Solstice Night at the Skyspace Join us in a Solstice celebration around James Turrell’s Skyspace installation, The Way of Color. We’ll celebrate this experiential play on color and science through sound art! Enjoy Walton Art Center’s “The Way of Timbre,” a site-specific musical performance composed especially for the Skyspace and designed by renowned sound artist Steve Parker of Soundspace. Using digeridoos, trombones, and sine waves, the composition is a sonic interpretation of the Skyspace experience and will begin at sunset. Following the sunset performance, Downtown Bentonville’s Notes at Night series comes alive at the amphitheater with local band, The Airplanes. Throughout the event, adults and children alike can participate in colorful bubble-making projects from 6:30-8:30 pm and enjoy telescope star-gazing with the Astrological Society of NWA into the late evening. Cash bar and concession stand available. Free, no registration required. Wednesday, June 25, 10 to 11 am Special Addition: Outdoor Talk by Moshe Safdie Due to popular demand, the museum’s architect, Moshe Safdie, has added an Outdoor Talk to his itinerary on June 25. In this informal talk and Q&A, Safdie will discuss his design of the museum, and welcome questions from participants. Specially geared to students and those interested in architecture and engineering, if you missed the opportunity to sign up for his evening lecture, here’s your chance to join us for a morning talk. Free, no registration required. Wednesday, June 25, Sunset Skyspace Discussion Enjoy a facilitated discussion of James Turrell’s Skyspace The Way of Color, led by a Museum Guide. Free, no registration required. Seating is first-come, first-served. Friday, June 27, 7 pm Summer Family Time | Drum Safari on Walker Landing Join Kansas City musicians Brandon and Teryn Draper on Walker Landing for a high-energy, interactive performance of music from around the world, with dancing, drumming, and more! Free, no registration required. Sunday, June 29, 6:30 to 8 pm Film: Gertrude Stein: When This You See, Remember Me Close out the exhibition run of The William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism with the memorable 1970 classic film by Perry Miller Adato, Gertrude Stein: When This You See, Remember Me. The film creates a vivid, living portrait of Gertrude Stein, featuring artists, writers, and a wide variety of fascinating personalities that interacted with Stein at her salon at 27 rue de Fleurus—one of the most sought-after in Paris in the early decades of the 20th century. This biography views Stein within the time, the place, and the milieu in which she thrived, aided and abetted by her life-long companion Alice B. Toklas. The script is derived mainly from Stein’s cleverly mis-titled self-portrait The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, supplemented by candid on-camera conversations with friends and colleagues. Through images and voice-over quotes by actors, other key players in her life are summoned: William James, Ambroise Vollard, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Juan Gris, Thornton Wilder, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and others. Free with online registration. Monday, June 30, 6 to 9:30 pm Cr(EAT)e Food Series: Farm to Table in the Ozarks Join Crystal Bridges’ Culinary Director Case Dighero, along with Chef Bill Lyle, for the last big event of June’s Bentonville Arts and Culinary Festival! Farm to Table will be a multi-coursed extravaganza featuring fresh foodstuffs and ingredients from the Bentonville Farmers’ Market. We’ll also be welcoming special guest Nicki Dallison, Bentonville Farmer’s Market Manager, along with several of our regional farmers and food artisans to discuss how and where our food is produced. Come get a taste of the Ozarks’ High South cuisine and watch the chefs at work to create a delicious, original meal just for you—fresh from the farm to the table! $120 ($100 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
