Aug 8, 2014 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announces a full month of discovery with the opening of the State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now exhibition on September 13, along with art making, dancing, music, and more! State of the Art draws from every region of the U.S. with 102 artists ranging in age from 24 to 87. The exhibition explores contemporary American art through the lens of artists who have not yet been fully recognized on a national level. Artists from State of the Art will host art talks and participate in programs and workshops throughout the month. On September 12, the State of the Art Spotlight Lecture will include a discussion with Crystal Bridges President Don Baciagalupi and Curator Chad Alligood about their year-long, 100,000-mile search for the most compelling American art being created today. With the school year in full swing, Crystal Bridges art programs provide hands-on learning activities like Drop-In Art Making, Homeschool Friday Fun, and preschool and afterschool classes throughout the month. On September 20, visitors can celebrate the Fall Equinox for the Light Night Party at Buckyball. This event includeselectronic music by Moai Broadcast and Horse Thief, plus State of the Art artist John Douglas Powers and his interactive robotic station. The month wraps up on September 26 with Salsa Dancing Night to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. A full listing of September programs is below. Information and registration are also available on the calendar of events on Crystal Bridges’ website: https://test.crystalbridges.org/events/. Sign up for Crystal Bridges email updates at ENewsletter. September Public Programs Monday, September 1, 1 to 4 pm Labor Day Celebration with the Fayetteville Roots Festival Join Crystal Bridges and the Fayetteville Roots Festival on Walker Landing for Labor Day fun with a concert and cookout. Enjoy free concerts by special guest performers from the festival! Food and drink will be available for purchase. Free, no registration required. Fridays, September 5, 12, and 19, 2 to 3:30 pm Homeschool Friday Fun: Rock (For ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12) In this three-session studio class, students will explore how nature can inspire artists and how natural elements can be incorporated into art making. $45 ($36 for Members)/3 classes, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, September 5, 8 to 10:30 pm Skyspace Amphitheater Concert: The Coverlets Extend your evening following Downtown Bentonville’s First Friday— follow the Art Trail to enjoy a late concert at the beautiful Skyspace Amphitheater, featuring Basement Brew and The Coverlets. Please feel free to bring a blanket or lawn chairs to the Amphitheater. Free, no registration required. Saturday, September 6, 9 to 10:30 am. Discover the Grounds | Botanical Illustration Begin this Discover the Grounds presentation with Horticulturist Cody George inside the Museum to explore the visual wonders of botany highlighted by artists of the Hudson River School, followed by an outdoor botanical drawing session with Interpretation Manager Aaron Jones. This program will begin in the Early Nineteenth-Century Art Gallery, and finish outdoors at the East Terrace. Sponsored by The Coleman Company. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Monday, September 8, 1 to 3 pm Figure Drawing Join us twice each month to draw from a clothed model. Whether you’ve always had a love for figure drawing or are trying it for the first time, you’ll enjoy an afternoon drawing with others at the Museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter warm-up poses, and longer poses. $10 (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Monday, September 8, 1:30 to 2:30 pm The Great Reveal| Preserving your Favorite Books, Photos, and Memorabilia In this special Great Reveal, librarians Catherine Petersen and Elizabeth Bradshaw will present information on how you can preserve your own rare books and family treasures. Archival history and the process of caring for rare items, as well as where and how to purchase proper archival materials, will be discussed. The Great Reveal is sponsored by John and Emily Douglas. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesdays, September 10, 17, and 24, 1 to 2:15 pm Preschool Art Class | Fiber Art For ages 3 to 5, with an adult. Parents or caregivers participate with their preschoolers in gallery conversations and art-making activities each week to discover the beauty of fiber. Session includes three consecutive Wednesday classes. $30 ($24 for Members)/3 classes, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesday, September 10, 6:30 to 7:30 pm Boundless Book Club | A New-England Tale by Catharine Maria Sedgwick Join Librarian Elizabeth Bradshaw in a lively discussion about A New-England Tale, published in 1822. Jane Elton, orphaned as a young girl, goes to live with her aunt, Mrs. Wilson, a selfish and overbearing woman who practices a repressive Calvinism. In their rural New England village, Jane grows up yearning to break free from Mrs. Wilson’s tyranny and find her place as a citizen of the evolving American republic. She is helped by her encounters with characters who embody various shadings of moral, religious, and civic virtue: the affectionate servant Mary Hull, a pious Methodist; Mr. Lloyd, a kind Quaker; Crazy Bet, emotional, sympathetic, but deeply unstable; and Old John, bereaved but wise. Ultimately, A New-England Tale is about the connection between parenting and governing, and the key role women play in shaping a fledgling nation. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Thursdays, September 11, 18, and 25, 4 to 5:30 pm Afterschool Art Class | Artists of Today Discover contemporary art in this fun, multi-media afterschool class! Media and projects will be inspired by the work of contemporary artists in the State of the Art exhibition. $45 ($36 for Members)/3 classes. Register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, September 12, 9 am to 9 pm Member Preview | State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now Crystal Bridges Members enjoy a free first look at this groundbreaking exhibition featuring the work of 100 artists from around the United States. Free with membership, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, September 12, 1 to 2 pm Art Talk | State of the Art artist Ghost of a Dream Brooklyn-based artist duo Ghost of a Dream turns everyday materials such as discarded lottery tickets into vibrant works of art. Meet the artists and learn more about their work featured in State of the Art. Sponsored by the Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. Free, no registration required. Friday, September 12, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Adult Workshop | Collage with State of the Art artist Ghost of a Dream Artist duo Ghost of a Dream turns everyday materials such as discarded lottery tickets into vibrant works of art. Visit our website for full class details. Sponsored by Demara Titzer and Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. $15 ($12 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, September 12, 7 to 8 pm Spotlight Lecture | State of the Art with Crystal Bridges President Don Bacigalupi and Curator Chad Alligood In 2013, Bacigalupi and Alligood hit the road to investigate what’s happening in American art today. Over the course of a year, they logged more than 100,000 miles, crisscrossing the United States to visit nearly 1,000 artists, and ultimately selecting some 100 for inclusion in the exhibition: State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now. In this special Spotlight Lecture prior to the exhibition’s national debut, Bacigalupi and Alligood will share tales from the road and offer insights into curating an exhibition of this magnitude. Hear about the behind-the-scenes process of putting together State of the Art, and join us in this unprecedented exploration of the power of today’s American art. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Saturday, September 13, 9 to 10 am Member Preview | State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now Crystal Bridges Members enjoy a free first look at this groundbreaking exhibition featuring the work of 100 artists from around the United States. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Saturday, September 13, 10 am to 6 pm Museum Store | Artisan Demonstration: Denise Lanuti, Glass Lampwork Beadmaking Glass artist Denise Lanuti will demonstrate the dynamic technique of lampwork bead making. Watch as she winds molten glass around a steel welding rod to create her colorful beads that can be worn as art. Lanuti’s jewelry collection will be on display and available for purchase during the event. Free, no registration required. Saturday, September 13, noon to 3 pm Drop-In Art Making | Art Buffet Get creative with surprising and unusual art supplies, inspired by the work of the contemporary artists featured in the exhibition State of the Art. Drop in anytime between noon and 3 p.m. for a free, guided studio session. Materials are provided and all ages are welcome! Free, no registration required. Saturday, September 13, 1 to 4 pm The Writing’s on the Wall: A collaborative experience with State of the Art artists Ghost of a Dream Meet Brooklyn, New York-based artists Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom, collectively known as Ghost of a Dream, and contribute your own words to a collaborative text art project. All ages are welcome! Sponsored by the Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. Free, no registration required. Monday, September 15, 11 am to 1 pm Short Story Group with the Village Writing School Bridging Visual and Literary Art Join our short story group for a literary adventure through the State of the Art exhibition. Alison Taylor Brown, Director of the Village Writing School, will guide the writing experience in which participants will write a short story inspired by contemporary art in the exhibition. Brown will offer instruction in finding a narrative arc, creating dialogue, and building drama. The group will close with a shared reading. Alison Taylor Brown, director and founder of the Village Writing School, has a master’s degree in fiction from Southern New Hampshire University. VWS is incorporated as Eureka Springs School of the Literary Arts; their mission is to help beginning and established area writers develop their craft. Free with online registration. Wednesday, September 17, 6 to 7 pm WOW | State of the Art Join Crystal Bridges Culinary Director Case Dighero to sample selections of drinks and hors d’oeuvres from Eleven, inspired by the Museum collection and temporary exhibitions. 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. Friday, September, 19, 7 to 8:30 pm Film Screening: Waste Land, a film by Vik Muniz Waste Land follows renowned artist Vik Muniz (whose work is in the Crystal Bridges collection) on a journey from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, which was located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro until it was closed in 2012. There he photographed an eclectic band of catadores—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives. The film offers stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit. Sponsored by Demara Titzer and The Legacy Fayetteville Condominiums. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Saturday, September 20, 11 am to 2 pm Member ARTmazing Family Race Crystal Bridges Members are invited to take part in this kid-friendly scavenger hunt that will take families on a journey through the south trails, seeking clues and snapping photos of treasures along the way! The event begins (and ends) on the South Lawn. Free for Members with registration. Saturday, September 20, 1 to 2 pm Art Talk | State of the Art artist John Douglas Powers on Kinetic Sculpture Hear Knoxville, Tennessee-based artist John Douglas Powers discuss the merging of spirituality with the machine as a kinetic art form. Sponsored by the Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. (Join us later in the evening to participate in Powers’ spontaneous project for our Buckyball Light Night Party!) Free, no registration required. Saturday, September 20, 8 to 11 pm Light Night Party Celebrate the Fall Equinox at our Light Night Party around Leo Villareal’s illuminated sculpture, Buckyball. Groove to the electronic music of Moai Broadcastand Horse Thief. Work on The Universe is in Us, a collaborative project by local artist Jennifer Gilder, and join State of the Art artist John Douglas Powers at his interactive robotic station. Kick off the evening adventure in an illuminated bike ride to the event from downtown Bentonville. Show off your light-art decorated bike, or come dressed in a lighted costume to be included in our illuminated bike and costume contest, which will be judged by representatives from Phat Tire Bike Shop at 9 p.m. (Grand Prize is a full year’s membership to Crystal Bridges!) Snacks and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase. Sponsored by the Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. Free, no registration required. Sunday, September 21, 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. Monday, September 22, 1 to 3 pm Figure Drawing Join us on the first and third Mondays each month to draw from a clothed model. Whether you’ve always had a love for figure drawing or are trying it for the first time, you’ll enjoy an afternoon drawing with others at the Museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter warm-up poses, and longer poses. $10 (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesday, September 24, 5 to 9 pm Member Event | Artinfusion @ Culture Hour in Eleven Artinfusion Members and guests are invited to come together on the fourth Wednesday of each month to meet and mingle during Culture Hour in Eleven. Enjoy great company and special $5 drinks and appetizers. We’ll reserve a seating area for artinfusion Members and their guests from 5 to 7 p.m. Special pricing on drinks and appetizers will be extended for artinfusion Members (with proof of membership) until 9 p.m.! Artinfusion is an affinity group especially for Crystal Bridges Members ages 21-40s. Wednesday, September 24, 7 to 8 pm Architecture Speaker Series: Building a Space for Learning and Play This lecture on exhibition design is presented by Amazeum Executive Director Sam Dean, the museum’s architect Reb Haizlip, and his partner Mary Haizlip. The talk will discuss the development of Amazeum’s architecture to support learning and play. The presentation will include architectural drawings, photographic examples, and models. The museum, which is currently under construction, will be located on NE J Street and Museum Way. Haizlip’s design includes 44,500 square feet of exhibit space with approximately one acre of outdoor space which will accommodate year-round learning and provide a backdrop for experiences inspired by the seasons. $10 (Free for Members),register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, September 26, noon to 6 pm Saturday, September 27, 10 am to 6 pm Featured Artisan: Janet Scherrer, Jewelry-Maker and Ceramicist Janet Scherrer takes inspiration from nature and the flowing forms of the Art Nouveau style to create her Woodland series and other organic jewelry and ceramics. Her work utilizes gold and sterling silver in addition to accents of pearl and other precious gems. Scherrer’s jewelry and ceramic vessels will be on display and available for purchase during the event. Friday, September 26, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Art by the Glass | Wines and Vines with State of the Art artist Guy Bell Painter and wine enthusiast Guy Bell will lead this one-of-a-kind acrylic painting workshop, where you’ll explore the depth and complexity of both paint and wine! This is a fun, social workshop, and participants will create a lovely vineyard landscape. The registration fee includes a flight of wine— don’t miss it! Sponsored by Demara Titzer and the Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. $45 (36 for Members),register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Friday, September 26, 8 to 10 pm Hispanic Heritage Month: Salsa Dancing Night Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and enjoy the Great Hall’s spectacular dance floor with a night of Salsa Dancing. Special thanks to Walmart’s Hispanic Latino Associate Resource Group! Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Saturday, September 27, 9 am to noon Saturday Session for Teachers | John Ridge In this workshop for teachers, discover John Ridge and his role in shaping Cherokee history, then learn strategies for incorporating Native cultures into history curriculum. Sponsored by Neff and Scarlett Basore. $10, register online. Saturday, September 27, 10 am to 6 pm Featured Artisan: Janet Scherrer, Jewelry-Maker and Ceramicist Janet Scherrer takes inspiration from nature and the flowing forms of the Art Nouveau style to create her Woodland series and other organic jewelry and ceramics. Her work utilizes gold and sterling silver in addition to accents of pearl and other precious gems. Scherrer’s jewelry and ceramic vessels will be on display and available for purchase during the event. Free, no registration required. Saturday, September 27, 1 to 2 pm Art Talk | State of the Art artist Guy Bell on Cain and Abel In Little Rock-based artist Guy Bell’s Cain and Abel, a pair of dogs—one white, one black—are depicted in a violent battle on a dirt road. Are the dogs metaphors for humans? How can artwork help us visualize conflict and resolution, how we view ourselves, and how we communicate? Sponsored by the Crystal Bridges Art Now Fund. Meet Little Rock-based artist Guy Bell near his painting Cain and Abel in the State of the Art exhibition, Free, no registration required. Monday, September 29, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Fall Forage Trail Experience In all seasons, but especially in the fall, the forest around Crystal Bridges is full of wild, natural foods suitable for both animals and humans … if you know what to look for. Learn what fall forage can be found around the grounds at Crystal Bridges, and what you may find to forage in your own backyard! Sponsored by the Coleman Company. Free, no registration required.
