Oct 30, 2018 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is celebrating its seven-year anniversary this month among multiple programs and events for the whole family, including a continuance of distinguished speakers with guest artist Julie Mehretu, a celebration at the museum for all with Art Night Out, and Museum Store Sunday. Crystal Bridges’ seven-year anniversary will be on Sunday, November 11. Since opening its doors on 11/11/11, the museum has welcomed more than four million visitors from around the country—and the world—to experience art, architecture, and nature with access and education. Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, the contemporary exhibition that brings contemporary Indigenous art front and center, is free and open until January 7, 2019. The Distinguished Speaker Series invites guest Julie Mehretu, the renowned New York-based painter, to the museum on Thursday, November 8. After the discussion, guests will be invited to view her work Retopistics: A Renegade Excavation, the largest canvas in Crystal Bridges’ collection. Art Night Out returns on Saturday, November 10. Crystal Bridges will be celebrating Art for a New Understanding with entertainment for the whole family including ballet performances, artist interactions, a DJ and dancing, an Indigenous fashion show, and more. Featured exhibition artists Tanya Lukin Linklater, Marie Watt, and Steven Paul Judd will be present at the event, leading activities and performances throughout the evening. Museum Store Sunday is on Sunday, November 25. Crystal Bridges is participating in this global event, along with 450 other museum stores, to provide a relaxing, inspired shopping experience for all visitors. Shoppers will receive a 25 percent discount on select crystals and crystal jewelry, and on all purchases over $100. The first 25 shoppers will also receive a Crystal Bridges gift bag. 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 November programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events. Afterschool Art Class » Material Mania (Ages 5 to 12) Thursday, November 1, 8, and 15, 4 to 5:30 pm Think art is only paintings and drawings? Think again as you discover the variety of materials artists use! Create artworks with colorful string, wire, and found objects. $45 ($36 for members)/3 sessions, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Gallery Conversation » History is Painted by the Victors by Kent Monkman Thursday, November 1, 1 pm Join Curator Mindy Besaw for a close look at the work History is Painted by the Victors by Kent Monkman (Fisher River Band and Swampy Cree). In this conversation, Mindy will discuss Monkman’s artistic practice with a special discussion centered on the work included in Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Free, no registration required. Concert » Brahms Deconstructed with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Friday, November 2, 8 to 9:30 pm Hear the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas perform Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 in an immersive sound experience like no other. The concert “deconstructs” the traditional symphony format by placing the orchestra within the audience. Guests, performers, and Music Director Paul Haas will be side-by-side in the Great Hall! With support provided by Mary Ann and Reed Greenwood. $55 ($45 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Homeschool Friday Fun » Why Is That Art? Friday, November 2, 9, and 16, 2 to 3:30 pm Ever wonder, “Why is that art?” Find out as you explore abstract expressionist, minimalist, and modernist art in the permanent collection. Create paintings, drawings, and sculpture inspired by what you’ve discovered. $45 ($36 for members)/3 sessions, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Saturday Session Saturday, November 3, 9 am to 1 pm Four-hour Saturday morning workshops focusing on particular topics or highlighting current temporary exhibitions and ways in which they may be a resource for teachers’ classroom curricula. Each session includes a studio artmaking component. Materials and refreshments provided. Separate registration for each session. Four hours Professional Development available. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Discover the Grounds » Bark + Buds Saturday, November 3, 10 to 11:30 am Learn to recognize native trees in winter using bark, twigs, and more! Led by Crystal Bridges horticulturalist Marina McCoy, this Discover the Grounds encourages participants to look closely at trees and discover beauty in the patterns and textures of the winter landscape. We’ll learn about winter identification clues, then head outside for a guided walk on the museum’s grounds. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Figure Drawing Monday, November 5 & 19, 1 to 3 pm Practice the basics during an afternoon of figure drawing 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 ($5 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Yoga and Art Monday, November 5, 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 at 479.657.2335. Meditation and Mindfulness » Artist Tanya Lukin Linklater Monday, November 5, 1 to 2 pm Take a break from your busy life and come to Crystal Bridges for rejuvenation in a guided meditation surrounded by the beauty of art and nature. This session will be facilitated byArt for a New Understanding artist Tanya Lukin Linklater. Expect to be refreshed and inspired! Free, no registration required. Bentonville Community Center Class » My Grown-up and Me: Playful Patterns (Ages 2 to 4 with a caregiver) Monday, November 5, 12, and 26, 9:30 to 10:30 am (Ages 2 to 4 with a caregiver) Monday, November 5, 12, and 26, 11 to 12 pm (Ages 4 to 5) Clap a pattern, count a pattern, and wear your favorite pattern! Have tons of fun painting, gluing, and stamping shapes and lines inspired by patterns made by artists found in Crystal Bridges’ special exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. $50, register online through the Bentonville Community Center or by calling 479.696.0200. Bentonville Community Center Class » Homeschool Art: Stellar Sculptures (Ages 5 to 12) Monday, November 5, 12, and 26, 2 to 3:30 pm Learn all about sculpture at Crystal Bridges, including artwork in Crystal Bridges’ temporary exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Use clay, Model Magic, wire, and cardboard to create your own spectacular sculptures. $50, register online through the Bentonville Community Center or by calling 479.696.0200. Bentonville Community Center Class » Afterschool Art: Sculpt (Ages 5 to 12) Monday, November 5, 12, and 26, 4 to 5:30 pm Discover artists that work in three-dimensions, including those in Crystal Bridges’ temporary exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. We’ll use clay, model magic, wire, and upcycled materials to create artworks that jump off the page. $50, register online through the Bentonville Community Center or by calling 479.696.0200. Fall Forest Fun » Nature Night: Owl Prowl Wednesday, November 7, 5:30 to 7 pm Give a whoot-whoot during this owl prowl. Learn an owl call and see if a feather friend answers you back! Free, no registration required Equity Sewing Circle with Artist Marie Watt (@ University of Arkansas) Wednesday, November 7, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Artist Marie Watt, whose work is featured in the Crystal Bridges’ exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, invites you to join her in a “sewing circle” event, bringing the community together in artmaking and conversation. For this sewing circle, come to the University of Arkansas to meet the artist, connect with neighbors, add to a new collaborative work of art, and take part in conversations around the theme of equity. No sewing experience is required, and all ages are welcome. Free, no registration required. Equity Sewing Circle with Artist Marie Watt (@ Arts Center of the Ozarks) Wednesday, November 7, 4 to 7 pm Artist Marie Watt, whose work is featured in the Crystal Bridges’ exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, invites you to join her in a “sewing circle” event, bringing the community together in artmaking and conversation. For this sewing circle, come to the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale, AR to meet the artist, connect with neighbors, add to a new collaborative work of art, and take part in conversations around the theme of equity. No sewing experience is required, and all ages are welcome. Free, no registration required. Tots and Tales » Fabulous Felt (Ages 1.5 to 3 with an adult) Wednesday, November 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm (OR) Saturday, November 10, 10:30 to 11:30 am Enjoy two opportunities for this class for toddlers! The same class is offered on both Wednesday and Saturday—choose which day works best for you. Explore colors and shapes in artworks by contemporary Native American artists in the temporary exhibition, Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Enjoy story time and create your own artwork using felt shapes. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Wednesday Series for Educators Wednesday, November 7, 6 to 8 pm Have you ever wondered about how museums maintain their art collections? Join us with an art conservator for a discussion on the art and science of conservation and its importance to the museum field. Materials and refreshments provided. Separate registration for each session. Two hours Professional Development credit available. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Gallery Conversation » Artist Marie Watt Thursday, November 8, 2 pm Meet Art for a New Understanding artist Marie Watt in this conversation on her work featured in the exhibition. Marie Watt uses materials that are conceptually attached to narrative: in particular, exploring the stories connected with commonplace woolen blankets, cedar, and iron. Free, no registration required. Member Mingle » Julie Mehretu Thursday, November 8, 5:30 to 6:30 pm Join us for a brief reception in honor of artist Julie Mehretu prior to her Distinguished Speaker lecture. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and possibly meet the artist! A separate ticket is required for the lecture. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728. Art & English Thursday, November 8, 6:30 to 7:30 pm Are you interested in practicing conversational English while learning about American art, history, and culture? Join us for Art & English! Adult English language learners are encouraged to practice their conversational English skills while discussing artworks in the galleries. Children of participants are invited to join the gallery discussion or make an art project with an art instructor in the studios during the program. Free. To register, email LiteracyPrograms@CrystalBridges.org. Preschool Playdate » Pattern Palooza Thursday, November 8, 11:30 am to 2 pm Enjoy colorful collages, story time, and creative play inspired by our temporary exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Playdate begins with an 11:30 a.m. performance in the Great Hall. Also, join artist Marie Watt in a “sewing circle” event, bringing the community together in artmaking and conversation. No sewing experience is required! Free, no registration required. Distinguished Speaker Series » Artist Julie Mehretu Thursday, November 8, 7 to 8 pm Known for her monumental works, Julie Mehretu is a renowned painter based in New York. The artist’s work, Retopistics: A Renegade Excavation is the largest canvas in Crystal Bridges’ collection. Mehretu uses rich layers of paint and drawings, inspired by elements of geography and architecture, and describes her canvases as “story maps of no location.” $15 ($12 for members, $5 for students), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Equity Sewing Circle with Artist Marie Watt (@ Cherokee Arts Center) Friday, November 9, 11 am to 3 pm Artist Marie Watt, whose work is featured in the Crystal Bridges’ exhibition Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, invites you to join her in a “sewing circle” event, bringing the community together in artmaking and conversation. For this sewing circle, come to the Cherokee Arts Center in Tahlequah, OK to meet the artist, connect with neighbors, add to a new collaborative work of art, and take part in conversations around the theme of equity. No sewing experience is required, and all ages are welcome. Free, no registration required. Family Access Night Friday, November 9, 6 to 8 pm Family Access Night is a fun night out for families impacted by disability to visit the museum. Youth with disabilities and their families participate in engaging activities including gallery tours, studio art activities, and performances by local entertainers. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Performance Lab » Translating Native Language Friday, November 9, 7 to 8:30 pm Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now exhibition artist Tanya Lukin Linklater explores translating the native language into powerful live readings punctuated by short performances and video. Joining the artist is Tulsa Artist Fellow Elisa Harkins, who is emerging in popularity in the local contemporary Indigenous scene, and also the Matriarch group from Tulsa Matriarch presenting on social welfare of Native women. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Art Night Out Saturday, November 10, 6:30 to 10 pm Crystal Bridges welcomes all ages to Art Night Out! Explore Indigenous arts today from the powerful perspective of the temporary exhibition, Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Throughout the evening, enjoy ballet performances, artist interactions, a DJ and dancing, makerspace with screen printing and beaded keychains, an Indigenous fashion show, access to the temporary exhibition, Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, and more. Grab the whole family and join us for an evening of fun at the museum! $10 ($8 for members; Free for members and ages 18 and under), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Adult Workshop » Flags with Marie Watt Saturday, November 10, 10 am to 2 pm Create a personal wool flag in this workshop led by Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now artist Marie Watt. Using wool and introductory sewing techniques, guests will create their own small flag. All materials are provided. Notice to teachers: This public workshop counts for up to 4 hours of Professional Development credit. Please email Sally.Ball@crystalbridges.org if you will be needing PD credit for this workshop. $55 ($44 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Creative Connections Monday, November 12, 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 in the galleries followed by hands-on art activities in the studio. No prior art experience is required! Refreshments and art materials are provided. Presented in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education. Free, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 479.273.5559 or sdillingham@alz.org to register. Homeschool Tour and Art: Art for a New Understanding Wednesday, November 14, 1 to 3 pm Come explore our special exhibition, Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices 1950s to Now. After a guided tour, learn weaving techniques to create a unique piece of art in response to what you’ve learned. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Mini Masters » Textiles (Ages 4 to 5 with an adult) Wednesday, November 14, 1:30 to 2:30 pm (OR) Saturday, November 17, 10:30 to 11:30 am Enjoy two opportunities for this class for preschoolers! The same class is offered on both Wednesday and Saturday—choose which day works best for you. Discover colorful textiles in the temporary exhibition, Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now. Experiment with dying and printing on fabric to create your own wall hanging. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Figure Drawing from the Nude Model Wednesday, November 14 & 28, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Join us in the studio for an evening of drawing from a live model, featuring both shorter warm-up poses and longer poses. All materials are provided. Participants must be 18 or older. (Note: Figure Drawing sessions with a clothed model are offered on the first and third Mondays of each month, and are open to participants ages 14 and up.) $10 ($5 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Spotlight Talk » Facing Washington: From Gilbert Stuart to the Dollar Bill Thursday, November 15, 7 to 8 pm Join Susan P. Schoelwer, Robert H. Smith Senior Curator at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, for a lecture exploring the tradition of Washington portraiture as it emerged and evolved in the works of artists, including Gilbert Stuart, whose portrait of Washington resides in Crystal Bridges permanent collection. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Gallery Conversation » Bobby Martin Friday, November 16, 1 pm John Brown, University Professor of Visual Arts, Bobby Martin, joins us for a conversation tying Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now to the locally, and regionally, accessible traces of Indigenous history, culture, and art in the area. Bobby Martin is an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe and works as a printmaker out of his 7 Springs Studio near Tahlequah, Oklahoma when he’s not teaching visual arts. College Night Friday, November 16, 7 to 10 pm We’re teaming up with student organizations from the colleges and universities in the region for a creative evening presented by college students for college students. Just before finals hit, come out for live music, interactive games, experimental theatre, and a good old-fashioned dance night. You can perform, create your own artwork, or mingle with other students. Presented by students at Northwest Arkansas Community College, John Brown University, and the University of Arkansas. Free, registration required. Will Wilson CIPX Project Saturday, November 17, 11 am to 3 pm Will Wilson, native Diné photographer and center of our focus exhibition, is hosting a pop-up portrait studio where he will engage guests in the Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange (CIPX). Free, no registration required. Local Panel Discussion + Will Wilson Saturday, November 17, 4 to 5:30 pm Join us in for a panel discussion with photographer Will Wilson, ACLU Oklahoma representative Jaysha Lyons-Echo Hawk (Seminole-Creek, Pawnee, Creek, Omaha, Iowa), Curator/Director of the Osage Nation Museum, Hallie Winter (Osage), renowned educator and fashion designer Wendy Ponca (Osage), and Indigenous linguistics specialist Alaina Poole-Tahlate (Caddo). Linked to the Will Wilson focus exhibition, this event will engage a variety of local voices to explore topics such as the role of art and history in current Native American social justice, language revitalization, and appropriation, among others. Free, register online or with Guest Services. CB Babies Saturday, November 17, 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 and a caregiver. Spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime. This is a time to bond with your baby, so please make other arrangements for any siblings. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. WOW » Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now Wednesday, November 21, 6 to 7:30 pm Join host Case Dighero and museum curators to discuss our temporary exhibition, Art for a New Understanding. Open to guests ages 21 and above. $50 ($40/members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Museum Store Sunday Sunday, November 25, 10 am to 6 pm On Museum Store Sunday, over 450 museum stores will offer relaxing, inspired shopping inside your favorite museums and cultural institutions, including Crystal Bridges! Enjoy a special shopping experience in a one-of-a-kind environment, showcasing broad assortments of highly curated, unique gifts. Free, no registration required. Creative Connections Monday, November 26, 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 in the galleries followed by hands-on art activities in the studio. No prior art experience is required! Refreshments and art materials are provided. Free, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 479.273.5559 or sdillingham@alz.org to register. Wednesday Series for Educators Wednesday, November 28, 6 to 8 pm A series of two-hour evening programs on a wide range of topics, ranging from temporary exhibition highlights to ways of teaching from works of art in the museum’s permanent collection. Materials and refreshments provided. Separate registration for each session. Two hours Professional Development credit available. $10 ($8 for members) register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Native Voices Film Series: Contemporary Filmmakers featuring Matika Wilbur on Project 562 Wednesday, November 28, 7 to 9 pm Matika Wilbur is the creator of Project 562, a multi-year national photography and film project dedicated to documenting over 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States, resulting in an unprecedented repository of imagery and oral histories that accurately portrays contemporary Native Americans. We will screen the best-of docushorts from Project 562 followed by a Q & A chat with the Matika Wilbur on Skype. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Art by the Glass » Decorative Bowls Friday, November 30, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Make something beautiful for your home in this fun class that pairs two glasses of wine with an art project! Inspired by the focused exhibition Personal Space, guests will use a variety of stencils and paint to create their own decorative bowl to take home and enjoy. All materials, appetizers, and two glasses of wine are provided. Open to ages 21 and up. $55 ($44 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
