A Day at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

A work by Keith Haring

Did you know that the northwestern corner of Arkansas has become a mecca for fine art? On 11/11/11, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened, the creation of Walmart heiress Alice Walton and architect Moshe Safdie. It is named for Crystal Spring that feeds it and is effectively designed to meld the architecture with its natural surroundings. Though it was a gray day, it was enjoyable to be in the spaces of the Museum and to see the environment reflected both inside and out.

Looking into the center of the complex from a gallery

The Museum is devoted to American art and the artwork is arranged chronologically within large "pods" that remind me of pill bugs or armadillos. The collection is first rate, including Charles Wilson Peale, Thomas Cole, Thomas Eakins, Martin Johnson Heade, Mary Cassatt, Norman Rockwell, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Evan Penny. Crystal Bridges' intention is to tell the history of America through its art.

Looking out from within

An view from inside

It was a gray day on my visit, so the pop of red in the Keith Haring sculpture was a welcome sight. The exterior courtyard seen through these windows is called the Walker Landing. The education wing is beyond.

Jeff Koons in the restaurant

Art is very well placed in the restaurant.

From the interior of the complex

Though it is difficult to tell from this view, since some of it is underground, the complex is eight stories tall and the spring flows through it.

Robert Indiana at an entrance to the Museum

The Museum is free except for special exhibits and you can take photos without flash.

Looking at the education wing on the edge of Walker Landing

Grants completely support school visits to the Museum, including the cost of buses. The education wing seen here includes classrooms upstairs and a drop-in studio downstairs. Online educational materials include a guide to researching a work of art.

The drop-in art studio for kids and their parents

 Another outside view

 The red wood seen here is intended to weather to a soft gray. You can see this has already started to happen.

A view from the gardens

There are miles of walking/running paths around the Museum.

Another view of Jeff Koons

Gallery reflections

Interior gallery

The glass-sided galleries have interior galleries to protect the artwork from the light. For some reason, this view reminds me of the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Stainless steel tree by Roxy Paine at the main entrance

The Museum is open every day except Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM most days. It is open until 9:00 PM on Wednesday and Friday. To learn more about the collection as you go through the museum, there are free audio tours available. You can park near the Museum or in a more remote parking lot and take a shuttle. Follow the Museum's blog to keep up to date on happenings here.

I can't wait to come back to see it during a different season. The Museum has just purchased an endangered  Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house, known as the Bachman Wilson House, located in the Borough of Millstone in Somerset County, N.J. Due to repeated flooding, the house has sustained significant damage and relocation has been recommended as a means of best preserving the structure. Crystal Bridges has now acquired the home, which will be disassembled, moved to Bentonville, and reassembled on Crystal Bridges’ 120-acre grounds.

Combine a trip here with a visit to the nearby art town of Eureka Springs and you'll have quite a weekend!