http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/The latest news from Crystal Bridges9391http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/http://www.crystalbridges.org/images/crystalbridges_logo.gifhttp://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=61Thu, 15 May 2008 13:57:03 -0500First juried exhibition, programs and activities showcase works by area artists   BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 2, 2008 – From furniture to watercolors, a wide variety of works created by artists throughout the region will be assembled for a special exhibition opening May 17 at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. Reconstructing Art Walk showcases the talents and techniques of approximately 30 artists who were chosen for the museum’s first juried exhibition. The museum, located at 125 W. Central, has partnered with Downtown Bentonville, the city’s non-profit development organization, to provide the Art Walk experience while the Bentonville square and surrounding streets undergo a major renovation. Many programs and activities are planned while the exhibition is on display through July 27.    Artists from the six previous Art Walk events were invited to submit works for consideration in the exhibition.  Mediums represented in the exhibition include fiber art, ceramics, paintings, photographs, furniture, glass and jewelry. “The works that were selected represent a large cross-section of artistic viewpoints, styles and mediums,” said Chris Crosman, chief curator for the museum. “We are excited to bring together in one venue works from some of the finest artists in Northwest Arkansas.”  Bella Vista, Monic Fowler, drawing /illustration Bella Vista, Charles Harrington, watercolor Bella Vista, Steve Horan, painting Bella Vista, Beth Schindler, watercolor Bentonville, Becky Christensen, ceramics /tile mural Bentonville, Judi Harrison, watercolor Elkins, Sheila Richards, mixed media sculpture Elkins, Trent Tally, ceramics/plate Eureka Springs, Cynthia Dupps, mixed media sculpture Eureka Springs, Ron Lutz, photography Eureka Springs, Eleanor Lux, mixed media sculpture Eureka Springs, Barbara J. Robinson, printmaking Eureka Springs, Laura Jo Smole, jewelry /necklace Fayetteville, Elizabeth Nevin, painting Garfield, Cindy Suter, mixed media sculpture Green Forest, Ed Pennebaker, glass/chandelier Harrison, Les Casteel, furniture/chair Hindsville, RuAnn Ewing, sculpture/iron Huntsville, Mike Haley, photography Huntsville, Leon Niehues, basket weaving Huntsville, Susan Siegle, ceramics/plate Rogers, Julene Baker, drawing/pastels Rogers, Carol Cooper, watercolor Rogers, William Dark, photography Rogers, Adrian Leffingwell, ceramics/canisters Springdale, Ron Mynatt, glass/bowl West Fork, Alice McKee, fiber art/quilt West Fork, John Sewell, sculpture/wood  Reconstructing Art Walk will be on display through July 27, and a variety of events and programs for visitors of all ages are scheduled throughout the exhibition period.  These include gallery talks, art activities, lunchtime movies and workshops. All events are free and open to the public. To view the Crystal Bridges at the Massey calendar of events, click here.   Regular operating hours for Crystal Bridges at the Massey are:  Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, visit massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700.   For more information about Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=60Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:45:59 -0600Victoria Regia Demonstrates America’s Deep Roots in Botanical Illustration BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 29, 2008 – A historic publication that launched the age of chromolithography in the United States was unveiled today by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, providing yet another indicator of the museum’s overall holdings.  The rare book Victoria Regia, or the Great Water Lily of America goes on display starting tomorrow as part of a new exhibition opening at Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville.  The large-format book will be housed in a protective case and will be available for viewing through May 4 while the International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration is on display, which features works from contemporary botanical artists from around the world.   Considered a monument of American color printing, Victoria Regia was authored by John Fisk Allen and features six chromolithographic plates by William Sharp, a British-born artist and the first U. S. chromolithographer.  Every week, a new page featuring one of the six chromolithographic plates in the book will be displayed. “This distinctive book shows the timeless quality of botanical illustrations and underscores the deep roots our country has in this art form,” said Chris Crosman, chief curator, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  “A truly great American botanical work, Victoria Regia was a match for anything being produced in Europe at the time and remains one of the most beautiful flower books ever produced.” In addition to its artistic significance, Crosman added the Victoria Regia was a triumph to this new color printing process.  The book’s subject matter is also significant, describing in great detail a rare plant known as the great water lily of America.   The Victoria regia, referred to as a “vegetable wonder” by Sir R.H. Schomburg in 1837, had first been discovered by the Europeans in Bolivia in 1801.  Growing this flowering lily of the America’s in Europe had challenged British horticulturist Joseph Paxton for several years.  He launched numerous attempts to cultivate the plant in outside of London, battling against climates not native to the plant.  A large conservatory was constructed with coal-fired heaters to maintain a suitable water environment for the flower.   His eventual success in flowering the lily in 1849 was celebrated and earned him knighthood.  By 1853, Allen, a well respected horticulturist and author, had cultivated the lily in Salem, Mass., from a seed provided by Caleb Cope, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.  Cope was the first American to successfully grow the flower in the United States. His specimen bloomed in Pennsylvania on the evening of July 21, 1851.  Allen’s specimen grown in Salem was used as the model on which William Sharp based his drawings for the chromolithographs of the Victoria regia.  The book is part of Crystal Bridges’ library, which will be a non-circulating art reference library to serve staff, in-house scholars, researchers and students.  The library will be housed on the grounds of the museum complex and will also support research for the interpretation and presentation of the museum’s permanent collection. The Victoria Regia and the International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration are available for viewing at Crystal Bridges at the Massey during regular hours of operation:  Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, visit www.massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479.418.5700 For more information about Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, visit www.crystalbridges.orghttp://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=59Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:59:32 -0600 Crystal Bridges at the Massey hosts drawings from around the world Diverse educational programming planned   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 22, 2008 – The precision and beauty of nature’s most striking flora and fauna will come to life through a traveling exhibition series opening Saturday, March 1, at Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville. The International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration includes 71 artworks in a variety of media including watercolor, pen and ink, and woodblock prints created by 51 contemporary botanical artists from around the world.     On display through May 4, the exhibition is on loan from the Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation, a research division of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn. Talented botanical artists are sought out every three years to be showcased in this remarkable exhibition, which this year features artworks from 12 countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Italy, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, the United States and Wales.   According to Chris Crosman, chief curator, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, botanical illustration has its roots in science, helping botanists and scientists easily recognize plants in their various forms, including cross-sections, root structures and life stages. “This exhibition demonstrates the beauty that can be found when art and nature are intertwined,” said Crosman. “Botanical illustrations reflect how complex and ephemeral plant life can be, while at the same time the moment captured in the artwork allows us to examine it for a lifetime.”   “We are experiencing a renaissance of botanical art, and these works reflect the artistic passion and patience necessary for understanding and documenting aspects of the intriguing life-cycle of plants,” said Lugene Bruno, assistant curator of art, Hunt Institute.   The Hunt Institute established this changing international exhibition series in 1964 to support and encourage botanical artists worldwide, Bruno added.   “The artwork may have been created for scientific studies, publications, gallery exhibitions or other commercial applications, but each artist brings a personal aesthetic sensibility to the subject,” she said.   Exhibition-related programming The Crystal Bridges education staff has planned a wide variety of enrichment programs ranging from children’s art-making activities to lunch gallery tours to help visitors learn more about the botanical art genre and explore the intricacies of the artwork itself. All activities are open to the public and are free of charge unless otherwise noted.   Children’s Programs: March 6 - Plants & Paints (watercolors)   April 3 - Flower Power (create a paper bouquet)   May 1 - Art in Bloom (colored pencils)   Family Time at the Massey: March 9 - Picturing Plants (crafts, facts, storytelling and more)   First Friday Flicks & Food: March 7 - Documentary on Kent Bonar, The Naturalist   April 4 - The Music Garden with Yo-Yo Ma   May 2 - The Private Life of Plants by David Attenborough   Garden Club Members: March 17 - Going Green! Garden Club Day at the Massey.   Brown Bag Lunch Gallery Tours: April 18 - Gallery Talk & Brown Bag Lunch Gallery Tour with Sarah King   April 25 - Book Signing & Brown Bag Lunch Gallery Tour with Libby Kyer   Artist Workshop: April 26 – The Power of Colored Pencils in Botanical Illustration with Libby Kyer NOTE: There is a $50 participation fee for this workshop; materials are not included.   Crystal Bridges at the Massey Crystal Bridges at the Massey is a temporary exhibit space and educational and community resource for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Located on the first floor of the historic Massey Building just off the square in downtown Bentonville, the facility provides an opportunity for the public to discover art and traveling exhibits, experience arts-based educational programs, and learn more about the world class Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opening in 2010. Hours of operation are:  Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, visit massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700.   For more information about the Hunt Institute and its programs visit huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=58Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:11:38 -0600 Collaborations Reveal Glimpses of the Permanent Collection  BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 13, 2008 – More than two years before opening, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is already realizing one of its primary goals of providing public access to great works of art. During 2007, the museum loaned 13 pieces from the permanent collection to other art institutions throughout the United States and to exhibitions traveling internationally.    “It is exciting for us to connect with our colleagues at other institutions,” said Bob Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director, “and to begin a dialogue of sharing, collaboration and loaning pieces from our collection to complement their holdings and special exhibitions.”    With each loan, another part of the Crystal Bridges permanent collection is revealed, offering a broader view of the world-class collection being assembled for the museum’s opening in 2010. “This is a dynamic, constantly evolving collection that will speak to the visitor on many levels,” Workman said. “It will be of the highest quality and will represent the richness of American culture through our country’s history.” Crystal Bridges Works on View Works from the permanent collection can be seen in museums across the country. During 2007, 13 pieces from the permanent collection were on public view in seven states as well as in three countries as part of special exhibitions or as loans complementing the borrowing institution’s collection. As of this press release, the museum’s works on view include: Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, on loan to The San Diego Museum of Art, as part of the exhibition Kindred Spirits: Asher B. Durand and The American Landscape organized by the Brooklyn Museum (through April 27, 2008); Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (since August 2006); Portrait of Professor Benjamin Howard Rand by Thomas Eakins, currently on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (since June 2007); The most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, currently on loan to The Jewish Museum in New York City; paintings now on view include: Portrait of Abigaill Levy Franks (through Sept. 30, 2008); Portrait of Jacob Franks (through Sept. 30, 2008); The Backwoods of America by Jasper Cropsey, on loan to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City (since June 2007); Charles Willson Peale's Portrait of George Washington, on loan to the Guggenheim Museum as part of the exhibition, Art in the USA: Three Hundred Years of Innovation  at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain, (through April 27, 2008); George Wesley Bellows’ Excavation at Night, currently on loan to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia; Dennis Miller Bunker’s Portrait of Anne Page, on loan to the Seattle Art Museum; Rose Garden by Maria Oakey Dewing, currently on loan to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.; Ottoe Half Chief, Husband of Eagle of Delight, by Charles Bird King, on loan to the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth; Wai-Kee-Chai, Sanky Chief, Crouching Eagle, by Charles Bird King, also on loan to the Amon Carter Museum in Forth Worth; Samuel F. B. Morse’s Marquis de Lafayette, on loan to the New-York Historical Society as part of the exhibition French Founding Father: Lafayette’s Return to Washington’s America, (through Aug. 10, 2008). Other works that have been publicly announced but are not currently on view include: Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait’s The Life of a Hunter: A Tight Fix; Hall of the Mountain King by Marsden Hartley; Martin Johnson Heade’s Cattleya Orchid, Two Hummingbirds and a Beetle; Winslow Homer’s Spring; Winter Scene, View Near Clarkstown, by John William Hill. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists, learning and community gatherings. Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists. The main pavilions will house a permanent collection of American art masterworks from the Colonial period to the present.  Located in Bentonville, Ark., Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center, which is scheduled to open in 2010, is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.    http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=56Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:06:38 -0600Community art project adorns fence bordering construction site   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Jan. 25, 2008 — A second set of art panels has been installed on the fence bordering the construction site of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The entire collection of panels is known as the Fenceworks Gallery, a community art project featuring works by area art students, and is located on “J” Street in Bentonville near John DeShields Blvd. Students and teachers who produced the panels were welcomed by Crystal Bridges Museum Associate Director Sandy Edwards and invited to view their works and others on the fence at an event today.             “We are glad to add these newest works to our Fenceworks collection,” said Edwards. “Educational outreach is a very important component of Crystal Bridges’ programming, even as the museum is being built. The Fenceworks Gallery is a way to involve the community and to give them something beautiful to see during the museum’s construction. We appreciate the hard work that these students and their teachers have put into their panels, and we invite members of the community to drive by the gallery and enjoy viewing them.” The newest panels and the participating schools are:                                             West Fork Middle School, West Fork, “Riverside Memories” Elkins Middle School, Elkins, “Land of the Elk” Community Imagination Studio, Fayetteville, “A Day at the Lake,” “Crystal Bridges,” “Open Book, Open Mind” J.O. Kelly Middle School, Springdale, “Ozark Possum,” “Historic Springdale High” Hellstern Middle School, Springdale, “Much to Crow About,” “Rodeo of Ozarks” Reagan Elementary School, Rogers, “Welcome to Rogers” Gentry Intermediate School, Gentry, Walnut Farm Montessori School, Bentonville, “Nature’s Dream” Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Founded by Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails.   Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2010.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.   # # #  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=55Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:01:04 -0600 Helen Appel, Ira Lipman, Carl Menges, Bruce Mosler and Alice Walton bring a range of talents to the N-YHS board NEW YORK, NY Jan. 14, 2008 -The New-York Historical Society is delighted to announce the election of Helen Appel, Ira Lipman, Carl Menges, Bruce Mosler and Alice Walton to the Board of Trustees. Helen Appel is a history teacher and an avid historian. For the past 25 years, Mrs. Appel has taught world history and American history in the Adult Education Program of the Great Neck, NY, school system. An alumna of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, Mrs. Appel and her husband, Robert, are longtime benefactors of their alma mater. They supported the University's Residential Initiative, established the Appel Commons on Cornell's campus and were founders of the Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Awards. The Appels also honor outstanding Cornell faculty with the Robert and Helen Appel Fellowships for Humanists and Social Scientists. Also at Cornell, Helen and Robert endowed the Robert J. Appel Professorship in Molecular and Cell Biology and the Robert J. Appel Cornell Tradition Fellowship. The Appels serve as Presidential Councilors and were national Tower Club co-chairs at Cornell. Mrs. Appel also serves on the board of the Parker Geriatric Institute. Recently the Appels endowed the Appel Institute for Alzheimer's Research at Weill-Cornell/New York Hospital Medical Center. Ira A. Lipman is Founder and Chairman of Guardsmark LLC, one of the world's largest security companies with 153 worldwide branch offices. A renowned security expert, he is the author of the book How to Protect Yourself from Crime, now in its fourth edition. He has served as the National Chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Chairman of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Board of Overseers at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Dean's Medal in 2004. He has served on the boards of more than 40 other organizations and holds two honorary degrees. He is an art collector and a bibliophile, with a collection of rare books and manuscripts. Carl Menges, retired vice chairman of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, has a long-standing interest in history and the founding of the United States. He received his B.A. cum laude in 1951 from Hamilton College and his M.B.A. in 1953 from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. In 2001 he sponsored a conference at Hamilton College on Alexander Hamilton. The Many Faces of Alexander Hamilton, edited by Douglas Ambrose and Robert W. T. Martin, derived from that conference and is dedicated to Mr. Menges. He was Trustee and Chairman of the Planning Committee of Hamilton College; Trustee of the Boys Club of New York; and Treasurer and Trustee of Allen-Stevenson School. He is a Life Trustee of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and a member, Investment and Budget Committee, Council on Foreign Relations. Bruce Mosler is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield, the world's largest independent real estate services firm, and serves on its board of directors. Mr. Mosler has twice received the Real Estate Board of New York "Deal of the Year" award, as well as the organization's Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award. He has been chosen in a poll of his peers as the Commercial Property News "Brokerage Executive of the Year," and named CPN's national "Property Services Executive of the Year." Mr. Mosler serves on the Capital Campaign Committee of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge and the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York. He is Vice Chairman of The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, and is a member of the boards of the Partnership for the City of New York and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, among other civic and charitable organizations. Alice Walton is president of Crystal Bridges - Museum of American Art, a premier venue for a national art institution dedicated to American art and artists, and a place of learning and community located in Bentonville, Arkansas. She is the daughter of the late Helen Walton and the late Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Ms. Walton graduated from Trinity College, in San Antonio, Texas, with a B.A. in Economics and Finance. In addition to her philanthropic activities as a board member of the Walton Family Foundation, Ms. Walton has been active on the Board of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock, the Board of Advisors for the University of Arkansas Graduate Business School at Fayetteville, the Board of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas and is a member of the Trustees' Council of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. "The New-York Historical Society warmly welcomes Mrs. Appel, Mr. Lipman, Mr. Menges, Mr. Mosler and Ms. Walton to their terms as trustees," said Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of the Society. "The range of talents these new board members bring to bear on our strategic plan initiatives-from art, to education, to history, to the security and safety of the Society's collections, staff and visitors-is extraordinary. We look forward to their ideas and efforts, and to enlisting their help as we secure our reputation as the preeminent institution for American history in New York." "Adding new members to a board of directors is an important source of lifeblood for any organization. The five new members whose appointment the New-York Historical Society announces today are especially noteworthy in that they reflect the dynamic growth that the Society has experienced in recent years as well as its bedrock values," said Roger Hertog, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the New-York Historical Society. "These two women and three men represent different parts of the country and bring with them diverse experiences, yet there's a common denominator among them: love of and commitment to American art and history. We're fortunate to have them participate in the Society's work." ABOUT THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY The New-York Historical Society is dedicated to exploring the connections between the events of the past and our lives today. Founded in 1804, N-YHS programs examine the richly layered history of New York City, New York State and the nation as a whole-fulfilling its dual role as a public educational center and scholarly institution. It holds one of the country's greatest collections of American art and historical artifacts, and one of the most comprehensive independent research libraries in the country. The New-York Historical Society, located at 170 Central Park West between 76th and 77th Streets, is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:00 until 5:45 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for teachers and seniors, and $6 for students; children under 12 accompanied by an adult are admitted for free. For general information, the public can call (212) 873-3400. Contact: New-York Historical Society | Laura Washington | 212-485-9263 | lwashington@nyhistory.org   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=54Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:09:48 -0600Multi-faceted exhibit explores Eureka Springs artist’s passion for conservation BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 7, 2007 – Intricately detailed drawings of some of America’s most majestic animals will bring the spirit of our country’s wilderness to life in the newest exhibit at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. A selection of works created by noted artist, author, and environmentalist Susan Morrison tells the story of this Eureka Springs artist’s journey as she spreads her message of stewardship and preservation of America’s wildlife and wildlands.    “America’s Wildlife and Wildlands: The Journeys of Susan Morrison” opens Saturday, Dec. 8, at Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville. On display through Feb. 24, 2008, this exhibit will feature Morrison’s acclaimed etchings and drawings of wildlife and wildlands from across the United States. The exhibition consists of 15 of her original artworks, video and seven publications, including books and poems she has authored. In addition, the exhibit will feature other items that are significant to Morrison and are tangible symbols of her work and her mission.   Morrison uses pen, ink and Prisma colored pencils to create detailed and often life-sized drawings of animals. For more than 40 years, she has used her artistic talents to convey her passion for conservation and environmental issues. She is the author of Arkansas Wildlife and River Journeys, books that she created to help educate Arkansans about their natural wonders and to help influence legislation protecting them.   Eager to share her passion for conservation broadly, the artist created “Animal Tracks”, an national environmental education program for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which was adopted by the National Wildlife Federation. Currently, Morrison is in the midst of “The American Wildlife Expeditions,” a series of journeys throughout the United States to find, photograph, study and draw America’s wildlife and wildlands. The exhibit at Crystal Bridges at the Massey gives visitors an opportunity to get a glimpse of Morrison’s world and her extraordinary work.   "Artists do not live in the past, said Morrison.  "Our lives are spent in the immediate creative moment. The scope of this exhibit is profoundly important to me as it not only clearly and interestingly portrays my career from its beginning, but it also shows my present work and invites viewers to step into my creative process. I would have expected no less from a museum that, with the gift of Alice Walton's vision and passion, promises to be the premier museum of American art in the country."    “Susan is an accomplished and passionate artist who has the unique ability to communicate through many mediums,” said Bob Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director. “Her drawings, poems and books bring to life her profound dedication to wildlife, to the conservation of animal habitats and to the stewardship of the earth as a whole.”    According to Workman, the drawings in the exhibit were loaned from private collections of the artist’s patrons in the South Central region.  The exhibit is the fourth in an ongoing series of temporary exhibitions featured at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. For more information on Morrison and to view images of her work, go to www.susanmorrison.com.   Opening Day Activities Several special activities have been planned for Saturday, Dec. 8, when the exhibition opens. All activities are free of charge and open to the public.   10 a.m. Meet Susan Morrison at the Massey. Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central Ave., Bentonville   11 a.m. Animal Fun Time! Join us at the Massey for face painting and a parade of animal characters. Crystal Bridges at the Massey 1 p.m. Susan Morrison presents a special storytelling program for children at the Bentonville Public Library.  Bentonville Public Library, 405 S. Main Street, Bentonville 2 p.m. Enjoy informal conversation at the Massey with Susan Morrison about her work as an artist, author and environmentalist. Crystal Bridges at the Massey Ongoing Opportunities For the duration of the exhibit, the museum will offer events and programs that allow visitors to learn more about Morrison’s work and her mission. (Editor’s Note: A full schedule of events will be available Dec. 1.)      Crystal Bridges at the Massey Crystal Bridges at the Massey is a temporary exhibit space and educational and community resource for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Located on the first floor of the historic Massey Building just off the square in downtown Bentonville, the facility provides an opportunity for the public to discover art and traveling exhibits, experience arts-based educational programs, and learn more about the world class Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opening in 2010. Hours of operation are:  Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, go to massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700.   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=53Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:20:04 -0500NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 28, 2007 – Fisk University today asked the Chancery Court of Davidson County to approve the sale of a 50 percent undivided interest in its Alfred Stieglitz Collection to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and a joint ownership agreement between the two institutions to provide for the management and care of the collection.  The agreement gives each institution the right to publicly display the collection on an equal basis.  Fisk University board of trustees announced earlier this week it had approved the sale and the joint ownership agreement. Fisk made the request in several legal documents filed in Chancery Court. An Amended Petition of Fisk University Pursuant to the Cy Pres Doctrine, which requests relief different than requested by the original Complaint for Declaratory Judgment filed by Fisk before the Chancery Court in 2005.  The amended petition requests that the Court approve the arrangement between Fisk and Crystal Bridges, which keeps together the entire Stieglitz Collection.  By contrast, the original complaint requested the Court grant Fisk permission to sell two paintings from the Stieglitz Collection. A Memorandum of Law in Support of the Amended Petition, which sets forth factual and legal bases for the argument that, given Fisk’s current financial condition and circumstances, the agreement between Crystal Bridges and Fisk represents the best available means to comply with Georgia O’Keeffe’s original intent in gifting the Stieglitz Collection to Fisk. Various supporting papers addressing procedural requirements and providing factual support. “Fisk was in strained financial circumstances even before we originally filed this lawsuit in 2005,” said Fisk President Hazel O’Leary.  “Those circumstances have worsened since that time, so this agreement is particularly important if we are to avoid an interruption of Fisk’s daily operations. “We believe our agreement with Crystal Bridges deserves timely consideration because it offers the best solution for the people of the state of Tennessee as well as Fisk University, its students, staff and alumni,” added O’Leary.  “Under this new agreement, we will be able to keep the collection intact and publicly displayed on an equal basis with Crystal Bridges.  The generous $1 million donation from Alice Walton will allow us to renovate, improve and maintain the Carl Van Vechten Gallery in order to display the Stieglitz Collection and other artworks.  Finally, the new internship program funded by Crystal Bridges will offer an important and unique educational opportunity for Fisk students.” Fisk Board of Trustees Chairman Reynaldo P. Glover cited Attorney General Robert Cooper’s help in determining the best course of action for Fisk to take regarding its ownership and management of the Stieglitz Collection, particularly in light of the university’s financial needs.  “We value his ongoing participation and insight, and we hope he will agree this is the best outcome for the collection, the state and Fisk.” For more information about Fisk University, visit www.fisk.edu.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. Contact: Ken West  for Fisk University, 615/329-8767 or Elise Mitchell for Crystal Bridges, 479/443-4673.   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=52Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:26:14 -0500Unprecedented Agreement Keeps Stieglitz Collection Intact, Includes $1 Million Pledge from Alice Walton for Gallery Renovation, Crystal Bridges Establishes Internship Program for Fisk Students NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 25, 2007 -- The Fisk University board of trustees has approved the sale to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art of a 50 percent undivided interest in its Alfred Stieglitz Collection for $30 million.  As part of the sale, the two institutions will participate in a joint ownership agreement that will allow for mutual care and management of the collection as well as the right to publicly display the collection on an equal basis.  Crystal Bridges Founder Alice L. Walton has also personally pledged $1 million toward the renovation, improvement and maintenance of the Carl Van Vechten Gallery at Fisk.  The donation will enable the university to exhibit or house the Stieglitz Collection in accordance with the highest standards and best practices of the art museum industry. Crystal Bridges and Fisk also announced the establishment of an internship program, funded by Crystal Bridges, which will allow Fisk students to participate in an on-site training experience at Crystal Bridges with a focus on the study and significance of the Stieglitz Collection. Fisk will seek approval from the Davidson County Chancery Court through a motion requesting relief from its prior orders under the Cy Pres doctrine. “Fisk is an international cultural and academic treasure.  This settlement represents a great opportunity for Fisk to emerge from this lengthy and complicated process on the strongest financial footing that we have been on in decades,” said Reynaldo P. Glover, Chairman of Fisk’s Board of Trustees.  He continued, “Throughout the lengthy process that has brought us to this point, we have been in regular contact with Attorney General Robert Cooper. We appreciate his role to date and his ongoing willingness to listen and work toward a responsible solution of this matter.”  President Hazel R. O’Leary stated that “The people of the state of Tennessee stand to benefit form this arrangement, as does the city of Nashville.  But most importantly, those talented students from all over the world who have chosen Fisk’s rich academic environment as a place to cultivate their minds, hearts, and hands will have an alma mater that will do more to help them achieve their dreams.  Our board of trustees and alumni have remained a remarkable source of strength and wisdom throughout this case and remain committed to a constructive outcome for Fisk.” Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. A major focus for the museum will be creating greater access to art and interpreting art's significance and meaning through engaging educational programming.  “We are honored to partner with Fisk in the ownership and care of this significant collection,” said Walton. “From the beginning, we sought to create an innovative arrangement with Fisk that would accomplish three important goals: keep the collection intact, ensure the collection would remain on public display, and enable Fisk to continue to achieve its historic education mission.  We believe the interests of each institution and the Alfred Stieglitz Collection itself are well served through these agreements.” The Alfred Stieglitz Collection includes a total of 101 works of art.  In 1949, 97 of those works were given to Fisk University by the Estate of Alfred Stieglitz.  At a later date, four were given by Georgia O’Keeffe.  The collection includes paintings by O’Keeffe, photos taken by Stieglitz and a wide variety of works in different media by well known artists from the 20th century.  Fisk University In addition to the Stieglitz Collection, Fisk holds more than 4,000 works of art from artists and includes the Black Masters Collection with works from Aaron Douglas, Henry O. Tanner, and Romare Bearden.  The university also possesses the Liff African Art Collection. Fisk’s alumni figure prominently throughout the annals of history. The 140-year-old institution is known as the alma mater of internationally renowned historian and author John Hope Franklin, social scientist W.E.B. DuBois, poet and essayist Nikki Giovanni, Congressmen John Lewis and Alcee Hastings, as well as its current President Hazel R. O’Leary, the first African-American and woman to be Secretary of Energy.  Recently the school was named as the top Historically Black University by Newsweek/Kaplan and ranked fifth of 300 schools in terms of student volunteerism and graduation rate. This year, Princeton Review selected Fisk as one of the top 15 percent of American colleges and universities for the sixteenth consecutive year.  Fisk University holds the distinction of being the first Historically Black University to induct members into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa national honor society.  According to a recent National Science Foundation study, Fisk produces more African Americans who go on to earn doctoral degrees in the natural sciences than any school in the nation.  Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the Crystal Bridges complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. For more information please contact: Ken West, for Fisk University 615-329-8767 or Elise Mitchell for Crystal Bridges 479-443-4673.  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=51Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:29:56 -0500BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 17, 2007 – In the 1840s, writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau retreated from the world to a small house on the shores of Walden Pond in Massachusetts. This life-changing experience would lead him to pen “Walden” or “Life in the Woods,” a quintessentially American work that reflected the beauty and tranquility of his surroundings.  In 1999, photographer Scot Miller set out on a five-year journey to recreate Thoreau’s steps through Walden Woods. He captured that journey in a series of photographs that comprise the newest exhibit at Crystal Bridges at the Massey.  The exhibit is titled “Thoreau’s Walden: A Journey in Photographs by Scot Miller” and will open Saturday, Sept. 22, at Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville.   The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 25 and will feature 29 visually stunning photographs depicting scenes from nature taken during all four seasons.  The photos range from an image of a fern taken close enough to see the detail on each frond to a photo of a full moon over a lake surrounded by trees filled with vibrant autumn foliage.   In addition to the photographs, other exhibit elements include specimens and artifacts that are connected to Thoreau as well as an eight-minute video presentation about Thoreau’s legacy and his role as an early pioneer in the field of environmentalism and conservation. For families, a hands-on nature station and nature activity cards bring to life local forest ecology.   “People who see this exhibit will react to it on many different levels,” said Bob Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director. “Naturalists, photographers, conservationists, and even those who simply appreciate Thoreau’s writings will find a connection in these photographs.” The exhibit is a traveling collection developed by the Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) in cooperation with Scot Miller and the Walden Woods Project and sponsored by Houghton Mifflin. The exhibit is the third in a series of exhibits to be featured at Crystal Bridges at the Massey.   Three Events, Three Locations, One Celebration In celebration of the exhibit’s opening, several special events will are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22. All activities are open to the public. Saturday, Sept. 22 10 a.m. until noon: Book-signing with Scot Miller Barnes & Noble, 261 N. 26th Street, Rogers Miller will sign copies of Walden: 150th Anniversary Illustrated Edition of the American Classic. This issue of Walden is illustrated with Miller’s photographs.   2 p.m. until 3 p.m.: Special presentation by the artist Bentonville Public Library, 405 S. Main Street, Bentonville Miller will share his photographic journey through Walden Woods, Yosemite, Cape Cod and more as he explains how his art relates to the conservation of nature.   3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.: Artist’s reception and reading groups kick-off Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central Ave., Bentonville Refreshments and an informal reception for Miller are planned. Individuals can register for Crystal Bridges’ adult and youth reading groups who will read works that are related to the Walden exhibit. The children’s group will read My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George, and the adult group will read Thoreau’s Walden. Free copies of this fall’s featured titles will be available at this reception to group members.   Ongoing Opportunities For the duration of the exhibit, the museum will offer events providing a multitude of ways for visitors of all ages to experience the photographs. Learning how to make and keep a nature journal, color walks through nearby Compton Gardens, photography workshops and lectures by members of the Audubon Society are just a few of the opportunities that will be available. (Editor’s Note: For a full schedule of events, see the attachment.)   Crystal Bridges at the Massey Located on the first floor of the historic Massey Building just off the square in downtown Bentonville, Crystal Bridges at the Massey is the temporary exhibit space for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The facility offers the public an opportunity to view traveling exhibits, get updates on the latest construction news from the Crystal Bridges Museum site, view architectural models and renderings of the museum complex and participate in programming such as classes, guided tours and lectures designed by members of the Crystal Bridges staff. Hours of operation are: Thursday            10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday                 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Saturday            10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday                 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, go to massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=50Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:29:17 -0500Arkansas native with deep ties to the state returns home BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 10, 2007 – A native Arkansan and accomplished heritage and cultural resources expert is joining Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Dr. Sarah Brown, a Lyon College alumnae and formal Batesville resident, has been hired as an assistant curator. Brown, who has more than 25 years of experience, will report to Christopher Crosman, the museum’s chief curator. She officially begins her duties this week.   Brown comes to Crystal Bridges most recently from the St. Croix Landmarks Society – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where she served as the chief operating officer of the society. In her role, Brown oversaw: Estate Whim, an eighteenth-century sugar plantation; The Carl and Marie Lawaetz Museum, a nineteenth-century Danish ranch with a great house, ruins, gardens, and working truck farm; Apothecary Hall; two nature reserves; a heritage trail; research library; and archives.   “Dr. Brown brings a strong historical and regional perspective to our team that will help us as we develop the Arkansas heritage and culture aspects of our collection,” said Crosman. “We’re pleased to have her expertise and look forward to her contributions as we bring this unique project to life.”   Prior to her work at the St. Croix Landmarks Society, Brown was in Savannah, Ga., where she served in a number of capacities including: curator for the Andrew Low House; president of Heritage Works, Inc., a historic and cultural resources consulting company; and assistant professor of history at Armstrong State College.   “I’m proud to be part of something as significant as Crystal Bridges, which will certainly have a national impact, but importantly will also make a major contribution to the state,” said Brown. “I’ve spent nearly all my adult life studying and educating others about preserving history, art and culture. Now, I have an opportunity to bring all those interests together into one position in Arkansas.”   Moving between Savannah and Arkansas, Brown had stints as director for Quapaw Quarters Association, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and as an exhibit designer with Arkansas State Parks in Little Rock. She is an accomplished grant writer, author and lecturer and has taught courses on decorative arts, heritage tourism, architectural history, historic preservation, American history and Caribbean cultures.   Brown holds a doctorate in American civilization and a Master of Arts in American civilization/historic preservation from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in communications from Lyon College.   She is the daughter of Edmund Burke Brown Sr., who lives in Little Rock today at 92, and the late Dr. Roberta Dorr Brown, who served 40 years with Lyon College as academic dean and vice president for institutional research and development.   Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails.   Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. Some announced works in the permanent collection are: the Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan to the Brooklyn Museum of Art and was previously on loan to the National Gallery in Washington D.C.; Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand, on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Jasper Cropsey’s The Backwoods of America, on loan to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City; and the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, on loan to The Jewish Museum in New York City.   Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=49Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:34:37 -0500Public invited to participate in “group paint” event on Friday, Sept. 7   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 24, 2007 -- From the creative minds of children has come a colorful collection of artwork featuring Arkansas countryside and cityscapes. “Views from a Traveling Train: Paintings from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital” will open Saturday, Sept. 1, at Crystal Bridges at the Massey, 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville.    The exhibit, which will only be on display through Sept. 16, features 4-by-4 foot panels depicting scenes from around the state seen through the eyes of young artists as if viewed through a train window. The paintings were created at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital during the past year by more than 100 patients and their siblings. These artworks are being presented for the first time at Crystal Bridges at the Massey prior to their installation at the hospital in Little Rock.   In conjunction with the exhibit and Bentonville’s First Friday event, the public is invited to make their own mark on mural panels. A “group paint” is scheduled for Friday, Sept, 7, from 6-8 p.m. at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. Supplies will be available and staff members will be on hand to guide and assist participants. The panels will be installed at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s Fenceworks Gallery, a community mural project posted on a fence along the museum’s construction service yard on NE J Street near John DeShields Blvd. in Bentonville.   Unique project, powerful impact “A paintbrush and palette can be powerful tools of healing as well as creative expression,” said Bob Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director. “This exhibit demonstrates the importance of providing opportunities for participation in the arts in unique circumstances and non-traditional settings.”   The project is the result of a collaboration by the hospital and the Arkansas Arts Center with funding from the Arkansas Arts Council. Hamid Ebrahimifar and Ann Owens, art educators with the center, visited the hospital each week and provided painting, drawing and sculpting lessons to patients.    According to Ebrahimifar, collective projects like a “Views from a Traveling Train” allow art to become accessible to several audiences at once – patients, their families and their friends, as well as visitors who observe the work. Parents sometimes assisted the children with the paintings, helping them choose colors or detail strokes while the two art professionals guided the overall process. “We provided skill development and they learned techniques, and now all these elements have come together in this exhibition.”   Gloriane Kabat, director of child life and education at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, believes the project has helped patients unearth hidden abilities, instilling confidence and fostering a therapeutic outlet. “We had children who said they couldn’t paint or draw. Yet creating art for this project has showed them they can, and now they proudly tell their parents ‘Look what I have done.’”   The exhibit is the second in a series of exhibits to be featured at Crystal Bridges at the Massey.    Crystal Bridges at the Massey Located on the first floor of the historic Massey Building just off the square in downtown Bentonville, Crystal Bridges at the Massey is the temporary exhibit space for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The facility offers the public an opportunity to view traveling exhibits, get updates on the latest construction news from the Crystal Bridges Museum site, view architectural models and renderings of the museum complex and participate in programming such as classes, guided tours and lectures designed by members of the Crystal Bridges staff. Hours of operation are: Thursday           10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Friday               10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Saturday           10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday             1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, go to www.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700.  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=48Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:58:26 -0500BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 11, 2007 – An accomplished arts educator with 20 years of experience designing and implementing educational programming for a wide variety of audiences is joining Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. Lynn Berkowitz of Sarasota, Fla., has been hired as the museum’s director of education. Berkowitz will report to Robert G. Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director, and will officially begin her duties on Sept. 4. Berkowitz comes to Crystal Bridges most recently from Florida State University/The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, where she was education director since 2004. In this leadership role, Berkowitz led the program development and implementation serving all audiences for the Ringling Estate, which includes a museum of art, two circus museums, a historic mansion and theater and 66 acres featuring an accredited rose garden. She also sat on the museum’s board of directors collection and exhibition committee and helped lead the museum’s docent and volunteer councils.  “Education is a primary focus for Crystal Bridges, and we are extremely pleased to have someone of Lynn’s caliber and talent join our leadership team,” said Workman. “As someone focused on the quality of the visitor experience, Lynn will build a program that assures lifelong learning opportunities for the museum visitor and those people we will touch through outreach activities. She is a well respected and recognized education professional in the museum industry. Her track record of developing creative, engaging educational opportunities for students of all ages and from all walks of life is outstanding and will benefit our audiences significantly.” As director of education, Berkowitz will be a member of the Crystal Bridges senior management team. In her role, she will lead the organization’s planning, development and implementation for all the museum’s education activities. She will help refine the vision for the interpretation of the permanent collection, plan and implement a dynamic interpretive program, proactively promote collaborations within the area’s schools, and work within Northwest Arkansas communities to inform this process with the needs of this area.  “I am thrilled with this opportunity to join Crystal Bridges in such a key position,” said Berkowitz. “This is an incredible project that will touch and engage many audiences locally, regionally and nationally for years to come. We will work hard to envision the needs of each audience and develop programming that will help people experience art in ways that are enjoyable but also meaningful and relevant to their own life experiences.”  Prior to her work at The Ringling Museum, Berkowitz held senior management positions at several museums. In each position as she did at The Ringling Museum, she created and oversaw the implementation of both traditional and non-traditional educational outreach initiatives designed to engage broad audiences with art. Berkowitz was also actively involved in visioning, strategic and long-range planning. In Tucson, she was the director of education at Tucson Museum of Art, where she developed programming for a complex including a museum, historic homes, art school and ceramics studio. She also was curator of education at The University of Arizona Museum of Art. Before her work in the Tucson area, Berkowitz served as director of education at the Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, Penn. While in Pennsylvania, Berkowitz was an adjunct lecturer at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, a lecturer at Marywood College in Scranton, and served as gallery director for the Luckenbach Mill Gallery of Historic Bethlehem, Inc., in Bethlehem.  Berkowitz has an extensive track record of securing grants and funding for educational programming. She has organized numerous conferences, symposia and is an established presenter and lecturer at arts and educational events nationwide. Throughout her career, Berkowitz has curated 17 special exhibitions focusing on a variety of art and themes. She is active in her field through a number of professional affiliations and special appointments, and she has also been named Outstanding Museum Educator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. Berkowitz holds a master of fine arts degree with an emphasis in textiles from Tyler School of Art, Temple University; a bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in furniture design and construction from Kutztown State College; and she attended Philadelphia College of Art studying furniture design and construction. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. Some announced works in the permanent collection are: the Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan to the Brooklyn Museum of Art and was previously on loan to the National Gallery in Washington D.C.; Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand, on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Jasper Cropsey’s The Backwoods of America, on loan to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City; and the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, on loan to The Jewish Museum in New York City. Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=47Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:08:54 -0500BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 2, 2007 – A consummate fundraiser and arts administrator with extensive experience in higher education is joining Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Sandra K. Edwards of Fayetteville, Ark., has been hired as the museum’s associate director. Edwards will report to Robert G. Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director, and will officially begin her duties on Sept. 17.                                             Edwards brings to the museum 34 years of experience at the highest levels in strategic planning, financial and human resource management, fundraising and organizational development for educational and creative enterprises. Most recently she was associate vice chancellor for development at the University of Arkansas, where she has worked since 1998. Edwards and her late husband, Clay, were instrumental in designing, launching and successfully completing the university’s Campaign for the Twenty-First Century that helped catapult the university to and beyond a one billion-dollar campaign goal. Edwards was also part of a key team that developed, secured and implemented a $300 million challenge gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the largest gift given to a public university.   “We are delighted and honored to have Sandy join the Crystal Bridges leadership team,” said Workman. “She brings a wealth of experience with a broad spectrum of skills in crucial member- and community-oriented disciplines. Her talent and capabilities will benefit Crystal Bridges significantly as we work with our individual and corporate stakeholders in the region and nationally to build a world class museum of American art.”    As associate director, Edwards will be responsible for all activities of the Outreach Division of the museum, including: fundraising, membership, special events, visitor services, public relations and marketing.   “I feel extremely fortunate to help establish and promote yet another treasure within the state of Arkansas,” said Edwards. “This unique opportunity allows me to effectively blend my background in community arts management with my more recent administrative experience in higher education. I am privileged to be a part of this ambitious and significant endeavor.”   “Sandy’s leadership has been key to the university’s success in fund raising, and her absence will be felt throughout the institution,” said Dave Gearhart, vice chancellor for university advancement. “While we would have done anything possible to keep Sandy at the university, we also know that this is an incredible opportunity for her to redeploy her talents and skills at what will, no doubt, become one of the world’s greatest art museums. Certainly the museum will be most fortunate to have someone with her consummate leadership and organizational skills.”   Prior to her work at the university, Edwards worked as director of development, outreach and cooperative extension at Penn State University where among many other accomplishments she generated private support for the university’s outreach efforts and developed corporate partnerships to advance learning practices. Edwards has also worked as the director of station development, Penn State University Public Broadcasting, where she directed a variety of member campaigns and fundraising activities.   In her earlier career, Edwards held management positions at several arts organizations including: general manager of the Shreveport Symphony; executive director of the Celebrity Theater in Bossier City, La.; and associate director of the Hammons Center-Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. She also worked at Western Illinois University organizing concerts and other student activities for the University Union, and as a program advisor for student events at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.   Edwards has been honored on many occasions for professional accomplishments including being named Fundraising Professional of the Year in 2005 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northwest Arkansas chapter. She also received the 2005 Trailblazer award from Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the 2003 Mattie Mae Rice Fund award from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Fayetteville branch. Edwards has also served the community as vice president of the Walton Arts Council and president of the AAUW Fayetteville branch, and she has an extensive track record of community involvement during her years in Pennsylvania.   Edwards holds a master of science degree from Western Illinois University and a bachelor of arts from Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C.   Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails.   Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. Some announced works in the permanent collection are:  the Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan to the Brooklyn Museum of Art and was previously on loan to the National Gallery in Washington D.C.; Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand, on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Jasper Cropsey’s The Backwoods of America, on loan to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City; and the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, on loan to The Jewish Museum in New York City.   Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=46Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:27:57 -0500Photography exhibit, family activities and construction updates for  Crystal Bridges Museum await visitors at the interim facility BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 14, 2007 – The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will unveil its new temporary exhibit space on the first floor of the Massey Building in downtown Bentonville on Saturday, June 16, during ArtWalk. Crystal Bridges at the Massey will provide a place for the public to view traveling exhibits, get updates on the latest construction news from the Crystal Bridges Museum site, view architectural models and renderings of the museum complex and participate in programming designed by members of the Crystal Bridges staff. The open house will be held from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and will feature “Sun Prints,” a children’s activity, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., gallery talks with Christopher Crosman, curator, at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and the opportunity to view the first in a series of traveling exhibits, William Christenberry: Photographs, 1961-2005. Crystal Bridges at the Massey is envisioned as a place where the community can connect with the Crystal Bridges Museum prior to its 2009 opening.  “People are interested in what’s happening right now with the museum,” said Bob Workman, executive director of the Crystal Bridges Museum. “Crystal Bridges at the Massey is a way for us to provide construction updates, to offer the community an additional means of viewing art and to experiment with programming.”  It will also feature a series of visual art exhibits, including photography, regional art, botanical art and works created by children. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Schedules of upcoming exhibits, activities and programs will be available at the June 16 event.) Crystal Bridges at the Massey hours of operation will be: •    Thursday          10 a.m. to 5 p.m. •    Friday                10 a.m. to 8 p.m. •    Saturday           10 a.m. to 5 p.m. •    Sunday                1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Opening Exhibit William Christenberry: Photographs, 1961-2005 is the first of five exhibits to be featured during the next year at the new facility. This collection of more than 50 photographs by William Christenberry features sequences of individual subjects repeatedly photographed over a period of 40 years. Christenberry is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of color photography, and the exhibit of his photographs will be available for viewing at Crystal Bridges at the Massey through Aug. 26. This particular exhibit is the result of collaboration between the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, who had originally planned to host this exhibit and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “We are delighted to see the Christenberry exhibition as the opening event of Crystal Bridges at the Massey,” said Terri Trotter, Vice President of External Affairs for Walton Arts Center. “As our region grows and changes, the Walton Arts Center board has asked staff to focus more of our resources on the development of our core programming - performing arts activities and programs for local schools and general audiences – to support that growth. Working in partnership with Crystal Bridges allows us to focus our organization’s work and still ensure that residents of Northwest Arkansas have access to outstanding performing arts and visual arts experiences.”   Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era.  Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=45Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:19:16 -0500Work to be on Long-Term Loan from Crystal Bridges Museum of Art . KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 14, 2007 – A major work by American painter Jasper Cropsey (1823–1900), The Backwoods of America, is now featured in the American galleries of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, curators announced this week. The 1858 painting of a frontier family in the rugged wilderness is on long-term loan from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, now under construction in Bentonville, Ark. The Backwoods of America is on view in the rotunda of the American galleries (Gallery 220) in the original Nelson-Atkins Building.   “The Backwoods of America is a masterpiece of Hudson River School painting, and we are honored to exhibit it at the Nelson-Atkins,” said Margaret C. Conrads, Samuel Sosland Curator of American Art. “We are especially grateful to Crystal Bridges for their generosity in sharing this marvelous work with us and our visitors. The Backwoods of America wonderfully complements and enhances our presentation of 19th-century American landscape painting.”   The Backwoods of America depicts a hearty pioneer family carving out a new life on the frontier. While one figure sets out for a day of felling trees, other family members go about their chores, tending the children, milking a cow and launching a boat. The rudimentary cabin and the early stages of a garden suggest that this is the family’s first year in the wilderness. They are a self-sufficient unit, solitary and spirited in a valley set among majestic mountains, although a newly laid log road suggests that the virgin wilderness will not be isolated for long.   Cropsey derived the painting from sketches of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He traveled to the area in 1849 to see the New England mountain peaks and filled a notebook with details about the landscape. His view of the indomitable American family settling in the frontier was both a romanticized myth and a rich reality of the time. Cropsey was also inspired by the work of Thomas Cole (1801–1848), who famously rendered majestic images of American scenery throughout the 1830s and 1840s. At the Nelson-Atkins, Cropsey’s The Backwoods of America will hang in the same gallery as the Museum’s important, recently acquired landscape by Cole, The Mill, Sunset (1844).   The Backwoods of America is one of many signature works of art that are part of the growing collection for Crystal Bridges, which has made a number of significant works available to other museums as long-term loans during the museum’s construction.   “Working with other museums is an important part of our mission,” said Robert G. Workman, executive director of Crystal Bridges. “We are pleased to partner with the Nelson-Atkins, which is an institution that serves its audiences so well, particularly those throughout this region.”   Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails.   Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. Some announced works in the permanent collection are:  the Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan to the Brooklyn Museum of Art; Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), which is currently on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand, currently on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, currently on loan to The Jewish Museum in New York City.   Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.   The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art The campus transformation project at the Nelson-Atkins encompasses the addition of the new 165,000-square-foot Bloch Building by Steven Holl Architects, the renovation of the original 1933 Nelson-Atkins Building, the reinstallation of its encyclopedic collection, and the expansion of the Museum’s renowned Kansas City Sculpture Park. The Bloch Building has increased Museum space by 71 percent, providing new galleries and Museum-support spaces. The Museum has raised more than $200 million for the renovation and expansion and $170 million to grow the endowment fund.   The Nelson-Atkins is recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest encyclopedic art museums. The Nelson-Atkins serves the community by providing access and insight into its renowned collection of more than 33,500 art objects and is best known for its Asian art, European paintings, American art and modern sculpture. Housing a major art research library and the Ford Learning Center, the Museum is a key educational resource for the region and a national model for arts education. The Nelson-Atkins’ expansion is also leading a field of new investments in local cultural infrastructure that is becoming known as Kansas City’s “$6 Billion Renaissance.”   The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak streets, Kansas City, Mo. Hours are Tuesday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon – 5 p.m. Admission to the Museum’s collection is free to everyone. For Museum information, phone 816.751.1ART or visit nelson-atkins.com.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=44Thu, 07 Jun 2007 07:52:24 -0500Celebrated Work on Loan from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art through May 2008 BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 7, 2007 — Thomas Eakins’ first in a series of portraits of physicians and scientists is now on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand is on loan to the museum from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art through May 2008.  It will be exhibited permanently at Crystal Bridges, which is currently under construction in Bentonville, Ark., when the museum opens in 2009.  Collaborating with other institutions has become an important focus for the museum even before it opens, according to Robert Workman, Crystal Bridges executive director.  “Making art widely accessible to the public is a central part of our mission,” said Workman.  “While our museum is under construction, we want to ensure this significant portrait can still be seen by audiences.  We understand and appreciate Eakins’ strong ties to Philadelphia where he spent many years working and studying.  We have made and will continue to make loans to museums of all sizes and locations for years to come.”  Announced works on loan from the Crystal Bridges permanent collection include: •    Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, previously on loan to the National Gallery in Washington D.C. and currently on loan at the Brooklyn Museum in New York; •    Gilbert Stuart's George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), which is currently on loan at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, depicting the first president as the father of his country; •    Levy-Franks portraits, attributed to Gerardus Duyckinck and dating from the 1720s to 1735, the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture. The collection of six portraits is currently on loan at The Jewish Museum in New York. "It is a pleasure to have this ambitious, innovative portrait here in the context of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's great collection of Eakins' work," said Kathleen Foster, the Robert L. McNeill, Jr., curator of American Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "The painting's combination of dignity and informality invites us to explore the identity of a man that Eakins held in a very respectful and affectionate regard." Eakins portrayed the popular Dr. Benjamin H. Rand, a professor at Jefferson Medical College, lost in concentration at his desk, which is shown cluttered both with objects of science and academia and those of domestic life.  Absently stroking his pet cat, Rand is poised between the world of intellectual endeavor and the comforts of home.  The portrait was a great success for Eakins, earning a place at the Philadelphia Centennial's (1876) international art exhibition, where it won critical acclaim as one of the best paintings in the exhibition.  Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era.  Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.                                  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=24Thu, 03 May 2007 10:01:30 -0500"A Sense of Place: Past, Present and Future" sets the stage for world class museum   BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 3, 2007 – As a world class museum and cultural center, Crystal Bridges will play a major role in the region’s continued economic and cultural expansion for years to come.  With this vision in mind, Crystal Bridges Founder Alice Walton hosted community leaders, elected officials and other special guests from throughout Arkansas for a site dedication ceremony marking the project’s first milestone since it was announced two years ago.     The commemorative event, themed “A Sense of Place: Past, Present and Future,” was held on the museum grounds so guests could have a view of the 100-acre wooded property, which is now actively under construction.  The land was donated by the Walton family for the Crystal Bridges project.   “This land has very special meaning to me because it was my childhood home,” said Walton, who is also president of the museum’s board of trustees.  “Our dream is to build a premier American art museum and cultural center that will serve the people of this region but also draw visitors from throughout the central United States and around the world.  My hope is that Crystal Bridges will become a special place for all who visit, and they will see first-hand why this site and this region are so extraordinary.”     In addition to Walton, speakers at the dedication ceremony included:  Robert G. Workman, executive director, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; Dr. Jeannie Whayne, chair, department of history, University of Arkansas; The Rev. Mr. Darwin D. Wolfe, First Presbyterian Church, Bentonville; and  Jennifer Admire, winner, Third Congressional Art Competition, Siloam Springs. Construction work on the museum site began last fall, according to Workman.  Activity since that time has included grading and excavation, utilities installation and the processing of rocks to be used as backfill and road base“We are very pleased with our progress, and we are grateful to our construction partners, Linbeck/Nabholz, for their work on this unique project,” said Workman.  The two construction companies, which formed a joint venture to work on Crystal Bridges, have worked closely with project architect Moshe Safdie and his design team as the project has progressed.  The Boston- based architect created the concept for the museum’s signature design, which takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building concept he envisioned.    The innovative building design is reflective of the museum’s forested creek-side home, which will be linked by landscaped trails and paths connecting it to area neighborhoods.  The design will capture the interplay of nature, art and culture in the region. The museum property and grounds are within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.   About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Founded by Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, gallery rooms suitable for large receptions, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails.   The museum will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures by American artists from the Colonial period through the modern era and will consist of notable examples reflecting the richness and diversity of the American experience. Some announced works of the permanent collection include:  Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan to the Brooklyn Museum in New York;   Charles Willson Peale’s 18th century painting of George Washington; Gilbert Stuart’s  George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), which is currently on loan at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston;   Spring, by Winslow Homer;   Martin Johnson Heade’s Cattleya Orchid, Two Hummingbirds and a Beetle; Marsden Hartley’s Hall of the Mountain King; and   the Levy-Franks portraits, attributed to Gerardus Duyckinck and dating from the 1720s to 1735, the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture. The collection of six portraits is currently on loan at The Jewish Museum in New York.  The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located in Bentonville, Ark.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=25Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:21:00 -0500Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art adds portrait by Thomas Eakins to its growing collection of significant American paintings   PHILADELPHIA, April 12, 2007 — The Board of Trustees of Thomas Jefferson University announced today that the University has sold Thomas Eakins’ Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand (1874) to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., for an undisclosed amount.  Christie’s in New York arranged the private sale.  Prior to entering an agreement with Crystal Bridges, representatives of the University discussed its interest in selling the Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand with representatives of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  Eakins’ Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand has been the property of Thomas Jefferson University since Dr. Rand donated it without restriction to the University upon his retirement from Jefferson Medical College in 1877.  Proceeds from the sale of the painting will be used to support the mission of the University and the implementation of its new strategic plan. Crystal Bridges also announced today it will lend the Rand portrait to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for public viewing later this spring, although a firm date for the loan has not been set.  The painting will be exhibited permanently at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which is scheduled to open in 2009. Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. An important focus for the new museum and cultural complex is to provide new audiences with access to significant works of art that reflect the richness and diversity of the American experience. “We are pleased to acquire the Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand,” said Robert Workman, executive director, Crystal Bridges.  “Through this wonderful painting, our visitors will learn about the extraordinary role Thomas Eakins played in the development of American art and the importance of Thomas Jefferson University to the advancement of American medicine.”  Eakins' portrait of Rand is significant as the first in his series of portraits of physicians and scientists.  Eakins portrayed the popular Dr. Benjamin H. Rand—a Jefferson Medical College professor with whom Eakins studied anatomy—lost in concentration at his desk, which is shown cluttered both with objects of science and academia and those of domestic life.  Surrounded by the accoutrements of every aspect of life, Rand is poised between the world of intellectual endeavor and the comforts of home.  The portrait was a great success for Eakins, earning a place at the Philadelphia Centennial's (1876) international art exhibition, where it won critical acclaim as one of the best paintings in the exhibition.  “We are heartened by the knowledge that at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Eakins’ Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand will be displayed in the context of a prominent collection of masterworks by American artists,” said Thomas Jefferson University President Robert L. Barchi, M.D., Ph.D. “We are very mindful of our rich history.  Thomas Jefferson University, its doctors and professors are great treasures.  Thomas Eakins took anatomy courses at Jefferson Medical College and was inspired by his professors.  Many people will be able to see this portrait and learn more about the great legacy of Thomas Eakins and his connection to Thomas Jefferson University, one of Philadelphia’s and the country’s historic medical universities.”  Brian G. Harrison, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, stated, “It is our board’s ongoing responsibility to consider options that help the institution stay true to its core mission and provide Dr. Barchi with the tools to implement our current strategic plan.  Our goal is to make the University an even stronger and more dynamic educational, clinical and research institution, one that cherishes and furthers its history and mission, while also contributing to the economic growth of Philadelphia.” "We are grateful to the Crystal Bridges Museum for the opportunity to borrow this fine early portrait by Thomas Eakins and to show it in the context of our own American collections,” said Anne d’Harnoncourt, director and CEO, Philadelphia Museum of Art. “I look forward to seeing the exciting new museum in Bentonville when it opens and to the possibility of future collaborations as they join the community of American museums." Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University, a distinguished medical and health sciences university in Philadelphia, is composed of Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson College of Health Professions and Jefferson University Physicians. The University's mission is to serve society through the education of professionals, the discovery of new knowledge, and the provision of compassionate care. For more information about Thomas Jefferson University visit: www.jefferson.edu. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Founded by Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Ark., the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Crystal Bridges will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. Some announced works in the permanent collection are:  the Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan at the Brooklyn Museum of Art; Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), which is currently on loan at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture, the Levy-Franks family paintings, currently on loan at The Jewish Museum in New York City. Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009.  For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=21Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:11:30 -0500Six Portraits from the Collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art To Be Exhibited Consecutively in Pairs from April 2007 Through June 2009 NEW YORK, April 6, 2007 – The portraits of the Levy-Franks family, attributed to Gerardus Duyckinck and dating from the 1720s to 1735, are the most extensive surviving group of Colonial American portraiture.  The Jewish Museum will be exhibiting six of them consecutively in pairs from April 2007 through June 2009.  The first two will be on view from April 7 through Dec. 31, 2007, the second pair from January through September 2008, and the third pair from October 2008 through June 2009.  These six paintings are from the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., a new museum scheduled to open in 2009. Spanning three generations, the works depict the German-born patriarch Moses Raphael Levy, his wife Grace Mears Levy, his daughter Abigaill Franks and her husband Jacob Franks, and five of their children. These paintings also hold a noteworthy place in American art as one of the oldest surviving family portrait series.  In the Colonial period, portraits held a special significance in the homes of prosperous families, serving the traditional purpose of proclaiming the subject’s social status.  For Jews, they also affirmed their American identity.  Portraits also acted as daily reminders of family members living in distant lands.  For Abigaill Franks this was crucial because her beloved son Naphtali had joined the family business in London.  Remarkably, thirty-five letters from Abigaill to Naphtali survive (in the collection of the American Jewish Historical Society), offering a rare view of eighteenth-century New York as well as illuminating the personal lives of the Franks.  Abigaill embraced the diversity found in the vibrant city and enjoyed close friendships with Jews and non-Jews.  In a letter dated 1733, Abigaill wrote: “I think [the faire Charecter Our Familys has in the place by Jews & Christians] its the greatest happyness a Person can Injoy Next to the haveing a good Conscience.”  The two paintings in the series that will initially be on view at The Jewish Museum are Portrait of Richa Franks and Portrait of Frank  Children with Lamb (both c. 1735). An important focus for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is ensuring that significant works of art reflecting the richness and diversity of the American experience are accessible to the public.  “It is a great privilege and honor to assume the preservation, presentation and interpretation of this unique and important suite of paintings rich in Colonial America’s history,” said Robert Workman, Crystal Bridges Executive Director.  “We are grateful to The Jewish Museum for providing public access to these works until they can be shared with new audiences upon our opening in 2009.”  “We are delighted to share these fascinating examples of Colonial American portraiture with the public,” said Susan L. Braunstein, Chair of Curatorial Affairs at The Jewish Museum.  “Visitors to The Jewish Museum now have a rare opportunity to view the oldest paintings of American Jews still in existence.  This is also a great story of a family living in New York around the time of the Revolutionary War,” she added.  Traditionally identified as a portrait of her sister, Phila, Portrait of Richa Franks is now believed to depict Richa, aged about seventeen.  Attesting to their affluent status, the Franks children received religious instruction and a secular education that included the learning of foreign languages, drawing, and private lessons in music.  Richa also went horseback riding at the family’s property on Long Island.  In a letter to Naphtali dated 1735, her mother Abigaill continued: “Indeed Richa is Like’d by all that know her. And I hope She will Allways have that happyness.”  After her father’s death in 1769, Richa went to England.  She became the administrator of his estate. Although not conclusive, current scholarship leans towards accepting Portrait of Franks Children with Lamb as portraying Phila (1722-1811) and either her brother David (1720-1794) or Moses (1718/19-1789).  Children of the prosperous merchant Jacob Franks and his wife, Abigaill Levy, they were raised in a highly acculturated and socially sophisticated milieu. To their parent’s distress, Phila and David married out of their faith. In 1742, Phila secretly wed Oliver DeLancey, a member of a prestigious New York family (after whom Delancey Street was named).  Distraught, Abigaill wrote to her son Napthali: “I am now retired from Town…from the Severe Affliction I am Under on the Conduct of that Unhappy Girle Good God Wath a Shock…”  She never spoke to her daughter again.  Years later, Phila raised money for the financially troubled King’s College, now Columbia University.  Since her husband was a Loyalist during the Revolution, his property was confiscated and in 1779 the couple settled permanently in England. Based in Philadelphia, David Franks enjoyed commercial and social success, engaging in land speculation, shipping, and fur trading and providing supplies for the British Army.  During the Revolution he became the king’s agent for Pennsylvania.  Afterward, he was arrested for aiding the enemy and was exiled to England.  Moses Franks delighted in the arts – he played the violin and flute, sang, and painted.  His mother wrote: “…he is a Lad of Very good Sence and Very Ingageing & allways merry…”  He eventually joined the family business in England. About The Jewish Museum The Jewish Museum as established on January 20, 1904 when Judge Mayer Sulzberger donated 26 ceremonial art objects to The Jewish Theological Seminary of America as the core of a museum collection.  Today, The Jewish Museum maintains an important collection of 28,000 objects – paintings, sculpture, works on paper, photographs, archaeological artifacts, ceremonial objects, and broadcast media.  Widely admired for its exhibitions and educational programs that inspire people of all backgrounds, The Jewish Museum is the preeminent United States institution exploring the intersection of 4,000 years of art and Jewish culture.  Museum hours are Saturday through Wednesday, 11am to 5:45pm; and Thursday, 11am to 8pm.  Museum admission is $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for senior citizens, $7.50 for students, free for children under 12 and Jewish Museum members.  Admission is free on Saturdays.  For general information on The Jewish Museum, the public may visit the Museum’s Web site at http://www.thejewishmuseum.org or call 212.423.3200.  The Jewish Museum is located at 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, Manhattan. About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Founded by Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists. Under construction in Bentonville, Arkansas, the museum complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will house a permanent collection of signature works from American artists along with galleries dedicated to regional art and artists including Native American art. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures from the Colonial period through the modern era. Some announced works of the permanent collection include: Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand, which is currently on loan at the Brooklyn Museum; and Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait), which is currently on loan at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. In addition to the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions drawn from national institutions will be displayed in the museum. Crystal Bridges takes its name from a natural spring on the museum’s wooded site as well as the unique glass-and-wood building design created by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located within walking distance of the Bentonville town square.  The project is scheduled to open in 2009. Visit www.crystalbridges.org for more information about Crystal Bridges.