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=93Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:37:47 -0500Northwest Arkansas, June 22, 2009 – Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale, Arkansas and the permanent collections of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  IMLS has now awarded almost 3,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf, in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). “With some 50,000 objects in our collections, more than half a million historic images – the largest such collection in Arkansas – a large research library, and seven historic buildings,” explains Allyn Lord, Shiloh Museum director, “the staff of the Shiloh Museum are continually working to preserve and upgrade our collections care.  The IMLS Bookshelf award definitely helps us to do that.” “The Crystal Bridges collection is central to our purpose and potential,” said Chris Crosman, Crystal Bridges’ chief curator.  “The Collections Bookshelf award provides roadmaps and best practices for the ongoing care of our collections, thereby ensuring access and enjoyment to future generations of museum visitors.”  “When IMLS launched this initiative to improve the dire state of our nation’s collections, we understood that the materials gathered for the Bookshelf would serve as important tools for museums, libraries, and archives nationwide,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of IMLS.  “We were both pleased and encouraged by the overwhelming interest of institutions prepared to answer the call to action, and we know that with their dedication, artifacts from our shared history will be preserved for future generations.” Shiloh Museum and Crystal Bridges will receive this essential set of resources based on an application describing the needs and plans for the care of its collections. The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues. The IMLS Bookshelf is a crucial component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that the Institute launched in 2006. IMLS began the initiative in response to a 2005 study it released in partnership with Heritage Preservation, A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections. The multi-faceted, multi-year initiative shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America’s collections, especially those held by smaller institutions, which often lack the human and financial resources necessary to adequately care for their collections. About the Institute of Museum and Library Services The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov. About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists, learning and community gatherings. The museum takes its name from the unique glass-and-wood building design, created for the natural setting by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The entire complex will encompass approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting, and office space, a Great Hall, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, as well as sculpture and walking trails. The museum will house a permanent collection of masterworks from American artists along with galleries dedicated to Native American and regional art and artists. The growing permanent collection is composed of paintings and sculptures by American artists from the Colonial Period through the modern era. In addition to the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions drawn from national institutions will be displayed in the museum. The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located in Bentonville, Arkansas. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. About the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a free, regional museum dedicated to the history of the Arkansas Ozarks.  Since 1968 the museum has developed and provided resources to engage, inform, and inspire on-site and virtual visitors alike in the exploration of the Arkansas Ozarks.  Inviting exhibits walk visitors through regional history from the earliest native inhabitants to the exciting growth in Northwest Arkansas today.  Interactive and hands-on features entertain both the young and young-at-heart.  Changing exhibits and a photo gallery provide new and innovative approaches to local history.  The museum’s heart is the research library which offers a wealth of resource and study materials, as well as the largest collection of historic images in the state, to researchers, genealogists, writers, students and teachers, and the media.  Illustrated talks, outreach presentations, onsite tours, curriculum-driven programs, loanable discovery boxes, and teacher in-service trainings are offered through the museum’s active education department.  The collections department accepts, researches, and cares for donations of historic materials which serve to more fully tell the story of the Arkansas Ozarks. Along with a modern museum center which houses the exhibits, library, collections, museum store, educational spaces, and staff offices, the Shiloh Museum campus includes more than two wooded acres which served as the original Shiloh town site.  (Shiloh was the name of the original community which is known today as Springdale.)  Seven historic buildings on the grounds, along with walking paths and picnic tables, invite visitors to explore and take respite in a place reminiscent of less hectic times, while still in the middle of downtown Springdale.   The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed only on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Day.  There is no charge for admission.  For more information call 479-750-8693 or shiloh@springdalear.gov.  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=86Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:04:50 -0500 BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 17, 2009 – At the Northwest Arkansas Council’s annual meeting today, Alice Walton, chairman of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art board of Trustees, revealed Autumn Landscape (1862), a painting by Hudson River School artist Thomas Moran (1837 – 1926), is now in the museum’s permanent collection.  Ms. Walton made the announcement as part of a presentation updating the Council on the museum’s progress and economic impact to the region. Formally owned by the Harvey and Bernice Jones Trust, Autumn Landscape was acquired by Bernice Jones in 1960 at Barack’s Antique Auction for her husband Harvey’s office at Jones Truck Lines in Springdale, Arkansas.  It hung in Harvey’s office until the company was sold in 1980 when it was moved to their home and hung in their den until Bernice’s death.  “Bernice did not know it was a Moran when she purchased it – she just liked it and thought it would look good in Harvey’s office,” said Joel Carver, president of the Jones Trust Board of Trustees.  “Harvey and Bernice wanted the painting to stay in northwest Arkansas where the people of the communities they called home could enjoy it.”    Thomas Moran is best known for his panoramic views of the American West and provided Americans and Europeans their first look at spectacular sites later preserved as national parks.  Autumn Landscape, a painting of a Pennsylvania valley, was once thought “lost” and only re-surfaced when acquired by Jones.  After a thorough conservation examination and research it was discovered Moran painted Autumn Landscape from drawings made during an 1861 sketching trip to the eastern Pennsylvania valley and was exhibited the following year at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.   “What an interesting and wonderful journey Autumn Landscape has taken,” said Walton.  “We are thankful to the Jones Trust for the opportunity to include this fine painting in the Crystal Bridges permanent collection.”   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=85Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:17:38 -0500 Norman Rockwell, Rosie the Riveter, 1943, oil on canvas, 52 x 40 in. Image courtesy of The Saturday Evening Post, Photography by Dwight Primiano Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 8, 2009 – Norman Rockwell’s painting Rosie the Riveter, an immensely popular icon of the American work ethic, is now part of the permanent collection at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  Painted for the May 29, 1943 cover of the Saturday Evening Post, Rosie the Riveter depicts a strong, capable feminine figure on the home front work effort during World War II.     “Rockwell’s thoroughly modern Rosie not only addresses the war effort as touching all American lives but a ‘can do’ spirit and the emergence of women into the workforce during a time of national crisis,” said Chris Crosman, chief curator at Crystal Bridges.  “She is emblematic of a sea change in American culture,” said Crosman.  “Importantly, the artist’s depiction celebrates, even helps to invent, due to mass distribution as a War Bond poster and magazine cover, the beginnings of gender equality.”   Well known for capturing idyllic, yet honest, images of American life, from Thanksgiving to baseball to topical subjects such as the Civil Rights Movement, many of Norman Rockwell’s paintings became popular symbols of American values and turned multitudes of Americans into art enthusiasts.   Crystal Bridges’ acquisition of Rosie the Riveter from a private collector will now give public audiences opportunities to share in this important painting’s timeless spirit and transformative story. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=84Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:41:37 -0500 BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 1, 2009 – Aaron W. Jones recently joined the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Learning Experiences team as the Public Tour Program Coordinator.   Jones began his duties May 18, 2009 and currently reports to Director of Learning Experiences Lynn Berkowitz until the Head of Public Programs position is filled. As Public Tour Program Coordinator, Jones will work closely with the curatorial, collections, Learning Experiences educators and information technology staff to design and develop the content and schedule of a daily roster of engaging public tours to be offered at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art including docent-led, digital audio/visual handhelds and Web-based touring opportunities as well as a volunteer docent network. The public tour program research and administrative preparation will be performed at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s temporary offices at Beau Terre North office park, as plans evolve and develop for the permanent site.  Aaron will present programs occasionally at the Massey building and at other regional sites during the Museum’s construction phase.  “Aaron’s deep appreciation for the power of museums to connect people from all walks of life to the culture of their history and their time is palpable,” said Berkowitz. “The years he has spent devoted to the study and engagement of art in public dialogue will no doubt lead to the creation of a dynamic series of tour possibilities within Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s galleries, around the buildings and out on the grounds.  We especially look forward to how Aaron structures the development of the Docent Network which will provide a lifelong learning opportunity for the volunteers and great service to the visitors.”  “I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary institution.  It is exciting to be actively involved within an organization whose mission is to share artistic experiences with the public,” Jones said. Most recently a professor of art and art appreciation at Northwest Arkansas Community College, Jones brings fifteen years of art education experience at the secondary and collegiate levels.  He served as the Director of Arts Education with the Oklahoma Arts Council and was an instructor of Art and Art Education at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. An accomplished writer and artist, Jones holds a Master’s of Art in Art History from the University of Oklahoma and Bachelor of Arts in Art from Oklahoma Baptist University.   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=83Tue, 12 May 2009 12:08:07 -0500 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Bentonville elementary school students contribute to community art project     BENTONVILLE, Ark., May. 6, 2009 -- Students from seven Bentonville elementary schools shared their creativity with the community at the construction site of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Thursday, May 7th at 3:30 pm. A third and final set of art panels featuring students’ paintings has been installed on the fence bordering the museum’s construction site. Known as the Fenceworks Gallery, the art installations are located on “J” Street near John DeShields Blvd.   Crystal Bridges Museum Head of School Programs Niki Ciccotelli organized the final installation and invited teachers and students to view their works and others on the fence at the event. “Working with these talented students and teachers has been a real pleasure,” Ciccotelli said. “The elementary art program in Bentonville is thriving, and through its work, serves to honor both our past and our future. This project has given me first-hand knowledge of the kind of art education that students receive in Bentonville. Students are exploring, learning, and creating – and applying these skills, no doubt, to their other subject areas as well. It’s very exciting to see.” One of the art panels also serves as a memorial tribute to Deb Lee, a Washington Junior High art teacher who passed away last year. Napoleon Dezaldivar, the teacher who took Lee’s place, commissioned fellow teachers to produce a panel to honor her. The painting depicts a tree that was planted in Lee’s memory in October 2008. Dezaldivar chose a tree as the subject for the painting because he said it represents “new growth, hope and life.” “Not only was this to be in memory of Deb Lee but also a statement by those who participated,” Dezaldivar said. “The different parts of the tree we each painted are a sign of an exciting and collaborative new growth of new art culture that is taking off in Benton County and  Northwest Arkansas.” The other panels and participating schools are:                                                            Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}  Elm Tree Elementary, “Sun Setting Behind the Garden Gate” Apple Glen Elementary, “Celebrating Life in Bentonville” Sugar Creek Elementary, “AmericanMountains” Thomas Jefferson Elementary, “A Golden Legacy of Learning” Mary May Jones Elementary, “This is What We Love About School” R.E. Baker Elementary, “Hotel Massey” Cooper Elementary, “Cooper Elementary” Bentonville Community Collaboration Piece Greenland Junior High School Camp War Eagle – multiple panels http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=82Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:31:40 -0500Crystal Bridges Names Director of Museum Relations Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 22, 2009 – Museum officials at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced today that Virginia Germann has joined the museum’s senior staff as the Director of Museum Relations. She began her duties April 20 and will report directly to Sandy Edwards, Crystal Bridges’ Associate Director. In this newly created position, Germann will be responsible for the strategic design and implementation of a communications plan for all areas of museum relations. In the immediate future, this includes ongoing communications regarding construction progress, programming at the Crystal Bridges at the Massey and education outreach programs. Germann will also serve as the primary media contact for Crystal Bridges. One of Germann’s key tasks will be to develop a membership plan that meets the needs of the local, regional, national, and even international communities that the museum will serve. As the museum’s opening approaches, she will develop public information programs to promote the museum’s mission among its stakeholders and a comprehensive program for facilities usage. “We are very pleased to have attracted the talent of Virginia Germann,” said Edwards. “Her extensive experience in the private sector and museum management uniquely positions her to build the museum relations program.” “I am so inspired by the vision for Crystal Bridges and I look forward to being a part of the Northwest Arkansas community,” said Germann. “I am truly honored to be on the Crystal Bridges team as we work toward a successful opening and on-going contribution to the community.” Germann brings more than 15 years of communications and marketing experience to the museum relations division. Prior to accepting the Crystal Bridges position, she served as the Director of Marketing, Sales and Communications for Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, Calif. She was responsible for the communications, public relations, and marketing efforts related to the museum when it opened in 2002 as well as subsequent openings of the Park’s Sundial Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, in 2004 and arboretum and botanical gardens in 2005. Germann also has extensive experience in consumer products marketing, having worked for Mars, Inc. – Masterfoods, USA for nine years. During her tenure at Mars, she volunteered and served on an executive loan assignment for Pretend City, a new children’s museum in Irvine, Calif., that is expected to open this year. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from the University of North Texas.    http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=81Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:46:29 -0500 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s exhibition features textile art works   Wanda Linsley, Water Lillies, silk and cotton on silk gauze, 13.5" x 16.5" Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}   BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 16, 2009 – Using textiles for canvas, a new type of art work will be on display at Crystal Bridges at the Massey in an exhibition from The Embroiderers’ Guild of America. Through the Needle’s Eye displays fiber arts created with needle and thread. The exhibition opens at the Massey on Friday, May 15. Unlike any exhibition seen at the Massey so far, Through the Needle’s Eye showcases embroidered art including clothing, jewelry, vessels, games, books, maps and sculptures. The exhibition’s mission is to not only share the craft of embroidery, but keep stitchery traditions alive that might otherwise be lost. “This exhibition helps preserve and expand the American tradition of needlework,” Crystal Bridges Youth & Families Program Coordinator Janelle Redlaczyk said. “Through the Needle’s Eye keeps the heritage of embroidery alive and shows the skill and precision used in creating fiber art.” The Embroiderers’ Guild of America juried the exhibition with help from Edith Anderson, Feisner fiber artist, teacher and author of Color Studies; Lee Malerich, a contemporary fiber artist and teacher; and Gail Harker, an  international textile artist and teacher. Arkansan Wanda Linsley’s textile work, Passages, is featured in the national exhibition and depicts an elderly man and young boy trekking through a thick, brightly-colored fall forest toward a blue sky. Textile art has a rich history. Used around the world for centuries, fiber arts were created for both practical and visual purposes, and, until recently, were considered a craft rather than an art. Only since the 1970s have textiles been counted as fine art, when fiber art began to gain popularity in the fine art world. Through the Needle’s Eye will be displayed through Aug. 9. Like all exhibitions at the Massey, it will be accompanied by a series of Learning Experiences – educational programs for the public developed by Crystal Bridges that involve guests in a variety of ways.   Most are free and open to the public. Program highlights include four ArtBuzz programs that engage guests in the exhibition.   Artbuzz is a free drop-in public gallery talk best for adults and teens – no registration.  Free coffee and biscotti provide the buzz! Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is pleased to continue A Look at the Building series with A Walk in the Woods. Scott Eccleston, manager of parks and gardens, will present a behind-the-scenes lecture revealing some of the secrets found in the forest surrounding Crystal Bridges. He will also discuss the ideas behind the footprint of the building and the history of the woodlands. The event will be held Thursday, June 18, at 5:30 pm at the Bentonville Public Library. It will be free and open to the public.  For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, go to www.massey.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700. For images related to the exhibition please contact Kristen Cobbs at kristen.cobbs@crystalbridges.org Through the Needle’s Eye Exhibition Schedule of Programs www.massey.crystalbridges.org Crystal Bridges at the Massey Programs Opening Preview Party - Through the Needle’s Eye Thursday May 14 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The colors, the fabrics, and the attention to detail in Through the Needle’s Eye echo the long awaited reawakening of life and nature in the Ozarks that comes with spring.  Join us at Crystal Bridges at the Massey for an Opening Preview Party.  All are welcome to tour the exhibition and enjoy light fare and lemonade. Discover Art: Fiber Fun! Saturday, May 16 10:00 a.m. – Noon Free drop-in family program best for children 5 – 12 years old and their adult partners – no registration.  Discover Art programs are led by Janelle Redlaczyk, youth & families program coordinator. Celebrate the opening of our new Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition with tons of hands-on fiber fun and fascinating demonstrations. Create one-of-a-kind art to wear and carry – you’ll design a bracelet and embellish a drawstring collector’s bag.   ArtBuzz: Parallel Lines - Geometry and Art Thursday, May 21 11:00 a.m. – Noon Free drop-in public gallery talk best for adults and teens – no registration.  Free coffee and biscotti provided. Shape, pattern, symmetry and proportion often form the design in works of art and craft, especially fiber and needle arts. Chaim Goodman-Strauss, professor and chair from the University of Arkansas’ Department of Mathematical Sciences and Niki Ciccotelli, Crystal Bridges’ head of school programs, present a fascinating study of how geometry and art intersect in this informative gallery talk. Dr. Chaim Goodman-Strauss is an artist and mathematician with a lifelong fascination with geometry, texture and symmetry.   Lunchtime Movie @ the Massey Through the Eye of a Needle:  Stories from an Indian Desert and Real Men Knit Friday, May 22 Noon – 1:00 p.m. Free drop-in public brown bag program – no registration.  Bring your lunch and we’ll provide free coffee and biscotti. Join us for two short films celebrating the needle arts from very different perspectives. In the first film, journey with craftswomen from the western border of India as they seek to recreate the world-class embroidery that made their ancestors famous.  In the second entertaining film, hear the stories of a wide range of guys who knit - and are proud of it! ArtBuzz: Tomorrow’s Heirlooms Friday, June 12 11:00 a.m. – Noon Free drop-in public gallery talk best for adults and teens – no registration.  Free coffee and biscotti provided. Sharp needles, beautiful thread and exquisite design sense make for a dazzling display of contemporary embroidery in the featured Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition. Lynn Berkowitz, director of Learning Experiences, will lead a conversation in the gallery to discuss the concepts and process of the works of art on view.  Bring samples of your own stitching work for a show and tell! Artwalk Discover Art: Felting & Stitching Fun! Saturday, June 13     10:00 a.m. – Noon Free drop-in family program best for children 5 – 12 years old and their adult partners; no registration.  Discover Art programs are led by Janelle Redlaczyk, youth & families program coordinator. There’s a lot to do during this special Artwalk Discover Art!  During this feltmaking project, you’ll combine colorful bits of wool and warm soapy water to create your own take-home piece of art.  Members of Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s Bella Vista Chapter will help you to stitch in style during the creative community embroidery sew-in. Lunchtime Movie @ the Massey Jean Draper Friday, June 26 Noon – 1:00 p.m. Free drop-in public brown bag program – no registration.  Bring your lunch and we’ll provide free coffee and biscotti. Jean Draper is a contemporary fiber artist, educator, and past national chairman of the Embroiderers’ Guild, the UK’s leading crafts association. This film features her current work - textile relief panels inspired by the landscape of the Southwestern United States and its early inhabitants. Discover Art: 4th of July Parade, Celebration, and Fun with Floss! Saturday, July 4 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Free drop-in family program best for children 5 – 12 years old and their adult partners; no registration.  Discover Art programs are led by Janelle Redlaczyk, youth & families program coordinator. During the 4th of July in Bentonville, there’s bound to be a parade and a visit to the Massey. The community is invited to check out the Girl Scouts of America’s Stitched Together project and to learn more about the Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition by creating their own twisty bracelets, clothespin people and fabric collages. See the many ways that embroidery floss can be put to beautiful use. OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at the Massey New Needlework Gallery Tour & Activity Thursday, July 16 10:00 a.m. - Noon     Registration is open to OLLI members only; Cost is $25 Registration handled by: University of Arkansas, The School of Continuing Education & Academic Outreach, 479-575-4545 or http://olli.uark.edu Members of OLLI will have a chance to see the Embroiderers’ Guild of America 19th National Exhibition: Through the Needle’s Eye from a different perspective.  The session will include an interactive gallery tour and a sit-down class session. ArtBuzz: Stitching Stories Thursday, July 23 11:00 a.m. – Noon Free drop-in public gallery talk best for adults and teens – no registration.  Free coffee and biscotti provided. Master historian and storyteller Susan Young from the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale will spin some great stitching stories that draw from her own personal and professional experiences.  Some exquisite examples of embroidery will illustrate her talk. Susan Young has been the outreach coordinator at Shiloh Museum of Ozark History since 1994.  She is a fifth-generation Ozarker.  Susan’s special interests include religion, cemeteries, and moonshining. ArtBuzz After Dark:  Contemporary Craft/Is it Art? First Friday, August 7, 2009, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Free gallery talk and reception for adults – no registration. Good conversation with refreshments provided. Spend an evening in the gallery with Alison Carter, Learning Experiences administrative assistant, and Ben Edwards, exhibition coordinator, to learn how needle and fiber work are incorporated into contemporary art.  Traditional materials and techniques have been appropriated by a wide range of artists to inform their work, but does that make it art? Experience Art Experience Art – our interactive space at the front of the Massey gallery – provides a place for visitors of all ages to read, play and create.  Books, toys and art projects change with each exhibition, so drop in during Through the Needle’s Eye to experience the art of embroidery in this welcoming space! Crystal Bridges in the Community Crystal Bridges @ Borders Family Story Hour Tuesday, June 2 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Free family drop-in story hour and artmaking program; no registration.   Borders, 2203 Promenade Boulevard, Rogers, (479) 631-1641 In celebration of the featured Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition, Crystal Bridges’ staff will read The Quiltmaker’s Gift, written by Jeff Brumbeau and illustrated by Gail De Marcken. The staff, along with Borders bookstore, will host a fancy paper quilt project. Preschool Story Time Meet the Bears at Compton Gardens Thursday, June 4 10:30  - 11:30 a.m. Compton Gardens, 312 N. Main Street, Bentonville Free preschool drop-in program – no registration; best for children 3 – 5 years and old and their caregivers.   In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the Massey. Bring a blanket to spread out on the lawn for an outdoor Preschool Story Time at Compton Gardens.  Special guest, Corrin Troutman, site manager for the Gardens, will tell us all about the amazing black bears of Arkansas.  Sue Ann Pekel, Bentonville Public Library’s Children’s Librarian, has wonderful bear picture books selected, and Janelle Redlaczyk, youth and families program coordinator for Crystal Bridges, will introduce the museum’s own beautiful bronze sculpture, Group of Bears, by Paul Manship. Crystal Bridges @ Your Local Library Let’s Read a Picture Free drop-in children & family art appreciation experiences; best for children ages 5 – 12 years old and their adult partners. Contact participating libraries for details. •    Bentonville Public Library, (479) 271-6816 July 16, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. •    Fayetteville Public Library, (479) 571-2222 July 29, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. and 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. •    Gentry Public Library, (479) 736-2054 July 14, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. and July 16, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. •    Gravette Public Library, (479) 787-6955 June 23, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. •    Rogers Public Library, (479) 621-1152 June 20, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. •    Siloam Springs Public Library, (479) 524-4236 July 7, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. •    Springdale Public Library, (479) 750-8180 June 13, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. and July 11, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Every Let’s Read a Picture session begins with children and families exploring a “gallery” of selected posters that feature art from the Crystal Bridges’ collection. Interactive games, discussions and art- and book-related activities spur excitement about looking, reading, and making.  With lots of fun-filled opportunities to encourage their curiosity, children delight in their many discoveries. Teen Book Club @ Your Local Library Call & Response June – July Free Teen Program – registration required. Contact participating libraries for details. •    Bentonville Public Library, (479) 271-6816 •    Fayetteville Public Library, (479) 571-2222 •    Rogers Public Library, (479) 621-1152 •    Siloam Springs Public Library, (479) 524-4236      The 2009 summer public library theme for teens is “express yourself,” and that’s what’s bound to happen in this very different book club.  The selected book, Letters to a Young Artist, penned by Anna Deavere Smith, is a call to action to make “art that is meaningful.”  After reading the book, participants will respond to the call and produce their own artist book which will be exhibited at their local Library. Crystal Bridges @ the Jones Center for Families And Liberty for All June 30 – July 3 and July 21 – 24 9:00 - Noon Fee-based program Summer Academy – registration required. Best for children 9 – 12 years old. The Jones Center for Families, (479) 756-8090, http://www.jonesnet.org This summer, Crystal Bridges debuts a new program about the Statue of Liberty that’s part of the Summer Academy at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale.  Academy members will explore the idea of liberty, immigration and freedom through images from the Crystal Bridges Museum’s collection and popular culture. As part of the program, students will write, draw, and produce a zine. Community Connections Crystal Bridges Communities Program Department is actively working with regional Girl Scout Troops, local libraries, members of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s Bella Vista Chapter, the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, and Compton Gardens to launch a new initiative, Stitched Together: Individually & Collectively. Visit the Massey on the 4th of July from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to see the completed works of art. Voices of Children – Memory Cloth Project is a special program being conducted with the Circle of Life Hospice’s Butterfly Bereavement Group and the Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s Bella Vista Chapter members to create memory cloths that celebrate the lives of missed loved ones. SAVE THE DATE!  Educator Workshop 2009 Saturday, September 12, After the success of last year’s Art + Books = Curriculum Educator Workshop with the Bentonville Public Library, we’re planning another round. Information will be posted on www.massey.crystalbridges.org this summer. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art – A Walk in the Woods Featuring Scott Eccleston, Manager of Parks & Grounds Thursday, June 18 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Free drop-in public lecture – no registration. Refreshments will be served. Bentonville Public Library, Walmart Room 405 South Main Street, Bentonville Surprises abound at every twist and turn of the new trails on the grounds of Crystal Bridges. Scott Eccleston, manager of parks and grounds, will present a behind-the-scenes lecture that reveals a few of the secrets hidden deep within the forest from sightings of rare species of flora and fauna to the ideas behind the footprint of the building itself. Scott will share stories about the history of the woodlands and reveal projections about what plans lie ahead.  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=78Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:46:21 -0600New exhibition from Fisk University coincides with Black History Month These Two Generations ©  Elizabeth Catlett/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 5, 2009 – Prints of works by prominent African-American artists are the focus of the newest exhibition opening Feb. 14 at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. Proof Positive: Master Prints from the Collection of Fisk University Galleries features 40 prints from the art collection of this historically black university in Nashville, Tenn. The opening coincides with Black History Month, and the exhibition will run through May 3. The Massey is Crystal Bridges Museum’s temporary exhibition space and is located at 125 W. Central Ave. in Bentonville. Crystal Bridges Chief Curator Chris Crosman, said, “These important prints from Fisk University’s outstanding collection feature widely diverse subjects and print-making techniques. They celebrate and provide abundant ‘proof positive’ of the major and often moving contributions of African-American artists throughout the 20th century and into the 21st.” Proof Positive showcases examples of African-American printmaking during the 20th century. Along with the 40 prints, examples of printmaking techniques will be featured including a printing plate, printing block and painting on canvas. Visitors can learn about the printmaking process while viewing the prints. Famous African American artists, such as Romare Bearden, Martin Puryear, Elizabeth Catlett, James Wells, Hale Woodruff and Fisk professor Ted Jones are featured in the exhibition. The subjects of the art works span several decades and include images from the Harlem Renaissance in the early 20th century to modern-day events. The exhibition was first on display in 2007 at the Aaron Douglas Gallery at Fisk University, and its curator is Dr. Victor Simmons. Special preview events are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, that are free and open to the public. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Crosman, Simmons and Fisk University Professor Ted Jones will host a discussion about the art and artists featured in the exhibition. The event is called Proof Positive: A Conversation and will be held in the Walmart Room of the Bentonville Public Library at 405 S. Main Street. Following the library event, the exhibition at the Massey will be open for a preview and reception from 6:30 until 8 p.m. This event is open to the public as well. Once the exhibition opens, an extensive program of educational Learning Experiences has been planned to engage the community and to offer a variety of ways to experience the exhibition. Learning Experiences are open to the public. Highlights include a lecture by Dr. Richard L. Powell, a noted art scholar from Duke University; a historical perspective on African-American art by Dr. Jeanne Whayne of the University of Arkansas and a demonstration on the art of printmaking. Additional lectures, documentary films, gallery talks, craft-making workshops and other programs that correspond with Proof Positive will entertain and inform museum guests about the works on view.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=76Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:06:51 -0600As of 3:00 p.m. Friday, February 6th, our phones and network will be down while we move our offices. We will reopen on Monday, February 9th at 8:00 a.m. Since our network will be down, we will not be able to respond to media inquiries until after that time.  Thank you for your understanding.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=75Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:20:52 -0600  BENTONVILLE, Ark., Jan. 26, 2009. -- Robert Workman has decided to step down as executive director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art so that a new director can be in place as the museum transitions from construction to its opening and for years thereafter, the museum announced today. The museum also announced it is beginning a national search for a new executive director. Workman has agreed to continue with the museum until Dec. 31, 2009, to oversee major projects and to assist in the transition to the new executive director. During the transition period, day-to-day operations for the museum will be handled by the museum’s executive management team. In a statement, Museum Chairwoman Alice Walton said: “I accept Bob’s resignation with regret, understanding and gratitude. He has done a magnificent job and will be leaving a beautiful legacy. Crystal Bridges wouldn’t be what it is without Bob. I am pleased he will continue to work with us and deeply grateful for the innumerable contributions he has made.” Workman said he decided to leave because he could not make a commitment to stay well beyond the museum opening and therefore thought the museum would be better served if he left this year. With construction of the museum and development of its exhibitions and programming proceeding well, Workman said a new executive director would have ample time to become part of the Northwest Arkansas community, manage the transition from museum construction to operation, and oversee operations of the museum after the opening.   “This was a very difficult decision to make, and I did not make it lightly,” said Workman.  “I have been honored to work closely with Alice Walton and the other dedicated and talented people who have been creating this remarkable institution from the ground up. It has been an extremely rewarding period in my career, but I believe it is the right time to prepare for new leadership to build on our achievements and maximize the opportunities provided by the opening of this institution. “The Walton family’s amazing gift of land and resources to realize the opening of what will be one of the nation’s leading museums of American art will transform not only Northwest Arkansas, but have a lasting impact through our region and beyond.” Workman had many accomplishments at the museum. He began his association with the museum in 2004, working as a consultant on the planning and implementation for the building and grounds and collaborating with the architects, builders and landscape designers responsible for the development of the museum.   In January 2006, Workman was named executive director.  Since that time, he has created the organizational framework for the museum and built a leadership team of experienced, respected professionals.  About Crystal Bridges Crystal Bridges is envisioned as a premier national art institution dedicated to American art and artists, learning and community gatherings.  The museum takes its name from the unique glass-and-wood building design, created for the natural setting by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie.  The entire 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 masterworks from American artists along with galleries dedicated to Native American and regional art and artists.  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 numerous notable paintings, including: Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Constable-Hamilton Portrait); portraitist Charles Willson Peale’s 18th century painting of a confident George Washington completed near the end of the Revolutionary War; and Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand. Other artists and works represented include Charles Bird King’s early 19th century portraits of American Indian leaders; and Winslow Homer’s depictions of the interplay between man and nature. In addition to the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions drawn from national institutions will be displayed in the museum.  The 100-acre site of the museum complex and cultural center is located in Bentonville, Ark. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=74Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:16:08 -0600 Works by pre-eminent living artists Turrell and di Suvero are announced     © M. di Suvero. Courtesy of the artist and Paula Cooper Gallery, New York. Photo: Jeffrey Price  BENTONVILLE, Ark., Jan. 15, 2009 – Two sculptures with contrasting styles and mediums but a common theme will be the first pieces in the permanent collection to be installed at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Focusing on nature as the subject rather than the background, a Skyspace by James Turrell and Lowell’s Ocean 2005-2008 by Mark di Suvero will grace the grounds of the 100-acre wooded museum site. These sculptures are the first announced works of art by living artists in the museum’s permanent collection. The pieces were revealed today during a museum update by Crystal Bridges Executive Director Bob Workman. Workman focused on the museum grounds, trails and the importance of the natural setting as a part of the overall visitor experience. Viewer as Artist in James Turrell’s Skyspace Using light as a brush and the sky as a canvas, Turrell, who is one of America’s most celebrated living artists, will create an original Skyspace, a structure that allows the viewer to experience the ever-changing aspects of light and space. The site-specific work designed for Crystal Bridges will be erected at the southern edge of the museum property near Compton Gardens and partially set into a hillside. Turrell uses native materials in the construction of his Skyspaces, and the Crystal Bridges piece will feature a palette of native stone in its construction. The work is envisioned as a circular structure that measures approximately 16 feet in diameter and features a viewing room with benches and a 10-foot-wide ceiling oculus revealing a partial view of the sky. The experience is enhanced by a computer-driven LED lighting display. The room can accommodate up to 23 visitors at once. It will be titled upon completion, which is anticipated by the end of 2009. “This work fits comfortably into the Ozark landscape in a way that reflects the intersection of art and nature, a particularly American tradition and a focus of Crystal Bridges,” said Bob Workman, executive director, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “Audience participation is central to understanding the piece,” he added. “Turrell will challenge us to experience nature – particularly light – and engage with the ever-evolving aspects of the environment around us. The work’s focus makes it an ideal part of our overall collection.” “My work is about space and the light that inhabits it,” said Turrell. “It is about how you confront that space and plumb it. It is about your seeing, like the wordless thought that comes from looking in a fire.” Mark di Suvero’s Lowell’s Ocean 2005-2008 The second announced sculpture is by di Suvero and is entitled Lowell’s Ocean 2005-2008. Completed in 2008, the base of this work is constructed of welded steel I-beams and features a curled spiral in the middle, cut from a single plate of steel. It stands more than 20 feet tall and weighs in excess of 26,000 pounds. “From di Suvero’s soaring essays on line and space with gravity defying I-beams and raw industrial steel to Turrell’s stone and concrete meditations on light and air, these two artists bracket not only the north and south ends of the Crystal Bridges outdoor sculpture park but articulate an ongoing dialogue in late 20th- and early 21st- century sculpture,” said Crystal Bridges Chief Curator Chris Crosman. “From the rough purity of physics and mathematics to perceptual psychology, they facilitate our own unexpected encounters with everyday experience with gravity and light. And for the viewer, these complementary experiences become as physically engaging as they are intellectually vivid.” Trails Scheduled for Completion From the beginning, natural surroundings have been as much of a design element of the Crystal Bridges Museum as the building itself. Workman said that the west bike trail is expected to open this spring. The trail is a 10-foot-wide multi-purpose trail for bicyclists and pedestrians and runs north through the property crossing a scenic bridge. A viewing platform will offer visitors a spectacular view of the museum and its natural surroundings. The entire trail is approximately three-quarters of a mile long and runs parallel to the Crystal Bridges Museum site. The pedestrian art trail will begin at Compton Gardens and end at the south entrance of the museum, according to Workman. The trail will offer yet another link from downtown Bentonville to the museum. Lined with sculpture, native plants and foliage, the trail will be constructed to complement the topography of the bluffs that bank the museum site. “We believe that the connection between Crystal Bridges and the downtown area is vital,” said Workman. The trails will contribute to the overall livability of this region and will have a positive economic impact on the area.”  http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=73Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:01:32 -0600Crystal Bridges at the Massey Unveils 2009 Schedule Exhibitions include works from Fisk University, photography, fiber art and children's book illustrations    BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 30, 2008 – Since its opening in June 2007, Crystal Bridges at the Massey has brought a wide variety of exhibitions to the Northwest Arkansas community, using the facility as an experimental learning lab in preparation for the eventual opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum. The exhibition schedule for 2009 was released this week, providing the public with a look at the diverse sampling of art that will be coming to the region. “This coming year’s exhibition schedule reflects a diverse and lively array of artworks,” said Crystal Bridges Museum Executive Director Bob Workman.  “From masters of African American printmaking to the needle arts, this season offers something for all ages and interests.” The first exhibition, Proof Positive: Master Prints from the collection of Fisk University Galleries, comes from Fisk University and features various examples of African American printmaking during the 20th century. A total of 40 prints will be displayed, along with examples of printing blocks and plates from African American artists including Romare Bearden, Martin Puryear, Elizabeth Catlett, James Wells, Hale Woodruff and Ted Jones. The artists’ influences span several decades, from the Harlem Renaissance to present day. Proof Positive will run from Feb. 13 to May 3. Another exhibition scheduled for 2009 takes a look at the fiber arts. Through the Needle’s Eye, organized every three years by the Embroiderers' Guild of America, features embroidery, quilting and needlepoint applied to forms such as clothing, games, sculpture and samplers. The exhibition aims to preserve and celebrate the heritage of embroidery, showcasing both contemporary and traditional styles and techniques of needlework and embroidery as an expressive art form. Catch Through the Needle’s Eye at the Massey from May 16 until Aug. 9. The exhibition on display in fall 2009 will feature 30 photographs of the Arkansas White River country. In Harry Miller’s Vision of Arkansas, the photographer captures images of rural life in Arkansas between 1900 and 1910. He frequently used landscapes, transportation and African Americans as his subjects, capturing the changing culture and lifestyle of 20th century Arkansas and its residents. Miller contributed photos and journal entries to Arkansas Sketchbooks, a popular magazine in the early 20th century, and his work represents an important look at Arkansas’ history.  Harry Miller’s Vision of Arkansas 1900-1910 will visit the Massey from Aug. 21 to Oct. 25. The final exhibition, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 6 to Jan. 3, 2010, is Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children’s Book Illustrations. Featuring 100 years of children’s stories, the exhibition brings to life fairy tales and adventures in 43 imaginative works of art. Princes and princesses, animals and familiar characters were illustrated by 41 artists, including Ralph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, two of the most popular illustrators of the late 19th century. Draw Me a Story explores the art of illustration and its evolution from traditional media to experimental combinations of pen, pencil, paint and ink. Each exhibition will be accompanied by educational Learning Experiences for the public. Among the programs scheduled in conjunction with the exhibitions are gallery talks, interactive programs for children and families, documentary films, academic presentations, public performances and more.http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=72Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:43:54 -0600Exhibition of anonymous secrets on postcards opens at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 3, 2008 – 125 W. Central Ave. in Bentonville   Frank Warren distributed 3,000 postcards to strangers on the street in November 2004 in what began as a community art project. The postcards that were returned to him were exhibited in Washington, D.C., that same year. The exhibition ended, but Warren continued to receive postcards, now totaling more than 150,000. The community art project turned into a cultural phenomenon. Warren now has a full speaking engagement calendar, has authored four books and maintains a Web site and blog.    The PostSecret exhibition features more than 400 postcards that are displayed between clear panels so they can be viewed from both sides. The secrets on the postcards range from sad to funny, brave to shocking, and the front of the postcards, in many cases, were handcrafted by their anonymous senders, making them individual works of art.   “The creativity of visual and verbal expression can create community,” said Crystal Bridges Museum Executive Director Bob Workman. “In our world that is both real and virtual, the impact of the PostSecret phenomenon may be an expression of the desire for connectivity within an increasingly isolated world.”   (Note: This exhibition will challenge our visitors and may not be appropriate for everyone. Parents might choose to preview the exhibition or preview the Web site, www.postsecretcommunity.com.)   In keeping with its emphasis on art education, the Massey will host educational Learning Experiences for the public. Among the programs scheduled in conjunction with the exhibition are gallery talks, interactive programs for children and families, documentary films, academic presentations, creative workshops and more. (Editor’s note: A full list of programs associated with the exhibition can be found at the end of this release.)   About Frank Warren Warren posts secrets on his award-winning Web site (www.PostSecret.com), which has been viewed more than 100 million times. This international phenomenon has spawned three bestselling books with a fourth, A Lifetime of Secrets, published in October 2007. Warren has spoken at dozens of college campuses and appeared on international media including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, BBC, CBC and NPR. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=71Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:10:26 -0600 Snowy landscape by Francis Guy appears on holiday greeting card   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 3, 2008 – A detail of an iconic nineteenth-century landscape by Francis Guy graces the front of the 2008 holiday card from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Winter Scene in Brooklyn, which depicts a busy street scene from the artist’s neighborhood, is the most recent work to be announced as part of the museum’s permanent collection. A section from the lower right-hand corner of this wintry landscape appears on the front of the card, and an image of the full painting appears on the back.   Winter Scene in Brooklyn was painted between 1818 and 1820 and is one of two large works that depict a view of Guy’s neighborhood from the second floor of his Brooklyn home. The view captures a section of Front Street between Main and Fulton Streets, in an area that is now under the Brooklyn Bridge. The other painting of this scene, also titled Winter Scene in Brooklyn, is part of the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection.   “Francis Guy’s Winter Scene in Brooklyn, a view from the artist’s window, documents a particular intersection in Brooklyn and celebrates growing national prosperity increasingly centered in the urban milieu and specifically in and around New York,” said Chris Crosman, chief curator for the museum. “Moreover, the painting suggests the origins of our unique national identity including a diversity of economic activities, social status, national origins and race.”   The painting is notable for its accurate depiction of the area’s architecture and its cultural diversity. The people in the painting are actual residents; in fact, some scholars believe that the man in the top hat in the lower center of the painting is a self-portrait of Guy with an easel under his arm. The cultural richness of the neighborhood is reflected by the people in the painting as well as in the architecture. People of varying ages, occupations and race are represented, including Dutch and African American. This area in Brooklyn was commonly thought to be the most developed part of the city at that time.   Although Guy was known as the “grandfather of American landscape painting,” he had no formal art training. He began painting in 1800 at a time when interest in landscape painting was still relatively new but growing. Guy’s style was a precursor to the Hudson River School, which became popular in the middle of the century. By then, landscape painting had become a significant part of American art.   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. 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; 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. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=70Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:22:08 -0500Alice Walton announces Ploughing it Under at Kansas City event   KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 29, 2008 – Ploughing it Under, a painting that defined the uncertainty of Depression-era America, is a part of the permanent collection at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Alice Walton, philanthropist and chairman of the Crystal Bridges Museum board, made the announcement regarding this well-known work by long-time Kansas City resident and Missouri native Thomas Hart Benton. Walton was a guest speaker at the Business Council’s Annual Dinner held at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art today.   “Telling the story --- especially stories that haven’t been told or have been forgotten – is one of our primary goals,” said Walton. “It is the intention of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to build meaningful connections between art and life and to make sense of the forces that define the American experience. This painting by Benton certainly does just that and, in fact, enlightens and reminds us of another era of economic uncertainty in our history.”   Benton’s message in painting Ploughing it Under was to show concern regarding an agricultural program through the New Deal that called for the “ploughing under” of millions of acres of farmland in an effort to raise prices and increase revenue for farmers. The painting was produced as a lithograph in 1934 and was so popular that it sold out almost immediately.   "Ploughing it Under is among Benton's most powerful images of rural America,” said Chris Crosman, chief curator at Crystal Bridges Museum.  “While it evokes a particular moment in American history, it has a quality of timelessness in the taut rhythms and surging energy that are hallmarks of Benton's best work.  It is a kind of prayer to the land, a fist clenched against despair and desolation."   Benton’s works were popular in the 1920s and ‘30s for their scenes of rural life, which resonated with working-class Americans and farmers. In addition to his work as a painter, he was also a teacher, illustrator, printmaker and critic, he was known for his numerous murals. The son of a conservative Missouri politician, he began sketching images of rural life as he traveled with his father on the campaign trail. He later traveled throughout the country, sketching as he went, and these images would later be featured in his paintings and murals.   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. 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; 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. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=69Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:54:02 -0500Sargent’s Most Recognized Portrait Announced During Arkansas Economic Development and Tourism Reception in New York City   NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2008 – The genius of portraitist John Singer Sargent brings to life the image of a famous American author in the latest work to be revealed as part of the permanent collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Sargent’s Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife was announced today as a part of the collection during an Arkansas economic development and tourism reception in New York City. The event was co-hosted by the Crystal Bridges Museum, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The group is in New York to meet with individuals and companies interested in doing business in Arkansas.   John Singer Sargent, Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife, 1885, Oil on canvas, 20 1/4 x 24 1/4 in. (51.4 x 61.6 cm) “What makes this painting so special is its spirit,” said Alice Walton, philanthropist and chairman of the Crystal Bridges Museum board. “Spirit is what makes paintings and places great. This painting will be at home at Crystal Bridges in Arkansas.”   Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife is one of Sargent’s most recognized portraits. Painted in the resort town of Bournemouth, England, Sargent depicts Stevenson and his wife, Fanny, in the dining room of their home. Stevenson, pacing restlessly across the room, seems to be conversing with the viewer, while his extravagantly-dressed wife lounges in a chair facing away from Stevenson. Critical review of the painting was mixed. Some praised it as a new, refreshing take on composition while others dismissed it as too peculiar. Stevenson himself thought Sargent captured his odd, fidgety personality well.   "This richly complex painting speaks to the genius of Sargent's art,” said Bob Workman, executive director, Crystal Bridges. “While it is a double portrait, the unconventional composition conveys the personalities of the sitters: Stevenson's strident energy and his wife's pensive exoticism. The palette and paint application reinforces the complexities of the subjects depicted."   Despite their different personalities, there was great rapport between Sargent and Stevenson. Both men traveled frequently, keeping close ties to the expatriate community in America. Spurred by their connection to their home country, they developed a friendship during their painting sessions in England. After completing the portrait, Sargent gave it to Stevenson and his wife as a gift.   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. 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; 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. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=68Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:45:56 -0500 Beebe supports arts through the  2009 Arkansas Artists Engagement Calendar   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Oct. 22, 2008 – Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe will visit Crystal Bridges at the Massey on Thursday, Oct. 30, to sign copies of the 2009 Arkansas Artists Engagement Calendar during a state-wide book signing tour. Beebe and 14 Arkansas artists will be at the Massey from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. to sign copies of the calendar, which features 88 works by Arkansas artists. The Massey is located at 125 W. Central Ave. in Bentonville.   Beebe’s stop at the Massey is the only Northwest Arkansas location on the state-wide book-signing tour.   “We are honored that Mrs. Beebe chose Crystal Bridges at the Massey as a venue for this event,” said Crystal Bridges Associate Director Sandy Edwards. “We’re proud to host the First Lady and to support this project that shines the spotlight on Arkansas artists.”   A long-time supporter of the arts, Beebe has spearheaded numerous initiatives to help increase awareness of Arkansas art and artists. She unveiled the first Arkansas Artists Engagement Calendar early this year as a way to raise funds for the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association. The success of the 2008 version of the calendar spurred Beebe to seek new art work for a 2009 calendar.   The new calendar will feature paintings, watercolors, photography and other creative works from artists from the Natural State. During the event, calendars will be sold for $20. Proceeds from sales of the calendar will benefit the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association. (Editor’s Note: See below for a full list of artists who will attend the book signing at the Massey.)   Free parking for the event is available behind the Massey building.   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 exhibitions, 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 for adults, youth and families. Hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.                           For more information about Crystal Bridges at the Massey, go to www.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700.   Featured artists who are expected to attend the book-signing: ·        Julene Baker, Rogers ·        Kathryn Semolic, Eureka Springs ·        Greg Thomas, Elkins ·        Stephanie Lewis, Bella Vista ·        Carol Samsel, Benton ·        Tom Herrin, Little Rock ·        Charles Harrington, Bella Vista ·        Zeek Taylor, Eureka Springs ·        Johnny Bowen, West Fork ·        Bill McNamara, Ponca ·        Diane Harvey, Eureka Springs ·        Susan McSherry, Marble Falls ·        Karin Boudet, Eureka Springs ·        Lisa Bauer, Huntsvillehttp://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=67Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:56:16 -0500Crystal Bridges Museum reveals first sculpture in the permanent collection   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 10, 2008 – Group of Bears, a posthumous casting of a sculpture by renowned artist Paul Manship, has been installed on the grounds of Compton Gardens where it will remain until the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opens. Members of the Compton family; Bob Workman, executive director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; and other museum and city representatives were on hand for the announcement at Compton Gardens this morning where the 7-foot piece was revealed to the public. It is the first piece of sculpture that has been announced as part of the museum’s permanent collection.   “We are so grateful to the board and staff of the Peel Mansion and Gardens as the custodians of Compton Gardens for making this wonderful site available,” said Workman. “This is a whimsical sculpture, and we are glad to offer Northwest Arkansas visitors and residents access to it now, even before the museum is complete. Because of its close connection to the community, Compton Gardens provides the perfect temporary environment for the sculpture, which is affiliated so closely with nature.”   Compton Gardens offers over six acres of native and woodland plants, walking trails and wildlife to visitors. The site is the former homestead of Bentonville native Dr. Neil Compton, local physician, author, photographer and naturalist. For his conservation efforts, he was often referred to as the "savior of the Buffalo River.”   “I believe Dr. Compton would have been delighted to have had this work of art displayed on his property. We could not have chosen a better place to display Group of Bears,” Workman said. Compton Gardens is located at 312 N. Main Street in Bentonville and is open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. The Interpretive Centre is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.   Several casts of Group of Bears have been produced since 1963 when the first full-scale sculpture was cast in bronze. The Group of Bears sculpture acquired by Crystal Bridges Museum is a posthumous cast, purchased directly from the Manship Estate. This version was created under the direction of Manship’s son, John, and cast in 1999 by the Paul King Foundry.   In 1926, Paul Manship was commissioned to create a flora and fauna-inspired gateway for the Bronx Zoo in New York City in memory of big-game hunter and explorer Paul Rainey. Manship originally cast the bears as three independent elements to be included in the Paul Rainey Memorial Gateway. Manship built the gate after two years of planning. In its final state, it measures 36 feet high and 42 feet wide.   Manship combined the three bears into a large-scale plaster sculpture in 1932, which he named Group of Bears. He later reduced the sculpture’s size to incorporate it into the Osborn Memorial Gates in Central Park; he only produced two small-scale versions. In 1963, he returned to the full-scale sculpture and created a bronze casting to be placed on the grounds of his home in Gloucester, Mass. This first full-scale version is Manship’s only lifetime cast of the sculpture and is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This sculpture was cast from a mold and plaster model created by Manship himself; these original mold and plaster models are believed to have been destroyed in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s.   There are six other documented casts of bears in the large format, created from a secondary rubber mold and plaster model that were destroyed after the final copy was cast in 2002 by John’s widow, Margaret Cassidy Manship. These posthumous casts are owned by the Hofstra University Museum Sculpture Garden in New York City, the Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground in New York City’s Central Park, a Jerusalem zoo, two private collectors and Crystal Bridges Museum.   Manship is considered one of the premiere sculptors of the 20th century, styling most of his sculptures in the Greek, Roman and Indian traditions. His sculptures from the 1920s are precursors to a style of art known today as art deco. Group of Bears is reflective of the art of his time and of the developing art deco style which was popularized in the late 1920s and revived in the ‘60s.   In addition to Group of Bears, Manship sculpted Dancer and Gazelles, Diana and a Hound and his most famous sculpture, Prometheus, located in the heart of New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza.   About Crystal Bridges 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. 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; 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. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.   http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=65Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:14:31 -0500 The Indian and the Lily to be Displayed at the National Gallery of Art as Part of Exhibition on Artist George de Forest Brush Painting will be on loan from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art   Photography by Dwight Primiano BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 4, 2008 – A painting in the permanent collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will be displayed as part of a new exhibition opening at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The Indian and the Lily, painted by American artist George de Forest Brush (1854/1855–1941), will be featured in an exhibition titled George de Forest Brush: The Indian Paintings. Curators from the Crystal Bridges Museum officially announced today that the painting is part of the collection.   This exhibition marks the first time that Brush’s American Indian paintings will be displayed together, an event that was inspired by the recent rediscovery of An Aztec Sculptor, a painting missing for more than a century. The Indian and the Lily is one of the most renowned paintings in this series, which reflects the combination of Brush’s classical training and his first-hand knowledge of the American West.   “Working alongside the National Gallery of Art so that The Indian and the Lily may be seen in the context of similar works by George de Forest Brush symbolizes the essence of our emerging institution,” said Bob Workman, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art executive director. “We see this collaboration as another tremendous opportunity in connecting people with art.”   Brush began the series in the 1880s and gathered sketches and artifacts during the course of a trip west to Wyoming and Montana where he lived among tribes of Arapahoe, Shoshone and Crow Indians. The Indian and the Lily was painted toward the end of this period, when his subjects tended to be individuals set in natural, isolated settings. These works communicate his concern with the rapid modernization and industrialization that gripped the country at the time.   Anderson is the curator of American and British paintings at the National Gallery of Art, and Junker is a curator of American art at the Seattle Art Museum.   The Indian and the Lily 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.   The exhibition, organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, in association with the Seattle Art Museum, will be at the National Gallery of Art, in the East Building on the ground floor, from Sept. 24, 2008, through Jan.4, 2009. It will then be seen at the Seattle Art Museum from Feb. 26 through May 24, 2009.   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. 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; 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. For more information about Crystal Bridges, visit www.crystalbridges.org.   The National Gallery of Art The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Gallery is closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.   For media interested in receiving further exhibition information, please contact: Deborah Ziska, National Gallery of Art, 202-842-6353, ds-ziska@nga.gov, or Anabeth Guthrie, National Gallery of Art, 202-842-6804, a-guthrie@nga.gov. http://www.crystalbridges.org/pressroom/?id=64Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:58:09 -0500Crystal Bridges at the Massey hosts exhibition of illustrations and books from Wendell Minor   BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 1, 2008 – “A good picture, like a good story, is timeless.” These are the words of American artist, illustrator and author Wendell Minor, whose work will be the subject of the newest exhibition opening at Crystal Bridges at the Massey.  “Wendell Minor: In the American Tradition” will open Saturday, Aug. 9. The museum is located at 125 W. Central, just off the square in downtown Bentonville.    The exhibition features 64 original illustrations and 22 children’s books Minor has illustrated, displaying his passion for bringing scenes of the natural world to children. The exhibition is on loan from the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature and will be on display at Crystal Bridges at the Massey through Oct. 19.   “Minor has said he is focused on American history and the American sense of place,” said Lynn Berkowitz, director of education, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “His work is in the tradition of classic American painters such as Homer, Hopper and Wyeth. Rich in color and precise in detail, Minor’s illustrations capture the authenticity of our country’s natural beauty. We are excited to showcase this exhibition, which is so well suited for Crystal Bridges at the Massey.”   Exhibition-related programming A full schedule of programming for all audiences and ages has been planned around the exhibition, said Berkowitz. The first program in the series is an Aug. 9 event for families in conjunction with the premiere of the exhibition. During the “Picture This” program, children will illustrate their own book cover, bookmarks and book bags from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.   All activities in the series are open to the public and are free of charge unless otherwise noted.  For details about other events, visit massey.crystalbridges.org.     (Editor’s Note: For a full listing of exhibition programs, see below.)   About Wendell Minor Minor’s illustrations grace the covers of more than 2,000 books for all ages, including works by authors such as Pat Conroy, David McCullough and James Michener. He has also created new cover art for classics such as The Red Badge of Courage, Call of the Wild and To Kill a Mockingbird.   In addition to his cover art work, he is a prolific illustrator of children’s books by well known authors such as Margaret Wise Brown, Jean Craighead George and Diane Siebert. He and his wife, Florence, have collaborated on several children’s books, which they have both authored and illustrated. For more information, visit www.minorart.com.   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.