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April at Crystal Bridges includes: Cultural Celebrations, Family Fun, Music, and More!

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will be closed Monday, May 13, to prepare for the visit of Antiques Roadshow. We will return to normal hours of operation Wednesday, May 15.

© Brandon Otto Photography, www.bottophoto.com

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is in bloom during the month of April with a new focus exhibition, The Garden, cultural celebrations, a last look at Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, and more.

Alongside Soul of a Nation Art in the Age of Black Power, celebrate Black Heroes Week at Crystal Bridges. Admission to the exhibition is free on April 4 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, and a variety of programs will honor black icons, including a Performance Lab and Distinguished Speaker Series, both featuring Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter, and drop-in artmaking inspired by the exhibition. Enjoy Soul of a Nation, programs and events before the exhibition closes April 23.

On April 13, Thelma Golden will host a Spotlight Talk showcasing her ideas about how art can influence cultural change by exploring several African-American artist.

The Garden, a focus exhibition at Crystal Bridges is on view April 21 through October 8. This exhibition recreates and interprets the experience of the garden through the work of artists in the Crystal Bridges collection and beyond.

Slow down, reflect, and find the joy in art during Slow Art Day on April 24, with special activities designed to spend quality time with art.

Crystal Bridges is hosting an El Día de los Niños  celebration dedicated to the community’s culture and talents of its young people with music, dance, art projects, and more on April 22.

Crystal Bridges Summer 2018 Forest Concert Series will bring together national and local acts in our North Forest for nine nights of live music, great food, and fun starting June 16. Member tickets are available now and will be open to the public on April 4.

Wheelchair seating is accessible at all programs. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is offered at all Distinguished Speaker Lectures and at the Collection Highlights tour on the third Saturday of each month. Based on availability, ASL is available for all programs and tours upon advanced request. Please contact access@crystalbridges.org or 479.657.2415 to schedule. Relay or voice calls are welcome.

STAY IN THE KNOW! Log in or create an account to customize your eNewsletters based on your interests. A full listing of April programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events.

Figure Drawing
Monday, April 2 and 16, 1 to 3 pm

Join us on the first and third Mondays of each month to draw from a clothed model. Whether you’ve always had a love for figure drawing or are trying it for the first time, you’ll enjoy an afternoon of drawing with other adults at the museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include short warm-up poses and longer poses.$10 ($5/members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Yoga and Art
Monday, April 2, 6 to 7 pm

Exercise your body and mind at Crystal Bridges with yoga and art! Join Lynn Hancock of Yoga Story in an uplifting group class that explores different facets of vinyasa as well as various disciplines of yoga practice. Open to all levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats and dress appropriately. $5 (Free/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Tots and Tales » Flowers (Ages 1.5 to 3 with an Adult)
Wednesday, April 4, 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm

Roses are red, violets are blue, explore flowers in our collection, read a story, and make art too! $10 ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Studio Studies Series » Printmaking
Wednesday, April 4, 11, and 18, 6 to 8:30 pm

Inspired by the exhibition Soul of a Nation, as well as artists in our permanent collection, take part in this evening series introducing various printmaking techniques. Each evening will take a close look at an artist in the collection, and cover design and printing methods such as silkscreen, block printing, and unconventional printmaking processes. All materials provided. $100 ($80/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Afterschool Art Class » Faces and Places (Ages 5 to 12)
Thursday, April 5, 12, and 19, 4 to 5:30 pm

Rediscover your favorite faces and places in the reinstallation of Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection! Create your own portraits and landscapes mixing new and old styles. $45/3 sessions ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Member Mingle » Patrisse Khan Cullors, Co-Founder of #BlackLivesMatter
Thursday, April 5, 6:00 to 6:30 pm

Museum members are invited to mix and mingle with other members, accompanied by a special appearance by the founder of #BlackLivesMatter Patrisse Khan Cullors prior to her Performance Lab: Malcolm Revisited beginning at 7 p.m. Priority seating for the performance will be available for Member Mingle registrants. Register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.

Performance Lab » Malcolm Revisited
Thursday, April 5, 7 to 9 pm

Malcolm Revisited is an interactive performance and dedication to the iconic historic figure, Malcolm X. The performance is directed by the founder of #BlackLivesMatter, Patrisse Cullors, who is trained in techniques of Theater of the Oppressed. The performance explores what it means to protect Black lives and art’s ability to open doors in difficult conversations across generations, gender, race, and ability. This performance is a homage to #BlackLivesMatter, Malcolm X, and the past and current freedom fighters in this movement. Sponsored by Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and Demara Titzer. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Distinguished Speaker Series » Patrisse Khan Cullors, Founder of #BlackLivesMatter
Friday, April 6, 7 to 8 pm

Through a unique blend of activism and art, Patrisse Khan Cullors rouses audiences to action with her passionate views on the racial, gender, and sexual-orientation discriminations that plague the nation. Already an established community organizer and performance artist, Cullors and her co-founders ignited a national conversation about social injustices when they created the Twitter hashtag #BlackLivesMatter in 2013, which quickly evolved into a powerful global movement. Resolute in her vision of a world where the lives and contributions of all individuals are recognized equally, Cullors adeptly communicates the adversities inflicted by social injustice as she educates and inspires others to work together to promote inclusiveness and equality. Cullors will unveil her new book, When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, followed by a book signing. $15 ($12/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Homeschool Friday Fun » Old Meets New (Ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12)
Friday, April 6, 13, and 20, 2 to 3:30 pm

Explore the reinstallation of Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection, and discover how Colonial artworks compare to works by contemporary and Native American artists. We’ll create portraits, landscapes, and Native American-inspired art. $45/3 sessions ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Teen Night
Saturday, April 7, 7 to 10 pm

Don’t miss a special night just for high school students at Crystal Bridges! Enjoy live music, a DJ and dancing, gallery activities, and more, all inspired by the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation. This event is planned and presented by Crystal Bridges’ Teen Council.

Transportation provided by Pinnacle Car Services. Free, no registration required.

Creative Connections
Monday, April 9 and 23, 1:30 to 3:30 pm

Join us for Creative Connections, a program for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia and their care partners. Museum Educators facilitate interactive discussions of artworks in the galleries followed by hands-on art activities in the studio. No prior art experience is required. Refreshments and art materials are provided.  Presented in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education. Sponsored by Loreen Arbus.Free, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 479.273.5559 or sdillingham@alz.org to register.

Bentonville Community Center Art Classes!
Crystal Bridges has partnered with the City of Bentonville to offer art classes for ages 2-12 at the Bentonville Community Center. Classes like My Grownup and Me, Preschool, Homeschool, and Afterschool Art, are taught by talented instructors and inspired by the works of art that can be seen at the museum. To learn more, visit bentonvillear.com.

Homeschool Tour and Art: Art and Emotion
Wednesday, April 11, 1 to 3 pm

The Abstract Expressionists were artists who used visual art to convey emotion. In our gallery tour we will look at and discuss works by artists who wanted to express their emotions through their artwork.  Students will then have the opportunity to explore the expression of emotions in their own works of art. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Mini Masters » Beautiful Blooms (Ages 4 to 5 with an Adult)
Wednesday, April 11 and 14, 1:30 to 2:30 pm

Welcome spring and explore the beautiful blooms in Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection! After storytime, budding artists will create their own floral masterpieces back in the studio. $10 ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Library Book Club » The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Wednesday, April 11, 1:30 to 3:30 pm

The Fire Next Time galvanized the nation and gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement. A powerful evocation of James Baldwin’s early life in Harlem and an examination of the consequences of racial injustice. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Figure Drawing from the Nude Model
Wednesday, April 11 and 25, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Join us on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month for this adult figure drawing class with a nude model. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include short warm-up poses and longer poses. Participants must be 18 or older.

Note: Figure-drawing sessions with a clothed model are offered on the first and third Mondays of each month, and are open to participants ages 14 and up. $10 ($5/embers), register online or with Guest Services.

Preschool Playdate » Around We Go!
Thursday, April 12, 11:30 am to 2 pm

A dome, circles, and silly swoops! Head over to the museum’s north lawn for sculpture creation, hula-hoop hops, and drawing inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome and Mark di Suvero’s Lowell’s Ocean! Playdate begins with an 11:30 performance in the Great Hall. If there’s a location change for inclement weather, guests will be informed at the main lobby desk. Sponsored by The Segal Family Foundation and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Free, no registration required.

Art & English
Thursday, April 12, 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Are you interested in practicing conversational English while learning about American art, history, and culture? Join us for Art & English! Adult English language learners are encouraged to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing English while discussing artworks in the galleries. Transportation provided by Pinnacle Car Services. Free.

Spotlight Talk » Thelma Golden: The Studio Museum
Friday, April 13, 7 to 8 pm

Join Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, for a conversation showcasing her inspirational career and ideas about how art can influence cultural change. This discussion will explore the work of several African American artists, including Betye Saar, Kerry James Marshall, and Julie Mehretu. Golden began her career at the Studio Museum before joining the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1988. After a decade at the Whitney, she returned to the Studio Museum in 2000 as Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs, and was named Director and Chief Curator in 2005. Golden was appointed to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House by President Obama in 2010, and in 2015 joined the Barack Obama Foundation’s Board of Directors. She served as the 2015–16 Chair of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group and was appointed to the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Golden is the recipient of the 2016 Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Member Morning Mingle » Slow & Savory Tea
Saturday, April 14, 10 to 11:30 am

Crystal Bridges is joining museums around the world in celebration of Slow Art Day. This annual event, dedicated to slowing down, reflecting, and finding the joy in art, will feature special in-gallery activities designed to keep you focused on the art for 10 to 15 minutes – or longer! Let us prep your palate with tea and treats, sure to put you in a calm, meditative mindset before entering the galleries where you’ll want to slow down and savor every moment. Free for members with registration, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.

Slow Art Day
Saturday, April 14, 10 am to 5 pm

Crystal Bridges is joining museums around the world in celebration of Slow Art Day! This annual event, dedicated to slowing down, reflecting, and finding the joy in art, will feature special in gallery activities designed to keep you focused on the art for 10 to 15 minutesㅡor longer! Come ready to spend quality time in the galleries with artworks from our permanent collection and celebrate the joy of looking together. Great for all ages! Free, no registration required.

Adult Workshop » Mixed-Media Workshop with LAB:D Artists
Sunday, April 15, 1 to 5 pm

Led by artists Lyndon Barrois and Addoley Dzegede, this mixed-media workshop is inspired by  artists in the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, including Emory Douglas, Romare Bearden, and more. Participants will explore ways imagery and design have been instrumental in organizing and moving groups of people to take action in response to social issues ach guest will create their own work of art using photo transfer and printing techniques. All materials provided. $55 ($44/members), register online or with Guest Services.

WOW » Just Like Honey
Wednesday, April 18, 6 to 7:30 pm

Join Director of Culinary Programming and Events Case Dighero and Marina Marchese, the only North American Honey Sommelier, as she and Dighero chat about the virtues of honey. Open to guests ages 21 and above. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology and Gelmart International. $45 ($36/embers), register online or with Guest Services.

SOLD OUT Discover the Grounds » Honey-Tasting Workshop with Carla Marina Marchese
Thursday, April 19, 6 to 8 pm

Join Carla Marina Marchese of Red Bee Farms for this guided honey-tasting workshop exploring six distinct American honeys produced from different local floral varieties, paired with food and drink. Marina will discuss the nuances of the honey flavors, as well as a history of her work and the busy life of the honey bee. Registration is limited. Sponsored by Blue Rhino and Just-Us Printers. $55 ($44/ members), register online or with Guest Services.

ArtShare
Saturday, April 21, 9 to 11 am

ArtShare is a fun event for youth ages five and older with autism and their families. The museum will open early for families to explore the galleries, participate in hands-on activities, and create art. The event is free, and pre-registration is encouraged.  Questions? Call 479.657.2415 or email access@crystalbridges.org. Sponsored by Loreen Arbus. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Studio Squad » Masterpiece Mashup (Ages 11 to 13)
Saturday, April 21, 4 to 5:30 pm

Come explore the exciting new reinstallation of Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection galleries. We’ll look at several spotlight artists, then mashup the different techniques we discover. This workshop is designed for tweens without an accompanying adult. Free, register online or with Guest Services. Sponsored by Rui J.P. de Figueirdo, Jr. and Natalia Ferretti and Nickelodeon.

El Día de los Niños
Sunday, April 22, noon to 5 pm

Celebrate the cultures and talents of young people in our community with an afternoon of music, dance, and art projects. Fun for all ages! Sponsored by Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Transportation provided by Pinnacle Car Services. Free, no registration required.

Artinfusion Happy Hour
Thursday, April 26, 5:30 to 7 pm

Gather with fellow Artinfusion peers and community groups each month to expand your professional networks over drinks and hors d’oeuvres during Eleven’s Culture Hour.

Free for Artinfusion members, register online or with Guest Services. Get outside your world; join Artinfusion today! Sponsored by Saatchi & Saatchi X, RopeSwing, JTH Productions, General Mills, Greenwood Gearhart Inc., HOWSE, Johnson & Johnson, The Hershey Company, Wright Lindsey Jennings, and Blue Moon Brewing Company

Art by the Glass » Black & White
Friday, April 27, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Create a work of high-contrast as you discover artists from the exhibition All or Nothing, black-and-white works from Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection. Using a limited palette of black and white, each guest will create their own work of art using a variety of methods, such as drawing, painting, and printmaking.   All materials, plus two glasses of wine and appetizers, provided. Open to guests ages 21 and up. $55 ($44/ members), register online or with Guest Services.

CB Babies
Saturday, April 28, 10 to 11:30 am

Oh, baby! Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 to  b vg v24 months with a caregiver. You’ll spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime. We’ll visit new artwork and make new discoveries together each month! Make sure you are able to hold your baby or have them in a front carrier; they need to see and physically react to the artworks. This is a time to bond with your baby, so please make other arrangements for siblings. $10 ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.