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Crystal Bridges’ April Programs, Celebrations of culture, architecture, and The Open Road

Crystal Bridges’ April Programs

Celebrations of culture, architecture, and The Open Road

In the month of April, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art invites visitors to celebrate family and the diverse cultures of Northwest Arkansas, enjoy architecture discussions with experts, and find inspiration in the temporary exhibition, The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip.

Thanks to exhibition sponsors, admission to The Open Road is free on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m.

On April 10, Crystal Bridges will host a Multicultural Celebration, featuring bilingual discussion and a dance off. On April 24, El Día de los Niños will celebrate the cultures and creativity of children throughout the community with music, dance, artmaking, and more.

Architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien will host a Spotlight Talk on April 15 discussing their designs. On April 16, Crystal Bridge’s Architecture Panel Discussions will celebrate the opening of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House by bringing together experts in the fields of architecture preservation.

On April 23, Art Night Out: Rock & Roll on the American Road will feature film, classic cars, a neon art show, and live music, inspired by The Open Road. Attending the event will be Alec Soth, a photographer featured in the exhibition. The following day on April 24, Soth will present a Spotlight Talk on his enchantment with southern travel and culture.

A full listing of April programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events.

April 1 through May 13

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11:30 am

NEW Spring Showcase

Join our Trail Guides for a seasonal experience to discover beautiful spring blooms, including those of our spectacular dogwoods. This experience requires walking on soft-surface natural trails. The walk to the Dogwood Trail includes many steep stairs. Please wear appropriate footgear. Length: 1 mile. Sponsored by The Coleman Company.

 Saturday, April 2, 9 to 11 am

NEW ArtShare

Join us on Saturday, April 2, for our first ArtShare program! This fun event is for families with youth with autism ages 11 to 18. The Museum will open early for families to explore The Open Road exhibition, and all are invited to participate in hands-on fun and art-making activities. For questions and more information, please contact access@crystalbridges.org or call 479.418.5724. Sponsored by Loreen Arbus. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Saturday, April 2, 1 to 2 pm

Gallery Conversation » Hunting Through the 19th-Century

Join stimulating conversations facilitated by speakers from the Museum and community, including curators, artists, writers, professors, and more! In this Gallery Conversation, meet Tyson Scholar Corey Piper to discuss images of hunting in the nineteenth-century. Free, no registration required.

 Saturday, April 2, 7 to 10 pm

Teen Night » On The Open Road

Don’t miss a special night just for high school students at Crystal Bridges!  Explore the photography in The Open Road exhibition and enjoy live music, a DJ, dancing, and more. Organized by the Museum’s Teen Council. Sponsored by The Nicole and John Weeldreyer Family Fund. Free, no registration required.

 Monday, April 4 and 18, 1 to 3 pm

Figure Drawing

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 drawing with other adults at the Museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter warm-up poses and longer poses. All materials are provided. $10 ($5 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Monday, April 4, 6 to 7 pm

Yoga and Art » Chakra Series: Energy

Capture rejuvenation and develop self-confidence and willpower! Find focus and release with Yoga Story’s Cindee Joslin in this uplifting group experience. Discover various Museum spaces through motivational sessions that embody balancing chakras, color, and movement. This month’s chakra is Energy. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and dress appropriately.

$5 (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services

 Wednesday, April 6, 5:30 to 7 pm

NEW Play with Passion » Athletes with Special Needs

Join Play with Passion at Crystal Bridges for a fun family event full of creating, exploring, learning, and discovering! Play with Passion: Athletes with Special Needs is dedicated to serving youth with disabilities in the Northwest Arkansas area. Once a month, they partner with local institutions to provide a fitness program for athletes designed to achieve and surpass their developmental milestones. This event at Crystal Bridges will include art projects, hands-on activities, a scavenger hunt, and yoga. For questions, contact access@crystalbridges.org or call 479.418.5724.  Sponsored by Loreen Arbus. Free, space is limited. Register online with Play with Passion here.

 Wednesday, April 6, 6 to 8 pm

Wednesday Series for Educators » Luck of the Draw: An Exercise in Risk-Taking

Embrace the unpredictable in this workshop designed to inspire creative teaching. Educators will be divided into teams and draw a work of art to facilitate an experience within the galleries. Sponsored by Neff and Scarlett Bassore. $10 ($8 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 6 to 8:30 pm

Studio Studies Series » Introduction to Pastel Landscapes

Award-winning pastel artist Charles Peer will teach this spring course on creating pastel landscapes inspired by the Museum’s trails and grounds. Learn the basics of applying pastels, layering rich pigments, and drawing en plein air. All materials are provided. $200 for 6 sessions ($160 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Thursday, April 7, 1 to 2 and 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Gallery Conversation » What’s New?

Join stimulating conversations facilitated by speakers from the Museum and community, including curators, artists, writers, professors, and more! Join our curators to discuss what’s new in our galleries. Free, no registration required.

 Thursday, April 7, 8 to 9 pm

Spotlight Talks » William Least Heat-Moon presents Blue Highways

Meet author William Least Heat-Moon whose autobiographical travel book Blue Highways is hailed as a masterpiece of American travel writing, taking readers on an unforgettable journey along our nation’s backroads. Heat-Moon will share his adventures, discoveries, and recollections of the extraordinary people he has encountered along his travels, amounting to a revelation of the true American experience. A book signing will follow the lecture. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Fridays, April 8, 15, 22, 2 to 3:30 pm

Homeschool Friday Fun (Ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12) » The Open Road

Learn about the highways and byways of the United States by exploring the temporary exhibition, The Open Road.  Create road-trip-inspired works back in the studio! $45 for 3 sessions ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Friday, April 8, 7:30 to 8:30 pm

Choral Concert

Choral music soars in the Great Hall!  Join us for a concert at sunset by the award-winning Bentonville High School Chamber Choir, conducted by Terry Hicks. Selections are inspired by The Open Road and the American landscape, including “Song at Dusk,” with text by American poet Leigh Hanes, and an arrangement of “She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain.” Free, no registration required. 

 Saturday April 9, 9 am to 1 pm

Saturday Session for Teachers » Living Newspapers

The Living Newspapers of the Federal Theater Project were created as part of the Works Progress Administration. In this workshop, we will discuss the history of the Living Newspaper and how this format can be used in the classroom to explore historical and current events. Sponsored by Neff and Scarlett Bassore. $10 ($8 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Saturday, April 9, 10 am to 6 pm

Featured Artisan » Edward C. Robison III

Join us in the Museum Store as we feature photographer Edward C. Robison III. His photographs not only reflect his keen eye, but communicate a deep love of nature with an underlying theme of conservation for natural resources. Robison will be on hand to discuss taking road-trip photos and how time lapse photography brings his still images to life. Robison’s collection of prints from his travels and regional landscapes as well as his augmented reality book will be available for purchase during this event. Free, no registration required.

 Saturday, April 9, 1 to 2 pm

Gallery Conversation » Poetry and Art

Join stimulating conversations facilitated by speakers from the Museum and community, including curators, artists, writers, professors, and more! In celebration of National Poetry Month, award-winning local poet Houston Hughes will inspire you to look at art in creative ways through discussion on the relationship between poetry and art. Free, no registration required.

 Sunday, April 10, 2 to 5 pm

Multicultural Celebration

Celebrate the diverse cultures of Northwest Arkansas with music, dance, art-making activities, and bilingual discussions throughout our galleries. We’ll end the day with a Dance Off in the Great Hall! Special thanks to EngageNWA, the multicultural and international departments at the University of Arkansas, and John Brown University. Free, no registration required.

 Monday, April 11, 11 am to 12:30 pm

Writers Group » Featured Poet Houston Hughes

Explore poetry inspired by the beauty of nature with local poet Houston Hughes. Each month in our spring sessions will explore a variety of traditional and contemporary poetry styles, honoring nature with discussion, writing, and recitations on the Museum grounds. $8/Free for Members, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Monday, April 11, 1:30 to 3:30 pm

Creative Connections

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

 Wednesdays, April 13, 20, and 27, 1 to 2:15 pm

Preschool Art Class » Road Trip!

Gear up for travel without ever leaving the Museum! Create art inspired by our “road trip” through the temporary exhibition The Open Road. Sponsored by Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee, and The Hershey Company. $30 for 3 sessions/$24 for Members, register online or by calling Guest Services.

 Wednesday, April 13, 1 to 3 pm

Homeschool Tour and Art » Exploring Color

Spend the afternoon at the Museum as we explore the theme of color through artworks in our permanent collection. We’ll start with a collaborative art activity in which you’ll find artistic inspiration to express your creativity. Afterward, we’ll venture into the galleries to explore the theme of the day while completing various activities. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Wednesday, April 13 and 27, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Figure Drawing from the Nude Model

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 both shorter 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 for Members, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Thursday, April 14, 11:30 am to 2 pm

Preschool Playdate » Cars!

Oh, the places you will go! Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by the temporary exhibition The Open Road. Preschool Playdate begins with an 11:30 performance in the Great Hall. Sponsored by the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee and The Hershey Company. Free, no registration required.

 Thursdays, April 14, 21, and 28, 6:30 to 8 pm

Studio Squad (Ages 11 to 13) » Road Trips

Experience the sights of the American road trip! Create mixed-media art projects inspired by photography in the temporary exhibition The Open Road. Sponsored by Nickelodeon. $45 for 3 sessions/$36 for Members, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335

 Thursday, April 14, 8 to 9 pm

Performance Lab » Miwa Matreyek

Experience the unique work of Miwa Matreyek, a multimedia performance artist based in Los Angeles who creates spellbinding, visually rich fusions of inventive animation and live performance that will leave you rapt.  She will present two performances: This World Made Itself and Myth and Infrastructure.  This World Made Itself merges cinematic vistas with theater and intricate shadow play. Its thematic journey takes viewers through the history of the earth, from the universe’s first spark to our complex world of accelerated human interaction. The performance unfolds as both a panorama referencing natural history and science and a spectacle of surrealistic metaphor and fantasy. Myth and Infrastructure traverses seascapes, cityscapes, and domestic spaces to conjure dreamlike scenes with nuanced layers of light and shadow. Sponsored by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and Demara Titzer. $10 ($8 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Friday, April 15, 7 to 8 pm

Spotlight Talks » Tod Williams and Billie Tsien

Architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien kick off Crystal Bridges’ Architecture Panel Discussions. In 2013, Williams and Tsien received the National Medal of Arts award for their contributions to architecture and arts education. The two will share their designs, which has had a profound effect on the lives of those they interact with, and will discuss their spirit of service that have inspired young people to pursue their passion in architecture. William and Tsien’s projects include The Barnes Museum in Philadelphia, Hereford College at the University of Virginia, the American Folk Art Museum in New York, two additions to the Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona, and the David Rubenstein Atrium at New York’s Lincoln Center. Sponsored by Chip and Susan Chambers and Ken and Liz Allen. $10 ($8 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Saturdays, April 16, 23, 30, 10:30 am to noon

Young Artists Class » Places and Spaces

Discover the places and spaces depicted in the temporary exhibition The Open Road.  Use collage and sculpture to create art inspired by what we’ve seen. $45 for 3 sessions ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Saturday, April 16, 2:30 to 5 pm

Architecture Panel Discussions

Crystal Bridges’ Architecture Panel Discussions celebrates the opening of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House by bringing together experts in the fields of architecture preservation and Frank Lloyd Wright. The discussions were developed through collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright National Building Conservancy and will explore three main topics: Crystal Bridges’ Architecture, What is Preservation? and Modernism in the South.

Sponsored by Chip and Susan Chambers. $10 ($8 for Members).  register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Sunday, April 17, 2 to 5 pm

Adult Workshop » iPhoneography

Grab your smartphone and join photographers David and Whitney Scott in the studios for this Adult Workshop on iPhoneography! Using a creative combination of apps and tips, the two will lead us in the art of taking great photos with just our phones. Each participant will leave with several printed images of their work. $55($45 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Wednesday, April 20, 6 to 7 pm

WOW » Frank Lloyd Wright – SOLD OUT

Join Crystal Bridges Culinary Director Case Dighero along with Museum curators as they discuss the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Open to guests ages 21 and above.

Sponsored by Premier Dermatology and Riedel Glassware. $30 ($24 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335

 Thursday, April 21, 6 to 6:30 pm

Member Meet and Greet with Sir John Leighton

Crystal Bridges Members are invited to a Meet and Greet with Sir John Leighton, Director General of the National Galleries of Scotland, prior to his public lecture at 7:00 p.m. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line 479.418.5728. Separate registration is required for the lecture.

 Thursday, April 21, 7 to 8 pm

Spotlight Talks » Sir John Leighton

Meet Sir John Leighton, Director General of the National Galleries of Scotland who will discuss works the National Galleries based on his new book 100 Masterpieces.  Leighton has served as the Curator of nineteenth-century paintings at the National Gallery in London, and following his role as Curator, Leighton was Director of the Van Gogh Museum from 1997 until his appointment as Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland in 2006.  In 2015, the Portrait Society of America awarded Leighton with the Wetmore Leadership Award. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Thursdays, April 21, 28 and May 5, 7 to 8:30 pm

Intro to Art » Architecture

Discover art, architecture, and preservation at Crystal Bridges Museum in this three-part class series built around the breathtaking architecture of Moshe Safdie and our newest structure, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House. Curatorial Assistant Dylan Turk and Director of Operations Scott Eccleston will lead each session, providing a deeper look into the design, construction, and detail of the architecture at Crystal Bridges through discussion and behind-the-scenes looks at the museum, inside and out.  $30 for 3 sessions ($24 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Friday, April 22, 6:30 to 8 pm

Family Workshop » Family Road Trip

Create travel-themed art inspired by The Open Road exhibition. $10 per family (Free for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Saturday, April 23, 8 to 11 pm

Art Night Out » Rock & Roll on the American Road!

Celebrate The Open Road exhibition with Art Night Out! Enjoy road-trip films, performances in classic cars, a neon art show, and a rock and roll concert. Music of the night will feature Smokey & the Mirror and Little Rock-based funk rock band Amasa Hines. You’ll meet photographer Alec Soth, featured in The Open Road, as he shares his unique, experimental pop-up show Postcards from America. Soth will be joined by photographers Jim Goldberg from San Francisco and Mikhael Subotzky from South Africa. Sponsored by Saatchi & Saatchi X, Arvest Bank, AMP Sign & Banner, and Blue Moon Brewing Company. $10 ($8 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Sunday, April 24, noon to 5 pm

El Dia de los Ninos

Celebrate the cultures and creativity of children throughout our community during this fun day for all! The day will feature entertainment for and by children, music, dance, art making, and more. Sponsored by Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee, and Rockline Industries. Free, no registration required.

 Sunday, April 24, 4 to 5 pm

Spotlight Talk » The Open Road Photographer Alec Soth

Meet Open Road photographer Alec Soth has been noted as the modern heir to a tradition of documentary photography, dating back to the Depression-era images of Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange. Soth will share his enchantment with southern travel and culture, focusing on his four principle American projects: Sleeping by the Mississippi, Niagara, Broken Manual and Songbook. Soth has worked in every part of North America, as well as South America and Asia, but his main subject is what he calls ‘the big middle’: that huge swath of America that most people fly over, but which Soth has made his own. Through his lens, it is a place of backwater creeks and desolate spaces under yawning skies; small-town striving, disappointments and momentary joys; people who stare into the camera looking haunted, proud, defiant or, more often, simply bewildered to find themselves wrapped up in the mystery of life. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Monday, April 25, 1:30 to 3:30 pm

Creative Connections

Creative Connections is a program for individuals in the early stages Alzheimer’s or related dementia and their care partners. Museum Educators facilitate interactive discussions of artworks in the galleries and hands-on art activities in the studio. No prior art experience required!  Refreshments and art materials are provided. Sponsored by Loreen Arbus. Presented in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education. Free. Advance registration through Alzheimer’s Association required.  To register, contact:  Alzheimer’s Association by calling (479) 273-5559, or email sdillingham@alz.org.

 Thursday, April 28, 6 to 8:30 pm

The Open Road Film Series » Monte Hellman’s Two Lane Black Top

Enjoy this screening of Monte Hellman’s Two Lane Black Top, a classic road film featuring scenes in Arkansas, and starring James Taylor and The Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson. Sponsored by inVeritas and Demara Titzer. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Friday, April 29, 7 to 8 pm

Spotlight Talks » Dr. Doug Tallamy: Bringing Nature Home

Hear from Living Landscape author Doug Tallamy as he discusses the yard as an essential part of our ecosystem. Tallamy will emphasize the ecological, educational, physical, and emotional benefits of designing landscapes with these roles in mind, exploring the consequences of failing to do so. A book signing will follow the lecture.  Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Friday, April 29, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Art by the Glass » Paper Quilling

Learn the art of paper quilling inspired by Alice Aycock’s outdoor sculpture Maelstrom. All materials plus two glasses of wine and hors d’oeuvres are provided. $45 ($36 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 Saturday, April 30, 10 to 11:30 am

Discover the Grounds » Native Plants Walk with Dr. Doug Tallamy

Author and native plant expert Doug Tallamy will open this season of Discover the Grounds with a talk and walk on the Museum’s grounds, discussing the native plants of Arkansas. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Learn more about Crystal Bridges Trails and Grounds with our free app, CB Outdoors, available for Apple and Android devices!

 Saturday, April 30, 1 to 2 pm

Gallery Conversation » Portraits of Hamilton

Enjoy stimulating conversations facilitated by speakers from the Museum and community, including curators, artists, writers, professors, and more! In this Gallery Conversation, Tyson Scholar Amy Torbert will discuss the many faces of Alexander Hamilton in painting, sculpture, and theater. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.