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Crystal Bridges’ August Programming includes Family Sunday, Art-Making for Kids and Teens, and the start of Music and Film Series

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.

As summer kicks into high gear and thoughts turn to the return of school days, Crystal Bridges offers a variety of cool programs to encourage guests to enjoy the last days of summer to the fullest, featuring an outdoor movie screening, art-making programs for kids and teens, and the latest edition of the museum’s popular, activity-packed Family Sunday. Offerings include the first in a six-week series of film and music programs that will feature the America’s Music documentary film series accompanied by live performances by local performers.

Crystal Bridges also announces the elimination of admission fees for films and lectures. Online reservations are encouraged, but not required, for these events. Seats may be reserved in advance online or at the Guest Services desk in the Museum. Walk-in seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, dependent upon space.

A full listing of August programs is below. Information and registration are also available on the calendar of events on Crystal Bridges’ website: http://calendar.crystalbridges.org/.

August Public Programs
Crystal Bridges Members receive a 20 percent discount on all programs and events.

Friday, August 2, 5 to 7 pm
Friday Night Flights
Monthly Friday Night Flights offer guests an opportunity to sample and compare some special wines not offered on Eleven’s permanent wine list, under the guidance of an expert oeneologist or sommelier. This is a come-and-go event between 5 and 7 p.m. Open to guests ages 21 and up. $30, purchase tickets online or at guest services.

Friday, August 2, 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Intersection | Afrique Aya Explores the Soundsuit
Late Twentieth-Century Art Gallery
Dancers and drummers from the popular troupe Afrique Aya, led by Angelo Yao of Cote d’Ivoire, present a special performance enlivening the Late Twentieth-Century Art Gallery. They will explore the African cultural roots of Nick Cave’s Soundsuit series through traditional costume, dance, and African ritual. Sponsored by Galen, Debi, and Alice Havner.
Free, no registration required.

Sunday, August 4, 1 to 4 pm
Wednesday, August 7, 6 to 9 pm
Drop-In Drawing
Drop in for a free, informal drawing session. Materials are provided and an art instructor will be on hand to get you started. Check at Guest Services for the specific location. All ages are welcome!
Free. No registration required.

Friday, August 9, 10 to 11:30 am
Discover the Grounds | Botanical Art: Drawing Ozark Plants at Crystal Bridges
Meet at the Tulip Tree Shelter
Moderate walking, some incline, steps, and natural surface trail
Learn the terminology for plants’ “body parts” through a guided discussion on botanical vocabulary by the Crystal Bridges Trails team, and learn about approaches to botanical art used by leading artists in the field such as Mark Catesby and Martin Johnson Heade. After the discussion, go on a journey with a Trail Guide to practice your own botanical drawings on the grounds. Free with online reservations.

Friday, August 9, 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Pre-Film Mixer
Join us on Walker Landing to mingle and socialize for an hour before the film screening. Snacks, sodas, beer, and wine will be available for purchase.

Friday, August 9, 8:30 to 10 pm
Film | Outdoor Movie Classic: North by Northwest
Introduction: University of Arkansas Professor of Communications and Film Frank Scheide
Join us for an outdoor screening on Walker Landing of North by Northwest by film director Alfred Hitchcock. This 1959 film classic stars Cary Grant, and uses Hitchcock’s trademark plot of “mistaken identity/man-on-the-run.” The film captures America through brilliant cinematic chase scenes, as well as an iconic portrayal of America’s architecture and landscape from New York City, to Chicago, to Mt. Rushmore. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase at Eleven’s mobile cart.
Admission is free, online reservations are encouraged. Reserve tickets online or at Guest Services.

Sunday, August 11, 3 to 4 pm
Lecture | 360 Discussion: Bringing Home the Buffalo
Follow in the virtual footsteps of the acclaimed naturalist and champion of the Buffalo River, Dr. Neil Compton. Scott Eccleston, Director of Facilities and Grounds at Crystal Bridges, and Corrin Troutman, Director of Facilities and Grounds at Compton Gardens/Peel Mansion, will shed light on Dr. Compton’s dream of bringing the essence of his beloved Buffalo River to his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. While Compton continued to fight his drawn-out battle for the Buffalo in state and national arenas, he was also deeply engaged in smaller-scale local projects that shed light on the inner life of this small-town obstetrician and nature enthusiast. Among these local projects was a nursery for native plants on a small plot of land near Crystal Spring—a labor of love which led him to develop a special friendship with Sam and Helen Walton. Eccleston and Troutman will lead you through the fascinating story of Dr. Compton’s passionate dedication and spiritual connection to the land in a tale that leads ultimately to the native landscapes we know today as Compton Gardens and Crystal Bridges. Admission is free. Online reservation is encouraged. Reserve seats online or at Guest Services. Walk-in seating will be filled first-come, first-served, depending on availability.

Monday, August 12, 11 am to noon
Journaling Group | Transcending Nature
Art Instructor: Lindsay Hutton, Northwest Arkansas Community College Writing Instructor
Sharing the philosophy of the American Transcendentalists, the Hudson River School painters created visual embodiments of the ideas of writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, William Cullen Bryant, and Walt Whitman. Explore the Transcendental approach to people and nature through your own writing.
Free with online reservations.

Saturday, August 17, 6 to 7 am
Skyspace Sunrise Experience
Once a month, James Turrell’s Skyspace, The Way of Color, will open early to allow guests to experience the sunrise light display. Beginning a few minutes prior to sunrise, a changing array of colors greets the sun in this open-air art installation. Free. No registration required. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Saturday, August 17 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Museum Store Event | Trunk Show: Daaman Porcelain Jewelry
Meet Jeff and Judy Goodwin, the Huntsville, Arkansas, artists behind Daaman Porcelain Jewelry. Using a Japanese process known as nerikomi, the artists layer colored porcelain to create patterns in large blocks or loaves. Each piece of jewelry is sliced from the block and fired. All the rich depth of colors found in Daaman designs are from colored porcelains. No paints, colored glazes, or under-glazes are added. Free, no registration required.

Saturday, August 17, 11:45 am to 1 pm
Adult Program | Yoga Sculpture Series
Yoga Story leads an exploration of the monumental sculpture, Lowell’s Ocean, by Mark di Suvero on the Museum’s North Lawn. Learn to defy gravity with your own body as the artist does with steel beams. Each Movement and Meditation session mixes visual art with body and mind exercises in a specially prepared lesson guided by a Yoga Story instructor. Participants are requested to bring their own yoga mats and water, and wear appropriate clothing. Please meet at the sculpture. Learn more about Yoga Story at yogastory.info.

Please note: the path from the Museum to the North Lawn includes many stairs and a moderate incline.
$15, register online or at Guest Services.

Saturday, August 17, 1 to 5 pm
Youth Program | Children’s Workshop: Clay Creations
Learn basic handbuilding techniques to create a functional and sculptural object out of clay. Get your hands ready to pinch, coil, and get dirty! Student work will be fired, and available to pick up at a later date.

Two concurrent workshops are offered, one for ages 6 to 9, and one for ages 10 to 12.
$40, register online or at guest services.

Saturday, August 17, 3:30 to 4:15 pm
Art Talk | Conversations on Luis Jimenez
South Lobby
One the most important Latin American artists of the twentieth century, Luis Jimenez developed a unique style of molding fiberglass into powerful sculptures— representing his cultural heritage and captivating the American art scene. Take in Luis Jimenez’s sculpture Vaquero with educator Sara Segerlin who explores, with local Hispanic poet and musician Al Papa Rap, the rich colors and metaphors expressed in the work.
Free, no registration required.

Sunday, August 18, 1 to 3 pm
Walker Landing Arts
Enjoy making art outdoors on Walker Landing, paired with a family-friendly musical performance.
Free. No registration required.

Wednesday, August 21, 6 to 7 pm
Special Event | WOW: Sensory Iconoclasts
Join Crystal Bridges Culinary Director Case Dighero at these monthly tasting experiences to sample selections of drinks and hors d’oeuvres from Eleven, inspired by Crystal Bridges collection of American art. Open to guests ages 21 and above. Seating is limited. Cost: $30. Purchase tickets online or at Guest Services. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology.

Thursday, August 22, 1 to 1:45 pm
Art Talk | Views on the People and Places exhibition
Community Showcase
Dig deeper into our Ozark history with Interpretation Manager Aaron Jones and Associate Curator Manuela Well-Off-Man, who will provide a tour of People and Places, on view in the south corridor. This collaborative exhibition showcases six regional partner institutions, drawing on their permanent collections to tell the stories of some of our region’s fascinating people and communities.
Free, no registration required.

Saturday, August 24, noon to 3 pm
Drop-In Studio
Exercise your creativity! Museum art instructors will lead fun and fanciful projects in the studio. Free, no registration required.

Sunday, August 25, noon to 5 pm
Family Sunday: Angels & Tomboys
Admission to the Angels & Tomboys exhibition is free for this special Family Sunday! We’ll have activities throughout the Museum inspired by the play, pastimes, and pets you’ll see in this exhibition of fascinating nineteenth-century paintings. Free, no registration required.

Wednesdays, August 28 through October 2, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Film | America’s Music: Jazz, by Ken Burns
Join us for this six-week film series presented by Northwest Arkansas Community College music professor Miles Fish with support from the Tribeca Film institute and National Endowment for the Arts.
The film will be followed by a live music demo by The Ben Harris Quartet. The group features guitar, upright bass, clarinet and sax. We’ll focus on the swing music of the ’30s and ’40s in keeping with the theme of the film.

For a full listing of films in the series, visit here: https://www.facebook.com/events/521832867871063/

Admission is free with online reservations. Reserve tickets online or at Guest Services.

Saturday, August 31, 1 to 5 pm
Youth Program | Teen Workshop: Instagram— as an Art Form
Push the boundaries of the Instagram application and other social media tools to a whole new level in this active one-day workshop. Use your cell phone’s camera lens as a tool to explore and artistically document Crystal Bridges—its exhibitions, architecture, and grounds—and create your own “online exhibition” based on your photography, experimentation with effects, and selection of images.
$40, register online or at Guest Services.

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