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Crystal Bridges Ends 2018 with Programs and Parties for the Whole Family

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is ending 2018 with programs and events for all ages, including a Van Cliburn concert celebrating the life and work of Philip Glass, a children’s piano concert called Melody’s Mostly Musical Day, the last full month of Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, the Crystal Bridges Film Festival, and two New Year’s Eve events.

 

Crystal Bridges will be open throughout the holidays except for an early closing on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24 at 2 p.m. And the museum will be closed on Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25.

 

One month left: Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now, the museum’s temporary exhibition that brings contemporary Indigenous art front and center, is free and open through the month of December. The exhibition is open until January 7, 2019. A full roster of programs will accompany the exhibition in December.

 

The 2018 Van Cliburn Concert Series is concluding with Philip Glass: Works for Piano, an all-Glass program performed by world-renowned pianists Aaron Diehl, Jenny Lin, and Maki Namekawa. The concert, which takes place on Thursday, December 6 at 7 p.m., will feature Glass’s recent compositions for solo piano and new arrangements of his classic works. Tickets are available here, and students can receive discounted tickets for $10.

 

Lin will also be performing a children’s concert on Wednesday, December 5 called Melody’s Mostly Musical Day. This free family event is inspired by Lin’s book of the same name and incorporates live music, props, storytelling, and screening of the illustrations for each musical selection.

 

Families can keep making holiday memories at the museum with Winter Break Wonders. Every afternoon from December 22 through January 4, the museum will provide art activities and fun for the whole family. Activities will include artmaking, musical performances, creative play, puppets, dancing, family yoga, and much more. Every afternoon is free, no registration required.

Families are welcome to ring in the New Year without staying up past bedtime at the museum’s fourth annual Noon Year’s Eve event. The event will have fun art projects, performances, a family dance party, and a Coca-Cola toast at noon. Free for all ages from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NEW 365, Crystal Bridges’ annual New Year’s Eve party, will take place on Monday, December 31 from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The evening will include an array of musicians, singers, dancers, performers, and artists, and will conclude with a balloon drop at midnight. Complimentary champagne toast, appetizers, and a Crystal Bridges dream pillow will be provided.

 

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 December programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events.

 

Studio Squad » Paper Possibilities (Ages 11 to 13)

Saturday, December 1, 4 to 5:30 pm

Curious about paper? Join us in the studio as we get our hands dirty and craft our own paper from pulp to page! Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Bentonville Community Center Class » Sensory Art

Monday, December, 3, 10, and 17

Ages 2 to 4 with a caregiver: 9:30 to 10:30 am

Ages 4 to 5: 11 am to 12 pm

Experience art with all of your senses! Make art that creates sound, has yummy scents, and feels fantastic, including unusual art materials like whipped topping, fruit drink mixes, and cocoa bean shells! $50, register online through the Bentonville Community Center or by calling 479.696.0200.

 

Bentonville Community Center Class » Homeschool: Drawn to Great (Ages 5 to 12)

Monday, December, 3, 10, and 17, 2 to 3:30 pm

Do you love drawing? This class is for you! Each week we’ll discover an artist from the Crystal Bridges permanent collection, and then we’ll experiment with different drawing materials, including charcoal, colored pencils, scratchboard, and even drawing onto styrofoam! $50, register online through the Bentonville Community Center or by calling 479.696.0200.

 

Bentonville Community Center Class » Afterschool Art: Ready, Draw (Ages 5 to 12)

Monday, December, 3, 10, and 17, 4 to 5:30 pm

Calling all doodlers! Join us this December for a month of drawing. Each week we’ll study a new artist from the Crystal Bridges permanent collection, and then we’ll practice the techniques we found using different drawing materials including charcoal, colored pencils, scratchboard, and even drawing onto styrofoam. $50, register online through the Bentonville Community Center or by calling 479.696.0200.

 

Figure Drawing

Monday, December 3, 1 to 3 pm

Practice the basics during an afternoon of figure drawing at the museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter, warm-up poses and longer poses. $10 ($5 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.r

 

Yoga and Art

Monday, December 3, 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 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Meditation and Mindfulness » Seven Types of Ambiguity by Helen Frankenthaler

Monday, December 3, 1 to 2 pm

Come to Crystal Bridges for rejuvenation in a guided meditation surrounded by the beauty of art and nature. This meditation session will be held indoors in front of Seven Types of Ambiguity by Helen Frankenthaler. Don’t worry about bringing your own yoga mats – Crystal Bridges will provide them. Free, no registration required.

 

Tots and Tales » Blue (Ages 1.5 to 3 with an adult)

Wednesday, December 5, 1:30 to 2:30 pm

(OR) Saturday, December 8, 10:30 – 11:30 am

Enjoy two opportunities for this class for toddlers! The same class is offered on both Wednesday and Saturday—choose which day works best for you. If you love the color blue, this class is for you! Play eye spy, read a book, and make art, too. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Children’s Concert » Melody’s Mostly Musical Day

Wednesday, December 5, 6 to 7 pm

Join Van Cliburn pianist Jenny Lin for this family concert inspired by her book, Melody’s Mostly Musical Day. Follow a child’s musical day from breakfast to bedtime featuring works from Mozart to Chopin to Gershwin to Chick Corea. This concert for the entire family was developed with Steinway and incorporates live music, props, storytelling, and screening of the illustrations for each musical selection. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Van Cliburn Concert Series » Philip Glass: Works for Piano

Thursday, December 6, 7 to 9 pm

Philip Glass: Works for Piano is an all-Glass program performed by world-renowned pianists Aaron Diehl, Jenny Lin, and Maki Namekawa. The Van Cliburn Concert Series Endowment Fund supported by Kelly and Marti Sudduth, Reed and Mary Ann Greenwood, Ellis and Kay Melton, Chip and Susan Chambers, and William M. Fuller Foundation. Special thanks to Tommy Smith and Steinway & Sons.$50 ($40 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Afterschool Art Class » Painted Portraits (Ages 5 to 12)

Thursday, December 6, 13, and 20, 4 to 5:30 pm

Get your paint brushes ready for this class all about portraits! Create modern, cubist, and realistic portraits using a variety of paints and all inspired by artworks in our permanent collection. $45 ($36 for members)/3 sessions, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

SOLD OUT Distinguished Speaker Series » Bryan Stevenson

Friday, December 7, 7 to 8 pm

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition to defending some of the country’s most marginalized people, Bryan and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) are also creating public memorials to confront a legacy of slavery and discrimination. This event is sold out.

 

Homeschool Friday Fun » Modern Masterpieces

Friday, December 7, 14, and 21, 2 to 3:30 pm

Ages 5-8 and 9-12

Explore modern masterpieces in the Stieglitz collection. Create cityscapes, still lifes, and cubist works of art using collage, pastel, and paint!

$45 ($36 for members)/3 sessions, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

ArtShare

Saturday, December 8, 9 to 11:30 am

ArtShare is a fun event for youth 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.Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

CR(EAT)E

Sunday, December 9, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Enjoy an in-depth glimpse and taste of how art inspires the culinary world of Crystal Bridges. Join us for an evening of food, education, and entertainment focused on the intrinsic intersection between art and cuisine. $105 ($84/members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Preschool Art Class » Mini Masters: Red (Ages 4 to 5 with an adult)

Wednesday, December 12, 1:30 to 2:30 pm

(OR) Saturday, December 15, 10:30 to 11:30 am

You won’t leave seeing red in our class all about this ravishing color. Enjoy story time and create a radical red artwork. $10 ($8 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Book Club » The Painted Drum by Louise Erdich

Wednesday, December 12, 1:30 to 3:30 pm

Join our Book Club! For this session, we will be reading The Painted Drum by Louise Erdich. Free, no registration required.

 

Figure Drawing from the Nude Model

Wednesday, December 12, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Join us in the studio for an evening of drawing from a live model, featuring both shorter warm-up poses and longer poses. All materials are provided. Participants must be 18 or older. $10 ($5/members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Library » The Great Reveal

Wednesday, December 12, 7 to 8 pm

Get a sneak peek at the Library vaults with rare books and ephemera. Free, no registration required.

 

SOLD OUT Members-Only Culinary Insights » Holiday Entertaining

Wednesday, December 12, 7 to 9 pm

Come join members of our culinary staff for a unique hands-on experience as they instruct and demonstrate during a night of culinary insights! The stations will include a tea and sandwich station, a port, champagne, and truffles station, and a mocktail station. Experts from some of your favorite Northwest Arkansas shops and Crystal Bridges’ own culinary team will be giving tips and demonstrations on the best pairings at each of these stations in a fun atmosphere. Free for members, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.

 

Preschool Playdate » Wiggles and Squiggles

Thursday, December 13, 11:30 am to 2 pm

Show us your best wiggles and your finest squiggles at this month’s Preschool Playdate. We’ll make action-packed art, hear funny stories, and more. The playdate will begin with an 11:30 a.m. performance in the Great Hall featuring AI Papa Rap who will be performing bilingual songs for children and their families. Free, no registration required.

 

Gallery Conversation » Do Ho Suh

Thursday, December 13, 1 pm

Discover the newly installed artwork Some/One by contemporary Korean artist, Do Ho Suh, with Assistant Curator Alejo Benedetti. Free, no registration required.

 

Artinfusion Happy Hour

Thursday December 13, 5:30 to 7 pm

For Artinfusion members, have a few drinks and get into the spirit of swift creations at this month’s happy hour. Come for the wine (or beer) and snap a picture on our Instax Mini 8 cameras.

 

Crystal Bridges Annual Short Film Mobile Phone Challenge

Thursday, December 13, 7 to 8 pm

Calling all filmmakers, smartphone users and digital creatives! Submit your short film made on your mobile phone to be screened at the Museum in collaboration with the International Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Deadline to apply is Dec. 6.

 

Member Double Discount Days

Friday, December 14, through Monday, December 17, 10 am to 6 pm

Friday, December 14: 10 am to 9 pm

Saturday through Monday, December 15 through 17: 10 am to 6 pm

Crystal Bridges Members will receive double discounts (20% off) in the Museum Store. Join today!Discounts do not apply to Chihuly Studio Editions. Free, no registration required.

 

Art by the Glass » Hand Lettering Card Workshop

Friday, December 14, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Try your hand at creating beautiful, flowing letters in this fun workshop that pairs wine with an art project! Each guest will learn the basics of hand lettering, creating their own cards to take home and send to their loved ones. All materials, appetizers, and two glasses of wine are provided. Open to ages 21 and up. $55 ($44 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Spotlight Talk » Muriel Miguel: A Retrospective

Friday, December 14, 7 to 8 pm

New York City’s Muriel Miguel, founder and Artistic Director of New York City’s Spiderwoman Theater, shares her fascinating journey from the streets of Red Hook, Brooklyn to her pioneering contributions to the current feminist and Indigenous theater movements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

CB Babies

Saturday, December 15, 10 to 11:30 am

Oh, baby! Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 to 24 months and a caregiver. Spend time in the galleries looking at and talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime. $10 per baby, free tickets for 1-2 adults per baby ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.

 

Artinfusion Excursion » Preacher’s Son

Saturday, December 15, 6 to 8 pm

Learn how an old church was transformed into a tiered experience of social activity, cocktails, and great food. Hang out with these collectors and gain tips on starting your own contemporary art collection. Meet local artist George Dombeck whose stained glass artwork serves as a delicate divide between the intimate space of the Preacher’s Son and the elements.

 

Figure Drawing

Monday, December 17, 1 to 3 pm

Practice the basics during an afternoon of figure drawing at the museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter, warm-up poses and longer poses. $10 ($5 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

SOLD OUT WOW » High South Greatest Hits

Wednesday, December 19, 6 to 7:30 pm

Join host Case Dighero and Executive Director Rod Bigelow as they invite regional chefs and mixologists to discuss (and EAT) the virtues of High South cuisine. We’ll take a look back at Rod’s favorite moments of 2018. Open to guests ages 21 and above. $50 ($40/members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Gallery Conversation » Winter Solstice Moment with Robert Irwin’s Invisible Art  

Thursday, December 20, 1 pm

Join artist and educator Sara Segerlin to examine the representation of Robert Irwin’s Column during one of the shortest days of the year. We’ll observe the invisible qualities of the artwork through a variety of time-based tests from 3D glasses, sun prints, kaleidoscopes, photographs and meditation. Free, no registration required.

 

Winter Break Wonders!

December 22 through January 4, 1 to 4 pm, December 24, 11 am to 2 pm

Make memories at the museum over your school break as you create with artists, make buttons in the gallery, and listen to fun music together as a family. Join us for special activities each afternoon, including artmaking, creative play, puppets, dance, and more. Free, no registration required.

 

Figure Drawing from the Nude Model

Wednesday, December 26, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Join us in the studio for an evening of drawing from a live model, featuring both shorter warm-up poses and longer poses. All materials are provided. Participants must be 18 or older. $10 ($5 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

Noon Year’s Eve

Monday, December 31, 11 am to 3 pm

Ring in the New Year (without staying up past bedtime) at our fourth annual family celebration! We’ll have fun art projects, performances, a Coca-Cola toast at noon, and a family dance party. Sponsored by Coca-Cola and Mark and Diane Simmons. Free, no registration required.

 

NEW 365

Monday, December 31, 9 pm to 12:30 am

Join us this New Year’s Eve as the entire museum comes to life with music, dance, art, and performance! Got It Covered, a popular local cover band, will play popular songs throughout the evening. Explore the art galleries for even more performances. The packed evening will conclude with an exciting balloon drop at midnight. Complimentary champagne toast, appetizers, and a Crystal Bridges dream pillow provided. Cash bars, food, and beverages will be available in several locations throughout the museum. $75 ($60 for members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

 

For a complete list of current exhibitions, visit here. For news updates, follow Crystal Bridges on theBlog, Facebook, or Twitter.