Jan 21, 2014 February is a short, but busy, month at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, opening with three temporary exhibitions – At First Sight: Collecting the American Watercolor, Edward Hopper: Journey to Blackwell’s Island and Born of Fire: Ceramic Art in Regional Collections. At First Sight, opened on Jan. 18, offers a glimpse into the personal collection of museum founder, Alice Walton, whose love for watercolor launched her passion for collecting American art; Journey to Blackwell’s Island, opened Jan. 18, reviews the artistic process of artist Edward Hopper by showcasing his preliminary sketches for his large painting, Blackwell’s Island, recently acquired by the museum; and Born of Fire, opening Feb. 1 for a year-long exhibition, will nod to one of the oldest building materials: clay, with selections from the collections of three regional institutions. In celebration of the Arkansas artist Carroll Cloar’s centennial year and the upcoming special exhibition on Cloar at the Arkansas Arts Center, Crystal Bridges will host Celebrating the Life and Artwork of Arkansas Native, Carroll Cloar, a panel discussion on Feb. 5, featuring four outstanding Cloar scholars. The Museum will screen filmmaker Sedat Pakay’s Josef and Anni Albers: Art is Everwhere, on Feb. 7. The film includes rare footage of Josef and Anni Albers and features a number of unprecedented interviews with people significant in both of the Alberses’ lives. Love is in the air at the museum for our Valentine’s Day activities – including a Family Sunday, a Preschool Playdate and a family workshop that all feature a holiday theme, plus the return of the Black Hearts Ball on Feb. 15, an anti-Valentine’s party hosted by artinfusion, the young patrons’ affinity group within Crystal Bridges’ membership. As part of the museum’s “Unplugged” concert series, finish the short month with a free concert by Candy Lee and the Sweets on Feb. 28. Lee is the 2011 Northwest Arkansas Music Award winner for best female singer/songwriter and best female singer in a band. A full listing of February programs is below. Information and registration are also available on the calendar of events on Crystal Bridges’ website: http://calendar.crystalbridges.org/. Sign up for Crystal Bridges eNewsletters here: https://crystalbridges.org/ENews. February Public Programs Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 am to 6 pm Museum Store Event | Meet the Artist: Brian Watson, Balance by Brian jewelry designs Brian Watson’s jewelry designs work with the idea of balance, rather than symmetry. His signature earrings are mismatched: similar in concept, while wholly individual in design. He sculpts, twists, and manipulates sterling wire and adds semi-precious stones, crystals, glass from the Czech Republic, and beads to create each earring—which is unique, just like the wearer. Come to the Museum Store to meet the artist and browse his collection of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Free, no registration required. Saturday, February 1, 1-2 pm Art Talk | Looking Closely at Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife Look closely at the portrait Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife by John Singer Sargent with Museum Educator Amanda Driver. This interactive discussion will explore dualities found in the work, including the painting’s composition, the couple’s mood and dynamic, and the relationship between the sitters and the artist. Free, no registration required. Monday, February 3, 1 to 3 pm Figure Drawing Join us on the first and third Mondays 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 others 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 for non-members, free to Members. Register online or at Guest Services. Wednesday, February 5, 12, and 19, noon to 1:30 pm Lunch & Learn Intro to Art | America’s Most Innovative Artists In just three afternoon classes, enhance your understanding and appreciation of ten of the most innovative artists in the Crystal Bridges collection. Many of these artists were key leaders in sparking new styles in the art world. Join Interpretation Manager Aaron Jones as he provides an overview of the artists’ lives and their artwork on exhibit at Crystal Bridges and beyond. $30, ($25 for Members) / 3 sessions. Register online or at Guest Services. Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, and 12, 6 to 8:30 pm Adult Program | Studio Studies Series: Printmaking Discover the rewarding art of printmaking! Local artist Amber Perrodin will lead an exploration of the enjoyable process of creating linocuts. In the studio, learn about printmaking tools and techniques as you produce multi-colored prints. This is an introductory six-week series; no printmaking experience is necessary, but if you have tried printmaking in the past, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to learn more from Amber while refreshing your skills! All materials are provided. $200 ($160 for Members) / 6 classes. Register online or at Guest Services. Wednesday, February 5, 6:30 to 8 pm Panel Discussion | Celebrating the Life and Artwork of Arkansas Native, Carroll Cloar In celebration of the artist Carroll Cloar’s centennial year and the upcoming special exhibition on Cloar at the Arkansas Arts Center, join us for a panel discussion featuring outstanding Cloar scholars. Cloar’s paintings represent a unique style in the Crystal Bridges’ collection of Regionalist painters, expressing a Southern narrative and our region’s cultural heritage with a surrealist edge. The panelists include: Rick Gruber, former Director of Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans and leading scholar on Cloar; Patty Bladon, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections and Education at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, who developed a close relationship with the artist spanning over 20 years; and David Lusk of the David Lusk Gallery in Memphis , which holds a considerable collection of Cloar’s work. Moderating the panel is Stanton Thomas, Curator of European and Decorative Art at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and curator of the upcoming exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center. Admission is free, but tickets are required, as space is limited. Reserve tickets online or at Guest Services. Fridays, February 7, 14, and 21, 2 to 3:30 pm Homeschool Friday Fun | Contemporary Techniques This program is designed for families who want to provide their homeschool students with enriching and fun activities that incorporate inquiry, discovery, and studio art-making. We will use works in the Museum’s permanent collection to explore twentieth- and twenty-first-century techniques and styles such as Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, and abstract sculpture. $45 ($36 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services. Friday, February 7, 6:30 to 8 pm Film | Josef and Anni Albers: Art is Everywhere Sedat Pakay’s 2006 film is the first documentary to present in tandem the lives of these two artistic pioneers of twentieth-century Modernism. Produced in close association with The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Josef and Anni Albers: Art is Everywhere includes rare footage of Josef and Anni Albers and features a number of unprecedented interviews with people significant in both of the Alberses’ lives. Robert Rauschenberg, Sidney Janis, Denise Rene, John Szarkowski, John Cohen, and architect Philip Johnson, who was instrumental in arranging for the Alberses’ passage to the US in 1933 as refugees of Nazi Germany, are among the many personal friends and colleagues interviewed in the documentary who attest to the legacy and lasting importance of the Alberses’ work. Free with online reservations. Saturday, February 8, 10 am to 6 pm Museum Store | Peighton’s Place Soap-Making Demonstration Jane Wheeler of Peighton’s Place Handmade Soap will demonstrate the making of artisanal goats-milk soap. Using the cold process method, Wheeler employs a variety of techniques, including swirling, layering, and blending to create her soaps’ unique appearances. Every bar is a work of art and no two are the same. Free, no registration required. Sunday, February 9, noon to 5 pm Family Sunday | I ♥ Art Get in the Valentine’s Day spirit at a Family Sunday celebrating our love of art! Enjoy music, art projects, and fun in the galleries and have a lovely time with your family! Sponsored by Rockline Industries. All activities are free. Monday, February 10, 11 am to 12:30 pm Journaling Group | Rejuvenate with Art through Writing! Inspired by Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, join Museum Educator, Sara Segerlin, in absorbing artworks through creative writing. Each journaling session explores a selection of artworks, lessons from The Artist’s Way, and journaling techniques of poetry, prose, and short story to open up creative language. Participants learn to share and express their writing with final readings afterwards. Free with online registration. Wednesdays, February 12, 19, and 26, 1 to 2:15 pm Children’s Class | Preschool Art Class: Water For ages 3 to 5 with an adult. These classes are unique opportunities for our youngest guests to begin experimenting with art materials. Parents or caregivers participate with their preschoolers in gallery conversations and art-making activities each week. Each session includes three consecutive Wednesday classes. $30 ($24 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services. Thursday, February 13, 11:30 am to 2 pm Preschool Playdate | LOVE Monthly Preschool Playdates feature performances, art projects, creative play, and story time, based on themes from our collection. Activities are geared for children ages 2 to 5 with an adult and begin with a family-friendly performance in the Great Hall at 11:30 a.m. Free, no registration required. Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27, 4 to 5:30 pm Afterschool Art Class | Watercolors Children ages 5 to 12 will have fun discovering works of art in the Museum galleries and exploring the world around them through watercolor painting with our engaging art instructors! Concurrent classes are offered for two age groups: 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. Cost includes three consecutive Thursdays. $45 ($36 for Members) / 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services. Friday, February 14, 6:30 to 8 pm Family Workshop | Family Love Box Come together on a Friday night to create art with your family! Celebrate your family’s love of art and togetherness through collaging a family Love box. Personalize your box with your own small family treasures by bringing them to the workshop. $20 per family ($16 for Members). Register online or at Guest Services. Saturday, February 15, 22, and March 1, 1 to 2:30 pm Saturday Art Class | Discover the Artists of Crystal Bridges: Artists in the Country Children ages 5 to 12 will learn about the artists in Crystal Bridges’ collection while making art inspired by their work. We will discover a new artist each week by exploring the galleries and working with a variety of art supplies in the studio. Concurrent classes are offered for two age groups: 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. Cost includes three consecutive Saturdays. $45 ($36 for Members)/ 3 classes. Register online or at Guest Services. Saturday, February 15, 8 to 11 pm artinfusion Event | Back in Black: The Return of the Black Hearts Ball Just like that bad ex that you keep going back to, the Black Hearts Ball is back – in all its cruel contempt. Members of artinfusion, Crystal Bridges’ affinity group for Members ages 21 to 40, are invited to the second annual anti-Valentine’s bash. Nurse your smoldering, jaded bitterness among kindred spirits while DJ Robert Barron spins the tunes on the dance floor, or shut out the world at the silent disco. Make art, (not love) in the art studio, and placate your twisted, broken heart with sweets and savories for every taste, prepared by Eleven’s chefs. Finally, end your night at 21c Museum Hotel, with an after-party at The Hive and special room rates available to Members. Artinfusion is sponsored by Blue Moon Brewing Company. You must have a ticket for admission to the event. Reserve tickets online or by calling 479.418.5728. Sunday, February 16, 1 to 5 pm Adult Workshop | Wildlife on Wood Be inspired by Eureka Springs artist Robert R. Norman’s vibrant technique of painting nature’s creatures on natural wood surfaces. Robert will guide you in creating a colorful, stylized work of art based on the animal of your choice, using acrylic paints. Spend a fun Sunday afternoon painting with an energetic and approachable teaching artist! This workshop is great for both beginner and intermediate painters. To learn more about Robert, visit www.RobertRNorman.com. $55 ($44 for Members). Register online or at Guest Services. Monday, February 17, 10:30 am Member Monday Museum Members are invited to meet at the coffee bar at 10:30 am for a cup of coffee or other beverage and then gather in one of the Museum’s function rooms for an informal topic discussion with a Museum staff member beginning at 11 a.m. Free, no registration required. Monday, February 17, 1 to 3 pm Figure Drawing Join us on the first and third Mondays 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 others 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 for non-members, free to Members. Register online or at Guest Services. Wednesday, February 19, 6 to 7 pm WOW | Wednesday Over Water Join Crystal Bridges Culinary Director Case Dighero and Leo Mazow, Associate Professor of art history at the University of Arkansas, in a lively evening tasting session featuring drinks and hors d’oeuvres from Eleven, inspired by Edward Hopper’s Blackwell’s Island, a painting recently acquired by Crystal Bridges and now on view with several of Hopper’s preliminary studies for the work on loan from the Whitney Museum of American Art. Open to guests ages 21 and above. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology. $30 ($24 for Members). Purchase tickets online or at Guest Services. Thursday, February 20, 1 to 2 pm Art Talk | Born of Fire: Ceramic Arts Take a walking tour of the temporary exhibition, Born of Fire: Ceramic Arts, with Assistant Curator Manuela Well-Off-Man. The exhibition is located in the Great Hall Corridor and features ceranuc works from the permanent collections of The Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock; the Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO; and the Sequoyah National Research Center at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. Free, no registration required. Friday, February 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Adult Program | Art by the Glass: Watercolors Spend an evening inspired by the beautiful watercolor exhibition currently on view. Enjoy wine, cheese, and great conversation while dabbling in the wonderful world of watercolors. Learn a new technique, or try this fascinating media for the first time. The registration fee includes two glasses of wine. $45 ($36 for Members). Register online or at Guest Services. Sunday, February 23, 1 to 4 pm Drop-In Drawing Drop in anytime 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, February 28, 7 to 9 pm Unplugged Concert | Candy Lee and the Sweets Candy Lee is the 2011 Northwest Arkansas Music Award winner for best female singer/songwriter and best female singer in a band. She pulls you in with her sweet, catchy melodies and moving music, but it is her smart, creative lyrics that deserve a second listen. Her music has been described as delightfully conscious and “philosophically giddy.” Admission is free, but tickets are required, as space is limited. Reserve tickets online or at Guest Services.
