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Guests viewing artwork in a salon hang.
Keeping the Art Comfortable: Climate Control at Crystal Bridges
Snowy path leads to modern dome building, surrounded by bare trees and snow-covered shrubs.

Keeping the Art Comfortable: Climate Control at Crystal Bridges

Art & Collection Nature & Outdoor
This is the brains of the HVAC system. All of the data that is collected by sensors is sent here, compiled by a processor within the unit, and is then…
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How It All Began: Alice Walton’s Watercolors
Abstract painting with swirls of blue, red, black blending into a textured, cloud-like pattern.

How It All Began: Alice Walton’s Watercolors

Art & Collection Exhibitions

While exploring Crystal Bridges, guests encounter a wide variety of artworks ranging in scale, style, and media, the creation thereof spanning roughly five centuries. From James Wooldridges’s seventeenth-century depiction…

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Moving Art: A Balancing Act
Gallery with quilted blanket on rolling platform, framed art leaning, paintings on walls.

Moving Art: A Balancing Act

Art & Collection

The Artists’ Eye: Georgia O’Keeffe and the Alfred Stieglitz Collection recently closed on February 3, and we are now quickly preparing our Temporary Exhibition Gallery for the arrival of The…

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Travels with State of the Art: Cobi Moules in the Great American Landscape
People in yellow shirts exploring rocky terrain with a stream and red rock formations.

Travels with State of the Art: Cobi Moules in the Great American Landscape

Art & Collection Exhibitions

Nature has had many different symbolic meanings over time.  From the embodiment of threatening, unfettered savagery to the pure manifestation of the glory of God, landscape has played many roles…

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Ease Disease, there’s a Fungus among us!!
Interior of a hollow tree showing a textured, natural wooden tunnel with light at the end.

Ease Disease, there’s a Fungus among us!!

Nature & Outdoor
One way that nature decomposes an old fallen tree or dead wood is through decay caused by fungus. Fungus not only breaks down logs lying in the woods back into…
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Observing the Hidden Gems of Winter
Owl perched on a tree branch with green budding leaves.

Observing the Hidden Gems of Winter

Nature & Outdoor

Winter is a time for observations in nature. The architecture of an Ozark hardwood forest, the silence of the woods after freshly fallen snow, and the intricacies of persimmon bark…

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What is Blackwell’s Island?
Aerial view of New York City skyline in 1991 with East River and prominent bridge.

What is Blackwell’s Island?

Art & Collection

What is Blackwell’s Island? An oil painting by Edward Hopper? Yes, but where and what is the actual Blackwell’s Island? Why did Hopper choose to paint it? These are questions…

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Garden Warfare: The Praying Mantid Approach
Praying mantis perched on a green leaf with blurred foliage in the background.

Garden Warfare: The Praying Mantid Approach

Nature & Outdoor
As we begin the lengthy process of cutting back our perennials and grasses, I am always on the lookout for some free biological control.  Praying mantid egg-casings, known as oothecae,…
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Crystal Bridges Acquires Frank Lloyd Wright House
Modernist home with flat roof, glass, wood, surrounded by greenery, emphasizing horizontal lines.

Crystal Bridges Acquires Frank Lloyd Wright House

Architecture Art & Collection Nature & Outdoor

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has acquired a rare Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house, known as the Bachman-Wilson House, located in the Borough of Millstone in Somerset County, N.J.…

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Duane Hanson’s “Man on a Bench” Perplexes the Masses
Children in museum engage with elderly figure exhibit, supervised by two adults.

Duane Hanson’s “Man on a Bench” Perplexes the Masses

Art & Collection
While seated in a gallery reflection area during her break, Museum Security Patrol Officer Janet overheard a somewhat panicked voice. “Sir,” the voice inquired. “Sir, are you okay?” Janet turned…
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Robert Henri’s Clean Slate
Man with a mustache in vintage dark suit and tie, dim background, historical old photograph.

Robert Henri’s Clean Slate

Art & Collection
Robert Henri, born Robert Henry Cozad, had a fairly ordinary childhood. His father, John Jackson Cozad, was a professional gambler turned real estate promoter; his mother, Theresa Gatewood Cozad, was…
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"Time" and the New Year
Aged hands holding a round clock, light sweater, wooden desk, stacked papers in the background.

"Time" and the New Year

Art & Collection
Perhaps it’s a cliché to illustrate the dawning of a new year with a painting titled “Time.” But Max Ferguson’s gorgeously detailed work is so evocative, I just couldn’t resist.…
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What’s in a Name? A Look at our Native Orchid Species
Broad-leaved green plant with white veins among dry pine needles.

What’s in a Name? A Look at our Native Orchid Species

Nature & Outdoor
Our living collection at Crystal Bridges is a diverse one.  It includes 91 species and cultivars of native trees, 54 species and cultivars of native shrubs, and 187 species and…
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“I Don’t Get It”— Getting comfortable with some of Crystal Bridges’ challenging artworks: Lynda Benglis's "Eat Meat"
Person observes abstract metallic sculpture in art gallery with minimalistic design.

“I Don’t Get It”— Getting comfortable with some of Crystal Bridges’ challenging artworks: Lynda Benglis's "Eat Meat"

Art & Collection

Of all the works in Crystal Bridges collection that cause guests to scratch their heads in bewilderment, Lynda Benglis’s Eat Meat has to be at the top of the list. …

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'Tis the Season: Winter Break Art Project
Assorted buttons in blue, white, and gray with occasional blue gemstones.

'Tis the Season: Winter Break Art Project

Activities & Education At the Museum

Night Zag Wall showcases the awe of combining found objects with an artistic hand. The layering of organic and geometric shapes turn this wall sculpture into a conversational piece. Home…

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The Lady Gets a Makeover
Marble sculpture of a woman's profile with detailed features and a headband, wearing a necklace.

The Lady Gets a Makeover

Art & Collection Nature & Outdoor
To me, one of the most fascinating careers in the art world is conservation: a profession devoted to the preservation of our tangible cultural heritage. Conservators have the very important…
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Celebrating Holiday Illustrations
Illuminated manuscript page with decorative borders and

Celebrating Holiday Illustrations

Library

I am often surprised to run across lovely illustrations of the holiday season in books and other Crystal Bridges’ library materials.  On the other hand, it really isn’t that unusual…

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What I Learned From Crystal Bridges Gallery Guides
Group of people, including children, gathered indoors, interacting with an older man near artwork.

What I Learned From Crystal Bridges Gallery Guides

At the Museum Volunteer Spotlight

Assessment can be an unpleasant word.  A simple online search reveals synonyms such as evaluation, judgment, rating, and analysis.  Sounds painful…  Perhaps hearing the word brings back nightmares of pop…

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Restoring an Original
Individual crafting with gold leaf in a workshop surrounded by tools and furniture components.

Restoring an Original

Art & Collection Nature & Outdoor
Thomas Eakins’s Professor Benjamin Howard Rand is a centerpiece of Crystal Bridges' Late Nineteenth Century Art Gallery.  Its large, beautiful, and ornate frame is often noticed and remarked upon by…
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Frame-Up
Framed painting of figures in white with pointed hats and glowing orbs at night outdoors.

Frame-Up

Art & Collection
The frames on many of the works of art in Crystal Bridges' collection are of as much interest to visitors as the artworks themselves. Gallery Guides are frequently asked where…
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