Feb 5, 2021 At the Museum Love is in the air, and in the galleries at Crystal Bridges! From romantic walks through the galleries and the forest to discovering new art, spend Valentine’s Day weekend with the ones you love at Crystal Bridges. Use this blog to help you plan your weekend. Before you arrive: For your safety, timed ticket reservations are required to visit the museum. This allows us to maintain social distancing for all in the galleries. Don’t worry, admission is still free! 2021 General public tickets can be booked HERE. Let your love glow at North Forest Lights Photo by Ironside Photography / Stephen Ironside. Did you know North Forest Lights is still open? Now through April 4, treat the family or your Valentine to a magical evening walk through the woods with these immersive light and sound installations. You can also stop at the Village area for a snack or warm beverage to round out the experience. Get your tickets here. Explore craft artworks in Crafting America Nick Cave, Soundsuit, 2009, fabric with appliquéd crochet and buttons, knitted yarn, and metal armature, 97 x 26 x 20 in. (246.4 x 66 x 50.8 cm). Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2010.59 Crafting America is the museum’s newest temporary exhibition, now open! If you’re a fan of The Great Pottery Throwdown on HBO, this exhibition is definitely for you. Featuring over 120 craft artworks made from wood, metal, glass, ceramics, and more, this exhibition is full of dazzling surprises (like a custom guitar made for Prince!). Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here. Crystal Bridges members, SNAP participants, veterans, and youth 18 and under get in free. Pro Tip: If you book tickets to Crafting America, these tickets will also serve as timed entry admission to the museum. Take a romantic walk through the galleries Jeff Koons, Hanging Heart (Gold/Magenta) from the series Celebration, 1994-2006, high-chromium stainless steel with transparent color coating and yellow brass, 114 5/8 × 110 1/4 × 40 in. (291.1 × 280 × 101.6 cm). Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2013.31 There are many works throughout the museum’s collection that show, or tell stories of, love. Spend some time together with your Valentine, hold hands as you walk through the galleries, and tell each other what you think about the artworks you see, which ones are your favorite, and which ones remind you of each other and why. Tip: In Eleven, you can find Jeff Koons’s Hanging Heart. This is a great place for a photo op either before or after your romantic walk through the galleries! Grab lunch or beverage treat and enjoy the views Photo by Ironside Photography / Stephen Ironside. Eleven, the restaurant at Crystal Bridges, has something to offer anytime the museum is open. Grab a bite to eat during lunch, or treat yourself to a drink from the Coffee Bar and enjoy the views of natural Ozark forest. Like to plan ahead? Eleven is also offering picnic baskets that can be picked up at the restaurant and taken out on the trails to eat. When you reserve your timed ticket to visit the museum, you can add a picnic basket to your reservation. Grab your basket, bring a picnic blanket, and find a romantic spot on the trails to have an outdoor picnic lunch at the museum (perhaps next to Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture? How romantic!). Please note that picnic baskets need to be ordered 24 hours in advance. Do an art activity together at home Staying home this Valentine’s Day weekend? We completely understand. Fortunately, you can still interact with Crystal Bridges virtually! We have a wide selection of art activities you can do at home using household supplies. We also have a collection of coloring pages inspired by works in the collection, allowing you to create your own masterpiece. Grab your galentines, the whole family, or your favorite Valentine and enjoy Crystal Bridges art activities from home!
