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Spring Has Sprung at Crystal Bridges with Outdoor Programs, Celebrations, and Distinguished Speakers in April

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.

April is thawing out the galleries and grounds with a series of programs and events, including Slow Art Day, Art Night Out, El Día de Los Niños, Distinguished Speaker Vanessa German, and the museum’s current temporary exhibition, Men of Steel, Women of Wonder.

There’s only a few weeks left to visit Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, featuring art-world responses to Superman and Wonder Woman by over 50 artists. Tickets to the exhibition are $12 and can be purchased here. The exhibition is also accompanied by a full roster of April programs. The exhibition will close on Monday, April 22.

Tempera is a free, focus exhibition opening April 6 that explores the process, materials, and unique qualities that artists use to create art with this painting style. This exhibition will feature tempera paintings in the Crystal Bridges collection and on loan from artists such as Andy Warhol, Paul Cadmus, Andrew Wyeth, Mary Obering, Jane Irish, and more, including a Renaissance-era painting on loan from the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK.

Slow Art Day, a worldwide museum event dedicated to slowing down, meditating, and appreciating art, will take place on Saturday, April 6. Crystal Bridges will be participating with gallery and grounds activities such as guided meditations in front of artworks, music performances, and yoga. The event is free and open to all ages.

El Día de Los Niños, an event inspired by a Mexican holiday for children, Día del Niño, celebrates the cultures and talents of young people in the NWA community with an afternoon of music, dance, and art projects. The free event will take place on Sunday, April 14 from 12 to 5 p.m.

For the first time ever, Crystal Bridges’ museum-wide party Art Night Out will be free for everyone on Friday, April 19 from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero, as we will be taking a group photo at the beginning of the night. The evening will feature live musical performances from Count Tutu, Big Piph, Fossils of Ancient Robots, and Capyac. There will also be food trucks, drinks, music, a comedy show, an adventure course for kids, and much more.

State of the Art artist Vanessa German will be at Crystal Bridges on April 24 at 7 p.m. as part of the museum’s 2019 Distinguished Speaker Series. German is the winner of the 2018 Don Tyson Prize and is an acclaimed visual and performance artist based in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood. Tickets are available here.

Crystal Bridges’ 2014-15 exhibition State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now is now the subject of a one-hour documentary premiering nationally on PBS on April 26. Visitors are invited to join us in the Great Hall for the debut on Friday, April 26 from 7 to 9 p.m., with a pre-film panel discussion of curators and artists from the exhibition. Drinks and a cash bar will be available. Reserve your spot to this free event here.

Crystal Bridges is celebrating Earth Day with free, family-friendly programs throughout the month, such as Preschool Playdate: Happy Birthday Earth! and Forest Fun: Happy Earth Week!

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

Bentonville Community Center Class » Nature Painting | Asher Durand
Monday, April 1, 3 to 4 pm; 4:30 to 5:30 pm; 6 to 7 pm

Get inspired by Asher Durand’s forest scene, then make your own paintbrushes using natural materials. Ages 10 and under welcome, ages 4 and under require a caregiver.

Artinfusion Happening » NWA Fashion Week Creatives
Wednesday, April 3, 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Crystal Bridges is set to host the first event of the NWA Fashion Week Spring 2019 events with a community event that will be free and open to the public. Come learn how NWA Fashion Week is made from the makers themselves and network with the creative talent set to be showcased during the week’s events. Free, no registration required.

Afterschool Art Class » Painting Party!
Thursday, April 4, 11, 18, 4 to 5:30 pm

Get inspired by paintings in our permanent collection and focus exhibition Tempera, then experiment with different painting styles plus make your own paint! $45/3 sessions ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Gallery Conversation » What’s New? David Levinthal: Barbie and Baseball
Thursday, April 4, 1 to 2 pm

Hear from curatorial assistant Jayson Overby as he shares more about Levinthal’s technique and just how this particular exhibition came to be.

Member Scoop » Exhibitions and Interpretations
Thursday, April 4, 6 to 8 pm

Join members of our Exhibitions and Interpretations team as they lead a tour, sharing their expert knowledge about the planning and coordination of art installations. Free, members only, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.

Homeschool Friday Fun » Beautiful Brushstrokes (Ages 5 to 12)
Friday, April 5, 12, 19, 2 to 3:30 pm

Discover paintings in our permanent collection and focus exhibition, Tempera. Learn various painting techniques and make your own paint! $45/3 sessions ($36/ members), register online or with Guest Services.

ArtShare » Friday Night Fun
Friday, April 5, 6 to 8 pm

ArtShare: Friday Night Fun is a fun event for youth with autism and their families where families explore the galleries, participate in hands-on activities, and create art together. The event is free, and pre-registration is encouraged. Free, register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Saturday Session » Living Newspapers
Saturday, April 6, 9 am to 1 pm

In this workshop for educators, led in conjunction with local spoken word artists, we will explore the historical use of performance as a civic engagement tool, as well as techniques for developing spoken word pieces with your students. 4 hours of PD credit available. $10 ($8 members)/ Register online or by calling Guest Services.

Slow Art Day
Saturday, April 6, 10 am to 6 pm

This annual event, dedicated to slowing down, reflecting, and finding the joy in art, will feature special in-gallery activities designed to keep you focused on the art for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer! Free, no registration required.

Adult Workshop » Mosaic Workshop with Steven Paul Judd
Sunday, April 7, 1 to 5 pm

Led by Men of Steel, Women of Wonder artist Steven Paul Judd, join us in the studios for a collaborative class creating a large, original mosaic image. $55 ($44 for members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335

Meditation and Mindfulness » Already Set in Motion by Robyn Horn
Monday, April 8, 1 to 2 pm

This session will begin with a guided meditation with Anna Peterson, and held in front of the outdoor sculptureAlready Set in Motion by Robyn Horn. Free, no registration required.

Bentonville Community Center Class » Watercolor Basics | Winslow Homer
Monday, April 8, 3 to 4 pm; 4:30 to 5:30 pm; 6 to 7 pm

Paint your favorite scene from nature using traditional watercolor techniques. Ages 10 and under welcome, ages 4 and under require a caregiver.

Preschool Playdate » Happy Birthday Earth!
Thursday, April 11, 11:30 am to 2 pm

Celebrate Earth Day early here at the museum with your preschooler! Make seed bombs, walk barefoot, look at clouds, and enjoy spring. Free, no registration required.

Teen Night
Friday, April 12, 7 to 10 pm

Enjoy live music, a DJ and dancing, gallery activities, and more, all inspired by the temporary exhibition Men of Steel, Women of Wonder. Don’t forget to dress up as your favorite superhero or villain! Open to all 9th – 12th grade area students. Free, no registration required.

Discover the Grounds » Spring Blooming Trees
Saturday, April 13, 10 to 11:30 am

Led by Todd Lasseigne, Executive Director of Tulsa Botanic Garden, participants will learn various species of spring blooming trees and how to use them in a home garden. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Gallery Conversation » Letters to Calder
Saturday, April 13, 1 to 2 pm

Join Catherine Wallack, architectural records archivist at the University of Arkansas, as she shares letters between Alexander Calder and Edward Durell Stone right from the U of A archives. Free, no registration required.

Studio Squad » Tempera Tantrum
Saturday, April 13, 4 to 5:30 pm

Take a closer look at paint with the help of artworks featuring tempera. In the studio, make your own paint using color pigments and a binder before painting a masterpiece of your own to take home. Free, register online or with Guest Services

El Día de los Niños
Sunday, April 14, 12 to 5 pm

Inspired by a Mexican holiday for children, Día del Niño, discover an event that celebrates the cultures and talents of young people in the NWA community with an afternoon of music, dance, and art projects. Fun for all ages! Free, no registration required.

Bentonville Community Center Class » Make Your Own Tempera Paint | Mary Obering
Monday, April 15, 3 to 4 pm; 4:30 to 5:30 pm; 6 to 7 pm

Mix powdered pigment and an eggy binder to create your own tempera paint. Ages 10 and under welcome, ages 4 and under require a caregiver.

Homeschool Tour and Art » Comic Art
Wednesday, April 17, 1 to 3 pm

Join us as we explore the world of comic art. Learn techniques for creating your own superhero and four-panel comic strip. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services.

Artinfusion Insight » The Glow by Big Piph
Wednesday, April 17, 8 to 10 pm, The Apollo in Springdale

Epiphany Morrow (Big Piph) is a Stanford-educated, international emcee and community builder. He presents his one-man show The Glow at the Apollo in Springdale. Free to the public, register online or with Guest Services.

Gallery Conversation » Crystal Bridges’ Modern Architecture w/ Lydia Brandt
Thursday, April 18, 1 to 2 pm

Join Tyson Scholar and architectural historian Lydia Mattice Brandt for a walking discussion of modern architecture on the Crystal Bridges campus. Free, no registration required.

The Great Reveal
Thursday, April 18, 6 to 7 pm

Special selections from the vault in the library. Free, no registration required.

Art Night Out
Friday, April 19, 6 to 11:30 pm

For the first time ever, our museum-wide party, Art Night Out, is free for everyone! Come dressed in your favorite superhero outfit in honor of the museum’s temporary exhibition Men of Steel, Women of Wonder. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

Gallery Conversation » Representation in Comics: Why Comics Are for Everyone
Saturday, April 20, 1 to 2 pm

Join Matt Wood, 10th-grade Pre-AP English teacher by day and comic book expert by night, as he shares how graphic literature, comic books, have represented all types of people for decades. While this talk is free, a ticket to Men of Steel, Women of Wonder is required.

Bentonville Community Center Class » Glow Painting | Dale Chihuly
Monday, April 22, 3 to 4 pm; 4:30 to 5:30 pm; 6 to 7 pm

Check out Dale Chihuly’s artwork before you sling neon paint under the black light! Ages 10 and under welcome, ages 4 and under require a caregiver.

Wednesday Series » Difficult Conversations
Wednesday, April 24, 6 to 8 pm

Using works from our permanent collection, we will share strategies for discussing challenging subjects, while considering multiple viewpoints and addressing our own inherent biases. 2 hours of PD credit available. $10 ($8 members)/ Register online or by calling Guest Services

Member Mingle » Vanessa German
Wednesday, April 24, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Members are invited to enjoy beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and prime seating in the Great Hall prior to German’s Distinguished Speaker Series event at 7 p.m. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.

Distinguished Speaker Series » Vanessa German
Wednesday, April 24, 7 to 8 pm

Vanessa German is an acclaimed visual and performance artist based in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood, the community that is the driving force behind German’s powerful performance work, and whose cast-off relics form the language of her copiously embellished sculptures. She was featured in Crystal Bridges’ State of the Art exhibition (2014-15). $15 ($12 for members, $5 for students), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335.

Forest Fun » Happy Earth Week!
Thursday, April 25, 6:30 to 8 pm
Take a walk barefoot in the grass, squish up dirt and seeds into a “seed-bomb,” write a love note to your home planet, and more. Free, no registration required.

Art by the Glass » Polaroid Prints
Friday, April 26, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Inspired by the exhibition David Levinthal: Barbie and Baseball, take a close look at his compositions, then return to the studios to create your own miniature scenes to photograph with Instax Mini cameras. All materials, plus a glass of wine or beer and light appetizers are provided. Take your polaroids home with you after the event! $30 ($26/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Watch Party » State of the Art Documentary on PBS
Friday, April 26, 7 to 9 pm

Crystal Bridges’ 2014-15 exhibition State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now is now the subject of a one-hour documentary premiering nationally on PBS this evening at 8 p.m. Join us in the Great Hall for the national debut, with a pre-film panel discussion of curators and artists from the exhibition. Drinks and a cash bar will be available. Free, register online or with Guest Services.

CB Babies
Saturday, April 27, 10 to 11:30 am

Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 to 24 months with a caregiver. You’ll 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.

SOLD OUTFamily Nature Workshop » Pollinators
Saturday, April 27, 10 to 11:30 am

Learn what colors will attract them to your gardens and make a garden wand plus a tiny home perfect for pollinators! Free, register online or with Guest Services.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
Saturday, April 27, 10 am to 12 pm

Beginning at 10 a.m., demonstrations will include Tai Chi Yang form, Chen Form, 24 Simplified form, Tai Chi Sword, and more, performed by local practitioners. Guests are invited to come and watch these ancient art forms, or join in during one of the guided demonstrations. All levels are welcome. Free, no registration required.

High South Moments » F.I.R.E.
Sunday, April 28, 6 to 7:30 pm

At F.I.R.E., Food Inspires Real Emotion. Gather in our North Forest with local chefs as they cook around an open fire, igniting all senses among nature and friends. $60 ($48/members), register online or with Guest Services.

Bentonville Community Center Class » Dots, Dots Everywhere! | Yayoi Kusama
Monday, April 29, 3 to 4 pm; 4:30 to 5:30 pm; 6 to 7 pm

Discover an artist obsessed with polka-dot patterns, then cover your canvas with dots on dots. Ages 10 and under welcome, ages 4 and under require a caregiver.

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