America 250: Common Threads | Opening Celebration

250 years of American art. One interwoven celebration. 

Our latest exhibition, America 250: Common Threads, is here! Join us for a day of live music, one-act plays, and hands-on artmaking as we commemorate two and a half centuries of American history through art. 

Come step into the American story today. 

Free, no tickets required. Drop by anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Drew Cameron will be on Walker Landing creating paper from military uniforms in a public hands-on artmaking demonstration. His work in the exhibition, Burial Flag, transforms symbols of service into powerful reflections on commemoration and transformation.
• Sheryl Oring, our artist in residence, will offer in-gallery performances as part of her work, Spirit of Independence, in the America 250: Common Threads gallery. Visitors are invited to share their thoughts on independence, which Oring transcribes live, creating a crowd-sourced portrait of civic voice and participation.
• TheatreSquared artists in residence Iraisa Ann Reilly, a.k. payne, and Sarah Dianne Loucks will share their newly commissioned one-act plays as part of America 250: Common Threads in the gallery at 11:30 am, 12 pm, 12:30 pm.
• In the studios, Queer Craft Corner welcomes guests to design their own flag with a message for America and create wearable buttons to mark this moment in our nation’s history. You can also craft a special Tin Folk Treasure by shaping and embossing your own decorative metal ornament using simple tin‑tooling techniques.
• Explore American history through the common thread of music! On Walker Landing, listen to tunes from across eras, and watch cultural dance performances by community partners. Head into our permanent collection galleries to listen to the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble interpret American artworks through music.
• Finally, from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm, join us for an afternoon talk with curators and quilters in residence. Assistant Curator of American Art Larissa Randall and Windgate Curatorial Fellow Ella Nowicki will host a live conversation with quilters in residence, offering insight into the exhibition, the quilting tradition, and the stories stitched into the work on view.

Throughout the conversation, guests are invited to create their own quilt square—contributing to a collaborative community quilt that will be displayed in the exhibition. Refreshments will be provided.

Main Lobby
Welcome Table
Community Partners:
NWA Marine Detachment
Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas
Washington & Benton County League of Women Voters
Salvadoreños Unidos Para Arkansas
Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation
Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas
NWA Black Heritage & ART Ventures NWA

Great Hall
3:30 – 4:30 PM | Community Quilting & Exhibition Talk with Curators and Quilters in Residence

Permanent Collection Galleries
University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble | Performance times vary

America 250 Exhibition Gallery
Sheryl Oring’s Spirit of Independence | 11 AM – 2 PM
NWA Quilters Guild Quilters in Residence
TheatreSquared Plays | 11:30 AM, 12 PM, 12:30 PM
Drop-in Tour | 1:00 PM
Gallery Talk with Drew Cameron | 2:30 – 3:15 PM

Walker Landing (Weather Plan: Lobby)
Papermaking Demo with Drew Cameron | 11 AM – 12 PM & 1 – 2 PM (Weather Plan: Studio D/E)
Historic Games with Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
DJ Girlfriend | 11 AM – 12 PM & 1 – 2 PM
Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation Dance Performance | 12 – 12:15 PM
Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas Dance Performance | 12:30 – 12:45 PM
Cachiporristas Dance Performance | 2 – 2:15 PM

Lower Lobby
Artmaking: Common Threads Community Quilt
Design a quilt square to take home or leave it behind to become part of our growing community quilt
Quilt Patterns with Rogers Historical Museum

Seminar Room
Sensory Friendly Space

Studio B/C
Artmaking with Queer Craft Corner: Design Commemorative Flags & Buttons
Create a personal flag design with a message for America and make wearable buttons to mark this moment in our nation’s history.

Studio D/E
Artmaking: Tin Folk Treasures
Create a commemorative keepsake by shaping and embossing a decorative metal ornament using simple tin‑tooling techniques.

America 250: Common Threads is organized in partnership with the American Folk Art Museum. This exhibition is part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, presented by Craft in America.