Second Saturday: Pride in the Galleries

Head over to Crystal Bridges for Second Saturday, a fun-filled day dedicated to uplifting our cultural and artistic pillars!

Join us for an afternoon of artmaking and in-gallery fun as we celebrate Pride this month! Bring the whole family to enjoy a day strolling through our galleries before making a stop in our classrooms for a hands-on drop in artmaking project led by Armando Garcia, the founder of Queer Craft Corner NWA.

At 11:30 a.m., join us in the galleries for a focused talk by Mary Ann Vassallo on Kehinde Wiley’s Portrait of a Florentine Nobleman, examining how Wiley reimagines Old Master portraiture to address questions of power, identity, and representation today.

Afterwards, head over to our ArtCart between 1 and 3 pm and join our ArtCart Guide in taking a closer look at Keith Haring’s iconic Two-Headed Figure sculpture. Take a moment to join Armando Garcia at 1:00 pm for a gallery talk inspired by their connection to art within our permanent collection and calling upon your inner child. Armando will guide participants through mindful prompts and invite guests back to our classrooms to take part in drop in art making!

Free, no tickets required. Feel free to drop in throughout the day!

About the Artist

Armando Garcia

Hello everyone! My name is Armando Garcia, and I am absolutely thrilled to share a bit of my journey with you today. I am a proud Mexican American, born and raised in the vibrant community of Orange County. My professional background lies in marketing, but my true passion has always been in the world of art and crafts.

As the founder of Queer Craft Corner NWA, I have the incredible privilege of bringing art and crafts to the effervescent queer community in Northwest Arkansas. Our mission is rooted in creating a safe and inviting space that encourages creativity and meaningful connections through the power of art and crafts. It fills my heart with pride to call this beautiful natural state my home, where the creativity of our community flourishes.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to bring you a gallery talk. I can’t wait to create magic together and see how our collective passion for art can transform and uplift. Let’s inspire each other and continue to build a vibrant, supportive community!