Social Connecting Campaign

Social Connecting Campaign

The Social Connecting Campaign is organized by Crystal Bridges and the Momentary to help those especially vulnerable to the negative effects of isolation, including patients in hospitals and senior living facilities.  Nine local artists are drawing and painting in response to the word “TOGETHER” to bring comfort and joy.

• 3,647 – total number of completed postcards delivered to community members
• 22 – number of sites around Northwest Arkansas visited by the traveling exhibition, made possible by our partnership with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Community Health and Research team and Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education.
• 9 – number of local artists who created original artworks for the campaign

The murals will be on view at the Momentary August 4-16, 2020 and at Crystal Bridges August 18-31, 2020
Learn about our other community engagement efforts.

A postcard campaign:

Line drawing versions of the artwork will be printed on postcards. The public is invited to color the drawings and write inspirational messages that will be delivered to people in hospitals and senior living facilities. See below for locations, dates, and times to pick up or drop off cards!

Questions? See the program FAQ below or email us at SocialConnecting@CrystalBridges.org.

Campaign FAQ

How can I get involved?

The artist-designed postcards are incomplete without your creativity and kindness. Color the line drawing and write a friendly message of hope. Give it back to Crystal Bridges and we’ll connect your card with someone in the hospitals and senior living facilities we’ve partnered with to bring art and creativity to the lives of those negatively affected by social distancing.

If you wish to plan a socially distant postcard writing party for your family, neighborhood, or community group, we’ll mail you a bundle of postcards if you write to SocialConnecting@CrystalBridges.org.

Where can I pick up and drop off postcards?

Pick them up at:

• Crystal Bridges: Building entrance May 20, 27, 2020 and June 3, 10, 17, 2020 from 12-2 pm
• Atlas the Restaurant (Fayetteville): Takeout Patio, every Wed-Sun until May 31, 2020 from 5-8 pm

Drop them off at:

• Drop Box at Crystal Bridges’ main entrance anytime until June 26, 2020.
• Atlas the Restaurant (Fayetteville): Takeout Patio, every Wed-Sun until May 31, 2020 from 5-8 pm
• Can’t drop them off? Mail them to:
  Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
  600 Museum Way
  Bentonville, AR 72712
  Attn: Social Connection Campaign

What happens to the postcards?

They will be distributed to hospitals and senior living facilities, along with artmaking kits.

Who are the artists involved?

Nine artists from the Northwest Arkansas region are creating line drawings for the postcards and large-scale paintings. Representing a variety of artistic styles, we’ve identified muralists, painters, printmakers, graphic designers, and illustrators. Artists include Kenny Arredondo, Stacy Bates, Kinya Christian, Tram Colwin, Leana Fischer, Octavio Logo, Matt Miller, Hannah L. Newsome, and Alan Rodriguez.

How will people see the artwork?

We are printing the artist-designed postcards and will distribute them to museum staff, volunteers, and members, and throughout our community in the coming weeks. The large-scale paintings will be displayed outside hospitals and senior living facilities in May and June. We will also organize a public viewing on the grounds of Crystal Bridges at a later date.

A temporary art exhibition:

The artists will also paint large-scale colorful versions of their postcard drawings which will be displayed outside hospitals and senior living facilities for staff, facility residents, and patients to view. Art kits will be distributed to encourage creativity while in isolation. The exhibition rotates through June at the following participating sites:

• Arkansas Children’s Northwest
• Fayetteville VA Medical Center
• Garden at Osage Terrace
• Hillcrest Towers Senior Center
• Mercy Hospital
• Morningside of Springdale
• Northwest Medical Center, Bentonville
• Northwest Medical Center, Springdale
• Providence Assisted Living
• UAMS Northwest Regional Campus
• Washington Regional Hospital
• Willow Creek Women’s Hospital

The general public will have an opportunity to view the artworks at Crystal Bridges Museum and the Momentary after the tour is complete.  Please stay tuned for details.

Meet the artists

At a time of self isolation brought on by a Pandemic Virus. Having to take this opportunity to step back, take a deep breath and enjoy the creative process the Momentary & Crystal Bridges have brought to us is phenomenal!

— Kim Goins, Administrator, Gardens at Osage Terrace