In the month of June, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will host a variety of summer camps, an all-new artinfusion event, and acclaimed food author Ruth Reichl.
Crystal Bridges’ summer camp programs for ages 4 to 14 give children the opportunity to learn about the museum collection, enjoy artmaking and gallery activities, and make new friends. Campers experience art in the galleries for inspiration and explore a variety of styles and media, including painting, drawing, sculpting, collage, movie-making, and more.
On June 3, visitors are invited to celebrate summer on the lawn of the Frank Lloyd Wright House with artinfusion’s Summer Fling. Featured performers include Eliot Lipp, The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, and Orenda Cirque. This will be the first artinfusion event held at the Frank Lloyd Wright House since its opening in November 2015. The night will end with a light show illuminating Wright’s iconic architecture.
Bestselling author and judge on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters Ruth Reichl will present as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series at the museum on June 10. A well-known culinary voice, Reichl was recognized by the Seattle Times as “one of the nation’s most influential figures in the food world.” Reichl was the Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet Magazine for 10 years until its closing. Prior to this role, she was the restaurant critic of the New York Times and the restaurant critic and Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times.
A full listing of June programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events.
Friday, June 3, through Saturday, June 5
Museum Store Sidewalk Sale
Come out for Crystal Bridges’ second annual Museum Store sidewalk sale! Browse fantastic items including home décor, jewelry, books, and more starting at 50% off. The sale will be held in the courtyard outside the Museum Store. Discounts do not apply to sale items. All sales are final. Free, no registration required.
Friday, June 3, 9 pm to midnight
Artinfusion Summer Fling
The warm breeze of summer, cool grass beneath your feet, and music filling the air—you’re invited to our new artinfusion party: Summer Fling! Celebrate the coming adventures of summer on the lawn of the Frank Lloyd Wright House by grooving with Eliot Lipp, The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, and Orenda Cirque. This will be the first artinfusion event held at the house since its opening. Join us to mark the occasion as we illuminate Wright’s iconic architecture with a mesmerizing light show. This event is FREE for artinfusion Members. Sponsored by Saatchi & Saatchi X, RopeSwing, Wright Lindsey Jennings, and Blue Moon Brewing Company. $35 (Free for artinfusion Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 11 am to 5 pm
Adult Workshop » Urban Plein-Air Painting
Canadian artist Terry Shoffner will lead a two-day workshop on urban plein-air painting in watercolor, highlighting the architecture of Crystal Bridges and Bentonville. This weekend course will cover the fundamentals of watercolor painting, architectural gesture drawing, and painting en plein air on the beautiful trails and grounds of the Museum, as well as Bentonville’s downtown square. Participants are required to bring their own lunch and dress appropriately for the outdoors. Easels and art materials are provided. A practicing artist for over 40 years, Shoffner has taught at Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto since 1980. His work has appeared in magazines, books, advertising, and design throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, and he has created more than 260 portraits for The Wall Street Journal. $160 ($130 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Sunday, June 5, 1 to 3 pm
Performance Lab » Opera in the Ozarks
Crystal Bridges’ Performance Lab presents a unique experience through our galleries with Opera in the Ozarks. Singers from Opera in the Ozarks perform samplings from the current season, juxtaposed with paintings, sculptures, and architecture. The event begins in the Colonial to Early Nineteenth-Century Gallery and ends in the 1940s to Now Gallery, with performances every 15 minutes from 1 to 3 pm. Sponsored by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and Demara Titzer. Free, no registration required.
Sunday, June 5, 4 to 4:30 pm
Member Meet & Greet » Max Ferguson
Members are invited to a Meet & Greet with artist Max Ferguson prior to his Spotlight Talk. Ferguson’s Time is part of the Museum’s permanent collection and you may remember it as the cover from a past edition of C Magazine. Separate registration is required for the Spotlight Talk. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.
Sunday, June 5, 5 to 6 pm
Spotlight Talk » Max Ferguson, artist
Meet artist Max Ferguson in a discussion with Curator Chad Alligood. An American artist, Ferguson is best known for his realistic paintings of vanishing urban scenes in and around New York City, and his work has been widely exhibited since the 1980s. Ferguson’s Time is on view in the Museum’s 1940s to Now Gallery, and the artist is included in many private and public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York. Free, call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Monday, June 6 and 20, 1 to 3 pm
Figure Drawing
Join us on the first and third Mondays of each month to draw from a clothed model. Whether you’ve always had a love for figure drawing or are trying it for the first time, you’ll enjoy an afternoon drawing with other adults at the Museum. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter warm-up poses and longer poses. All materials are provided. $10 ($5 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Wednesday, June 8 and 22, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Figure Drawing from the Nude Model
Join us on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month for this adult figure drawing class with a nude model. A variety of drawing materials will be provided, and model poses will include both shorter warm-up poses and longer poses. Participants must be 18 or older. (Note: Figure Drawing sessions with a clothed model are offered on the first and third Mondays of each month, and are open to participants ages 14 and up.) $10 ($5 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Wednesday, June 8, 7 to 8 pm
Summer Family Fun » Afrique Aya
Join the drummers and dancers of Afrique Aya as they share the music and culture of West Africa for Summer Family Fun on Walker Landing! Afrique Aya performers bring a fun, high-energy, and participatory show that all ages will love. Free, no registration required.
Thursday, June 9, 5 to 9 pm
Artinfusion @ Culture Hour » Jazz Series
Get together with artinfusion Members and friends each month to mingle during Culture Hour in Eleven! Artinfusion’s Summer Culture Hour features a jazz concert and discussion at 7 p.m., presented by the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society. Join us on Walker Landing with your artinfusion Culture Hour drinks for a concert by The Garrett Jones Trio. Special thanks to Downtown Bentonville Inc. for featuring this band from their Notes at Night: June Jazz Series. Sponsored by Saatchi & Saatchi X, RopeSwing, Wright Lindsey Jennings, and Blue Moon Brewing Company. Free, no registration required.
Thursday, June 9, 6 to 7:30 pm
Summer English Language Learner Program
Join us for a summer series of evening gallery discussions on June 9, June 23, July 7, and July 21. Museum Educators facilitate gallery experiences encouraging adult English language learners to practice reading, listening, writing, and speaking English while learning about American history, culture, and art. Free, registration required. Space is limited. To sign up or for more information, email Emily.Rodriguez@CrystalBridges.org or call 479.657.2335 for more information.
Friday, June 10, 7 to 8 pm
Distinguished Speaker Series » Ruth Reichl, food author and critic
Bestselling author, food critic, and judge on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, Ruth Reichl is a well-recognized and beloved culinary voice. The Seattle Times has called her “one of the nation’s most influential figures in the food world.” Most recognized as a writer and editor, Reichl was the Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet Magazine for 10 years until its closing. Prior to this role, she was the restaurant critic of the New York Times as well as restaurant critic and Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times. A book signing will follow the lecture. Sponsored by Del Monte Foods, Inc. American Sign Language interpretation is provided for all distinguished speaker programs. For preferred seating, please contact us at access@crystalbridges.org or 479.418.5724 (voice). Relay or voice calls welcome. American Sign Language interpretation is sponsored by Loreen Arbus. $10 ($8 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Saturday, June 11, 1 to 2 pm
Gallery Conversation » Florida Mexicana
Join stimulating conversations on artworks in our permanent collection and special exhibitions facilitated by Spanish speakers from the Museum and community, including curators, artists, writers, professors, and more! In this bilingual conversation, you’ll meet Cisneros Fellow Zessna Garcia-Rios to enjoy a discussion of art and culture, as well as a poetry performance around Alfredo Ramos Martinez’s Florida Mexicana. Free, no registration required.
Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17, 9 am to noon
Summer Camp (Ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 12) » Paint the Town
Get your brushes ready for this camp that’s all about painting. Experiment with various painting techniques and color schemes to create an artwork that’s sure to be the hit of your home! $150 ($120 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17, 1:30 to 4:30 pm
Summer Camp (Ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 12) » Paint, Draw, Sculpt
Explore landscapes, portraits, still-life, and sculpture in our permanent collection. Get inspired by what we’ve seen in the galleries, and create your own art by painting, drawing, and sculpting!
$150 ($120 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Monday, June 13, 11 am to 12:30 pm
Writers Group » Featured Poet: Houston Hughes
Explore poetry inspired by the beauty of nature with poet Houston Hughes in our spring series of Writers Group. Each month, we’ll explore a variety of traditional and contemporary poetry styles honoring art and nature through group discussions, writing, and recitations on the Museum grounds and in the galleries. Free, call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information..
Wednesday, June 15, 6 to 7 pm
SOLD OUT WOW » Crystal Bridges’ Trails and Grounds
Join Crystal Bridges Culinary Director Case Dighero and Horticulturalist Cody George as they discuss the many virtues of the Museum’s natural setting. Open to guests ages 21 and above. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology and Riedel Glassware. $35 ($28 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
Thursday, June 16, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Great Reveal » Butterflies
As the warm weather draws butterflies to Crystal Bridges’ grounds, view color-plate images of these beautiful insects from our rare book collections. Highlighted items will be available for close viewing following the talk. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
Thursday, June 16, 6:30 to 8 pm
Painting Your Palate
Eleven brings together artmaking and the culinary world in a fun-filled evening. Our Museum Educator will guide you through an opportunity to paint using the very same wines you’ll be sipping. Come with a thirst to learn more, and leave with a unique work of your own. Light appetizers are included throughout the event. $55 ($44 for Members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
Friday, June 17, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Photo Salon » Personal Narrative with Dan Snow
Join photographer and Maine Media Workshop presenter Dan Snow in this session exploring personal narrative and storytelling through portraiture, highlighting art in our permanent collection. Snow’s work has been shown in exhibitions nationally and published internationally. He is a 2016 presenter at the renowned Maine Media Workshop. $10 (Free for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Saturday, June 18, 10 to 11:30 am
Discover the Grounds » Edible, Poisonous, and Medicinal Mushrooms with Jay Justice
Join Jay Justice, a free-range, free-lance field mycologist, for this Discover the Grounds highlighting the interesting but rarely explored realm of macroscopic fungi. After a short informative talk about why mushrooms and fungi are some of the most important organisms in their ecosystems and exploring the niches they have carved out for themselves in nature, Justice will lead the group on a walk and provide comments on the various kinds of mushroom and fungi that might be seen along Crystal Bridges’ trails. We may even be lucky enough to see a Destroying Angel, or perhaps some delectable Chanterelles, a Reishi, or some Porcinis along the way! Free, call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Saturday, June 18, 1 to 2 pm
Gallery Conversation » The Art of Participation
Enjoy stimulating conversations facilitated by speakers from the Museum and community, including curators, artists, writers, professors, and more. In this discussion, engage with the sculpture “Untitled” L.A. by Felix Gonzalez-Torres through a facilitated dialogue led by The Artist’s Laboratory Theatre exploring the role of the audience and the art of participation through improvisation. Free, no registration required.
Sunday, June 19, 7 to 8 am
Yoga Solstice at the Museum
Begin the summer season with 108 Sun Salutations on Crystal Bridges’ lush South Lawn, facilitated by Cindee Joslin of Yoga Story. Before-hours arrival: Please note that the Museum does not open to the public until 10 a.m. and no bathrooms are available. Please bring your own yoga mat and water and dress appropriately. $5 (Free for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Sunday, June 19, noon to 5 pm
Family Sunday » Father’s Day!
Bring Dad, Grandpa, or another special guy to the Museum to celebrate Father’s Day with artmaking, music, and more. Discover interesting “dads” in our collection, make a fun gift for the dads in your life, enjoy great music by the Kansas City kid-cool rock band, The Doo-Dads, and more! Sponsored by Roy & Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee, Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, and Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Free, no registration required.
Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24, 9 am to noon
Summer Camp (Ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 12) » Faces and Places
Discover the many faces and places featured in Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection. Paint, draw, and collage to create lovely landscapes and picture-perfect portraits. $150 ($120 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information..
Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24, 1:30 to 4:30 pm
Summer Camp (Ages 11 to 14) » Movie Making
Be the star of your own movie! Join local artist and actress Jules Taylor for this special movie-making camp just for middle school and junior high students. Learn how to write a script that expresses you, sketch storyboards, film your performance at your favorite spot in the Museum, and video-edit cool special effects. At the end of the camp, we’ll host a special film-screening party with invited friends and family. $150 ($120 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information..
Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24, 1:30 to 4:30 pm
Summer Camp (Ages 6 to 8) » The Artist’s Toolbox
Discover artist tools of line, shape, color, and texture. Explore the process of artmaking and create fun works of art using your new “tools.” $150 ($120 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Wednesday, June 22, 6 to 8 pm
Members-Only Conversation » Collecting Art on a Budget
Join Crystal Bridges Curator Chad Alligood for an exciting and educational discussion especially for our Museum Members! Learn the ins and outs of collecting art on a budget by exploring different ways to evaluate art, discover what you love, and find what you want. Free, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line at 479.418.5728.
Thursday, June 22, 7:30 to 9:30 pm
Film Series and KUAF/Fulbright Chamber Concert » The Caged Bird
Meet filmmaker and musician Jim Greeson for a special screening of his documentary, The Caged Bird: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price. The film traces the life of Arkansas native Florence B. Price and the culture in which she lived, beginning with her birth in Little Rock in 1887. Price was an award-winning pianist and composer who became the first African American woman to have her work performed by a major symphony. Greeson’s documentary tells the story of a woman who refused to be a “caged bird” and accept the limited opportunities that were available to her race and gender. The film program begins with a 45-minute concert by the KUAF Chamber Music Festival, featuring original compositions by Florence Price. Sponsored by inVeritas and Demara Titzer. Free, register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335.
Thursday, June 23, 6 to 7:30 pm
Summer English Language Learner Program
Join us for a summer series of evening gallery discussions on June 9, June 23, July 7, and July 21. Museum educators facilitate gallery experiences encouraging adult English language learners to practice reading, listening, writing, and speaking English while learning about American history, culture, and art. Free, registration required. Space is limited. To sign up or for more information, email Emily.Rodriguez@CrystalBridges.org or call 479.657.2335 for more information.
Friday, June 24, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Craft Squared » Heavy Metal
Kick off your summer with our new studio program pairing craft beer with an art project! In this first session, enjoy beer from Saddlebock Brewing Co., and create a scrap-metal sculpture (no welding required), inspired by David Smith’s March Sentinel. All materials, plus two glasses of beer and light hors d’oeuvres are provided. $44 ($35 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
Friday, June 24, 7 to 8 pm
Summer Family Fun » Drum Safari
Join Kansas City musicians Brandon and Teryn Draper on Walker Landing for a high-energy, interactive performance of music from around the world. Then join in on an all ages community drum circle! Instruments will be provided. Brandon teaches world percussion and jazz drums at the University of Kansas and has toured extensively throughout the US in a variety of genres. Teryn is a first-grade teacher and program coordinator for Drum Safari. Free, no registration required.
Wednesday and Thursday June 29 through June 30, 9 am to 3 pm
Educators Program » AAE Workshop
This workshop will be an intensive, two-day studio art workshop for members of NAEA/AAE. Come ready to be inspired by works in the Museum, and then indulge in multiple studio sessions designed by art teachers, for art teachers. You must be a NAEA/AAE member to participate in this workshop. If you are not currently a member, please join NAEA before enrolling. Annual NAEA Membership dues for an Arkansas resident is $80. 12 hours of Professional Development credit available. $65, call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information..
Wednesdays, June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, and August 3, 6 to 8:30 pm
Studio Studies Series » Fiber Arts with artist Dani Ives
Join fiber artist Dani Ives and expand your artistic skills to include painting with wool! In this series, Ives will teach you how to create detailed needle-felted images inspired by the temporary exhibition American Made: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum. Founder of Good Natured Art, Ives is a self-taught fiber artist residing in North Central Arkansas. She has led workshops for artists and enthusiasts all over the Ozarks, including the Little Craft Fair. $200 for 6 sessions ($160 for Members), call Guest Services at 479.657.2335 for more information.
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