Nov 22, 2017 11/22/2017 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announces December events and unveils 2018 programs. Chihuly: In the Forest will be extended through Monday, November 27, allowing for a final stroll through the forest over the holiday weekend, and the temporary exhibition Stuart Davis: In Full Swing is on view now through January 1, 2018. Carrie Mae Weems, considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists, will be closing out the 2017 Distinguished Speaker Series on December 8. Tickets are available here, and a meet and greet opportunity is available for members here. The 2018 Distinguished Speaker Series is on sale now. Theseries package includes art, activism, food, Broadway, and more, making the perfect gift for the culture seeker in your life. Free for families over the holidays, Winter Break Wonders offers family friendly activities over the school break from 1-4 pm each day, December 21 through January 5, while Noon Year’s Eve encourages families to ring in the New Year on December 31 without staying up late at the third annual family celebration. The event features games, art projects, dancing, and more from 10am-2pm. Later that evening, adults can dance the night away at NEW 365 with the art of Stuart Davis: In Full Swing, drinks, music, and performances from 9:30 pm-1am. Youth art classes ramp back up in January with hands-on experiences for babies to tweens, including a new Tots & Tales class for toddlers. 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 August programs is below. Information and registration are available on Crystal Bridges’ calendar of events. SOLD OUT Van Cliburn Concert » Masters of Jazz, Ellis Marsalis and Joey Alexander Friday, December 1, 7 to 9 pm The Van Cliburn Concert Series presents Masters of Jazz, featuring two giants of the genre. Fourteen-year-old prodigy Joey Alexander and Ellis Marsalis, patriarch of the renowned New Orleans family of musicians, will share the stage for an evening of piano virtuosity in the Great Hall. This jazz experience has been curated by the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Van Cliburn Concert Series Endowment supported by Reed and Mary Ann Greenwood and Kay and Ellis Melton.2017 Van Cliburn Series sponsored by Thomas Lon Smith, Steinway & Sons, Chip and Susan Chambers, William M. Fuller Foundation. $45 ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services. JUST ADDED! Piano Listening Workshop » Joey Alexander Saturday, December 2, 9:30 to 11 am Following his performance in our Van Cliburn Concert Series on Friday, December 1, pianist Joey Alexander will present an interactive presentation/conversation for music lovers of all ages. At just 14 years old, jazz piano prodigy Alexander has performed on The Today Show, 60 Minutes, and for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Alexander is also the youngest-ever Grammy® nominee in a jazz category. Through a sound and soul older than himself, Alexander holds court with the greats and continues to refine his own musical perspective. Alexander is a role model and inspiration to all young musicians throughout the world. In this listening workshop, Alexander will talk about his move to New York when he was just 10 years old. He’ll discuss what he has learned from the world’s best jazz musicians and will display his skills and approach to improvising music. Free, register online or with Guest Services. ArtShare Saturday, December 2, 9 to 11 am ArtShare is a fun event for youth ages five and older with autism and their families. The museum will open early for families to explore the galleries, participate in hands-on activities, and create art. The event is free, and pre-registration is encouraged. Questions? Call 479.657.2415 or email access@crystalbridges.org. Sponsored by Loreen Arbus.Free, register online or with Guest Services. Yoga and Art Monday, December 4, 6 to 7 pm Exercise your body and mind at Crystal Bridges with yoga and art! Join Lynn Hancock of Yoga Story in an uplifting group class that explores different facets of vinyasa as well as various disciplines of yoga practice. Open to all levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats and dress appropriately. $5 (Free/members), register online or with Guest Services. Member Mingle with Carrie Mae Weems Friday, December 8, 5:30 to 6:30 pm Join us for a brief reception in honor of artist Carrie Mae Weems prior to her Distinguished Speaker lecture. You’ll have an opportunity to mix and mingle with other museum members, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and possibly meet the artist! Then you may claim your seat with early entry to the Great Hall. A separate ticket is required for the lecture. Free for members, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line. Member Double Discount Days December 8 through 11 Crystal Bridges Members will receive double discounts (20% off) on all purchases during this special four-day event. Discounts do not apply to works by Chihuly Studio Editions. Free, no registration required. Distinguished Speaker Series » Artist Carrie Mae Weems Friday, December 8, 7 to 8 pm Artist Carrie Mae Weems is considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists today. Crystal Bridges recently acquired the artist’s photograph series The Kitchen Table, which was on view in the 2016 temporary exhibition Black Unity. Weems has developed a complex body of artwork employing photographs, text, audio, video, and more to explore a variety of modern issues. In a recent review of her retrospective in The New York Times, Holland Cotter wrote, “Ms. Weems is what she has always been, a superb image maker and a moral force, focused and irrepressible.” Weems has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at major national and international museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Frist Center for Visual Art, and the Solomon Guggenheim Museum in New York. She has received many awards, including the MacArthur “Genius” Grant in 2013 as well as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Sponsored by Del Monte Foods, Inc. $10 ($8/members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. CR(EAT)E » Sunday, December 10, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Watch Crystal Bridges culinary team in action in this cooking demonstration during which you’ll enjoy five courses paired with wine. Taste how art inspires the culinary world of Crystal Bridges! Sponsored by Hunter and Virginia Breshears, Flintco, inVeritas, and Onyx Coffee Lab. $100 ($80/members), register online or by calling Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Member Scoop » Journey of an Artwork Wednesday, December 13, 6 to 8 pm Join us for a unique and rare opportunity to learn from Crystal Bridges’ preparatory team about the behind-the-scenes journey of an artwork from acquisition to installation. You’ll walk the journey: from the arrival and unpacking of an artwork, through preparation, and storage, and the process of art handling all the way from start to gallery walls. Due to the restricted access in the building, this tour will have very limited capacity. Free for members, register online or by calling the Member Priority Line. Preschool Playdate » Red Thursday, December 14, 11:30 am to 2 pm Rock around this holiday season in red! Enjoy art projects, story time, and creative play inspired by radiant red. Playdate begins with an 11:30 a.m. performance in the Great Hall.Sponsored by Bank of America, N.A. Trustee and the Segal Family Foundation. Free, no registration required. Art by the Glass » Art Journals Friday, December 15, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Create your own personalized art journal in this evening class that pairs wine with an art project! Choosing from a variety of materials, create your own journal where you can let loose and explore with colors, shapes, and words, perfect for capturing your creativity through the winter months. All materials, two glasses of wine, and light appetizers are provided. $55 ($44/members), register online or with Guest Services. Dance Night » Swing! Friday, December 15, 8 to 11 pm The Stuart Davis: In Full Swing exhibition infuses the museum with jazz! Enjoy a social swing dance in the Great Hall with music by the JM Band of Northwest Arkansas. Enjoy the temporary exhibition for free during the event. Free, register online or with Guest Services. Sponsored by Univision Arkansas. Stuart Davis: In Full Swing sponsored by James Dyke and Helen Porter SOLD OUT WOW » High South Greatest Hits Wednesday, December 20, 6 to 7:30 pm Join Director of Culinary Programming and Events Case Dighero and Executive Director Rod Bigelow as they invite regional chefs and mixologists to discuss (and EAT) the virtues of High South cuisine, and take a look back at Rod’s favorite moments of 2017. Open to guests ages 21 and above. Sponsored by Premier Dermatology and Gelmart International. $40 ($32/members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335. Winter Break Wonders December 21 through January 5, 1 to 4 pm Join us at the museum over your school break! We’re planning special family-friendly activities each afternoon, including artmaking, music, puppets, dance, and more. Excluding Tuesdays when the museum is closed and Christmas Day. Sponsored by Nice-Pak Products, Inc. Free, no registration required. Noon Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31, 10 am to 2 pm Ring in the New Year (without staying up past bedtime) at our third annual family celebration! We’ll have fun art projects, performances, a Coca-Cola toast at noon, and a family dance party. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, Mark and Diane Simmons, and Arvest Bank. Free, no registration required. NEW 365 Sunday, December 31, 9:30 pm to 1 am Dance into the New Year at Crystal Bridges! See the Great Hall transformed into a glowing disco room headlined by Jack Novak, mixing her top-chart electronic hits. Let loose in our Eleven jazzy swing room with popular Oklahoma City band, Matt Stansberry & the Romance. Between dances, visit jazz musicians in the temporary exhibition Stuart Davis: In Full Swing, grab a drink at the bar, and experience a hallway of street performers until midnight! Sponsored by Premier Dermatology. $60 ($48/members), register online or with Guest Services.
