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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Zooms in to Bentonville

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will be closed Monday, May 13, to prepare for the visit of Antiques Roadshow. We will return to normal hours of operation Wednesday, May 15.

She’ll join a live audience at Crystal Bridges to talk about her life and career as part of Spring Break Specials family programming celebrating ‘Diego Rivera’s America’ 

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor will zoom in to Bentonville this spring to share about her life, her work as a jurist, and as an author of best-selling children’s books. This rare family opportunity takes place at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 3 p.m. 

The family-oriented talk is presented as part of Spring Break Specials, a week of afternoon programs, artmaking and entertainment inspired by Diego Rivera’s America that aim to provide fun and educational experiences for visitors of all ages. 

Associate Justice Sotomayor will join the live audience remotely from Washington, D.C. Kassie Misiewicz, founder and artistic director of Trike Theater, will host the discussion in person with a live audience in Crystal Bridges’ Great Hall.  

Associate Justice Sotomayor will answer select questions about herself and her book that were submitted by families that registered early for the event. The first 150 registrants will receive a free, signed copy of the book. 

WHAT: Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, will virtually participate in a live discussion and Q&A exploring her children’s book Just Help! How to Build a Better World. 

WHEN: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 | 3 p.m. CST / 4 p.m. EST 

WHERE:  Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 

                 600 Museum Way 

                 Bentonville, AR 72712 

HOW: Register in advance online or with Guest Services at (479) 657-2335. Tickets are $5 (FREE for Crystal Bridges members and youth ages 18 and under accompanied by an adult ticket holder). 

WHO: U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice, Sonia Sotomayor 

Justice Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York. She earned a BA from Princeton University and a JD from Yale Law School. She served as assistant district attorney in New York County, and then as a litigator at Pavia & Harcourt. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated her to the US District Court, Southern District of New York. In 1997, President William Jefferson Clinton nominated her to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed this role August 8, 2009, becoming the first Latina to ever hold such a high position.  

The discussion takes place during Crystal Bridges’ week of Spring Break events, kicking off on March 18 with Pintura Fest, a day of drop-in artmaking, performances, and engagements inspired by Diego Rivera’s America. 

Last year, the museum hosted a renowned slate of American leaders for discussions in conjunction with the We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy exhibition. Speakers included former U.S. Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice, Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, acclaimed musician Yo-Yo Ma, and more. 

Parking: Parking for this event, including ADA-accessible spots, is in the lower-level covered parking area. 

NOTES: No pens or flash photography in the galleries. 

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About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 6.2 million visitors, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 120 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 300,000 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened a satellite contemporary art space in downtown Bentonville called the Momentary (507 SE E Street). For more information, visit  CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.