What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1322770
8 WHAT'S UP! DECEMBER 27, 2020-JANUARY 2, 2021 One Moment At A Time TOP 5 New venue on cutting edge of contemporary art JOCELYN MURPHY NWA Democrat-Gazette Since the 2016 announcement that the former Kraft Foods cheese plant in Bentonville would be converted to a multidisciplinary arts venue, the region has eagerly awaited its unveiling. The moment of excitement finally arrived on Feb. 22 when the Momentary opened its doors with a triumphant grand opening celebration during the inaugural TIME BEING festival. The Momentary is under the same nonprofit as its sister organization, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and was meant to expand Northwest Arkansas' art offerings of the moment through its flexible 63,000 square feet of space — multi- use performance spaces, galleries, a restaurant, a rooftop bar and three studios for artist residencies, plus outdoor gathering spaces and an outdoor concert area under a canopy. "The Momentary is a space for contemporary visual, performing and culinary arts and will serve as a living room for the community, offering areas to relax, work, eat and drink, and discover art through exhibitions, events, festivals and more," Executive Director Lieven Bertels explained of the venue's identity ahead of the opening. The optimism and enthusiasm surrounding the Momentary's debut took a sharp turn only a few weeks later as its staff, like everyone across the arts community, was suddenly confronted with operating a gathering space during a global pandemic. To mitigate the spread of covid-19, the new venue was closed before it had even been open a month. Both institutions originally announced temporary closures from March 16 through March 31, with canceled programs and events through the following month. By early April, it was clear the situation was only worsening and more permanent solutions for operating during a pandemic would need to be explored. "Thinking specifically about performance — which is based around getting everyone into this feeling of oneness — what does that look like in a digital sphere?" Pia Agrawal, performing arts curator, told What's Up! in April. "The beauty of working with performing artists and contemporary artists is they have a The Momentary, Bentonville's new multidisciplinary contemporary arts space, is a satellite facility of and sister space to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The venue opened Feb. 22 and was forced to close due to the pandemic March 15. It reopened at limited capacity June 10 and has welcomed nearly 87,500 people this year. (Courtesy Photo/the Momentary, Photo by Ironside Photography / Stephen Ironside)