What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1339492
content and enhance digital resources. Content includes 360 tours, virtual reality experiences, virtual weekly music playlists, audio guides and video tours through the galleries and grounds, #CBfromHome activities for families, free (virtual) school field trips and other educational tools." At the same time Crystal Bridges staff were looking to engage arts lovers from home, the institution's outreach efforts in response to addressing the covid crisis in the community were also a priority. Those efforts ended up surpassing what even the museum's team had planned for, Bobbitt shares. "With the support of local partner organizations, we mobilized staff to meet the needs of those most vulnerable in our community, distributing thousands of meals, house- cleaning supplies and personal-care kits," she demonstrates. "We were able to expand access to art with the opening of the Momentary, develop more online programs and resources, and share the power of art to promote social change and champion diversity. "While we're always evaluating how to move forward into the unknown," Bobbitt says, again turning to the future, "Crystal Bridges and the Momentary will remain committed to being an anti-racist organization, fostering social connections through arts experiences and leaning in to the power of art to build community. We will continue to enhance online experiences but treasure the in-person visit, creating an environment where synergy can be built and transformative moments are possible." To those ends, Crystal Bridges staff have adjusted strategic goals to meet covid-related challenges, racial inequities and to embrace their role as a community-centered institution. As part of that, Bobbitt shares, their teams want to utilize the museum as a living classroom for curiosity and joyful learning, establish an environment of inclusion and belonging founded on anti-racist principles, and provide even more opportunities for visitors to engage in art, nature and architecture. The first of CBM's temporary exhibitions for 2021 opened Feb. 6, and two more major exhibitions will debut later in the year. Though exhibitions are still scheduled years in advance, there may be more frequent check-ins and adjustments as the world and Northwest Arkansas continue to respond to the pandemic. Mostly virtual programming, though, has allowed for greater flexibility to schedule on a shorter timeline (one to two months in advance), Bobbitt reveals. As for friends, family and fans of the museum, Bobbitt says there's a few ways arts lovers can continue to support Crystal Bridges as the museum closes out its first decade: "Learn alongside us and support projects, artists and organizations that take conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion to the next phase of work. "We're excited about more in-depth partnerships and collaborations with communities that will expand the voices and perspectives in the museum," she continues. "Crystal Bridges and the Momentary can be places of respite and inspiration as well. The power of art, architecture and nature is here for our community to access and enjoy, and we strive to provide that for everyone." FEBRUARY 14-20, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 11 FYI Gallery Installations Two specially designed installations within the permanent collection galleries help reinforce and underline the point that craft is something that is part of the larger story of American Art, Jen Padgett says. These displays also point toward future conversations between craft and other works in the museum. "Belonging(s)" by Beth Lipman is a new sculptural glass installation created in response to the Levy Franks portraits in the permanent collection, pictured here on display in the Early American Art Gallery. Toshiko Takaezu was a multi- disciplinary artist whose best-known works are enclosed ceramic forms, ranging in scale from the size of a hand to over 6 feet tall. A grouping of 11 ceramic sculptures by Takaezu is featured in the Contemporary Art Gallery. (Courtesy Photo/Stephen Ironside, via Crystal Bridges Museum) COVER STORY PRESIDENT Brent A. Powers EDITOR Becca Martin-Brown 479-872-5054 bmartin@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAbecca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jocelyn Murphy 479-872-5176 jmurphy@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAJocelyn REPORTER Lara Hightower 479-365-2913 lhightower@nwadg.com DESIGNER Deb Harvell ! UP WHAT'S ON THE COVER Ben Venom's handmade quilt "I Am the Night Rider" is on display as part of the "Crafting Ameri- ca" temporary exhibition, which opened at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville Feb. 6. The exhibit is on display through May 31. (COURTESY PHOTO/GREGG MUSEUM OF ART & DESIGN) What's Up! is a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Wendell Castle, who is "undoubtedly the most significant furniture artist of the post-war period," says co-curator Glenn Adamson, is seen in the "Liberty" section of the exhibition with his innovative "Chest of Drawers" piece. "It's extremely clever in its composition; you can see that the legs, which have this kind of tendril or root-like shape, then grow up into the front of the piece," Adamson details. "And you can see that they've been turned into the handles of the drawers so each of the sections of those carved elements can be used as a drawer pull." (R & Company/Copyright Wendell Castle Estate) (Courtesy Photo/Joe Kramm)