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APRIL WALLACE NWA Democrat-Gazette W hether we think about it much or not, light often informs artwork in one way or another. A new focus exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art explores the many ways that artists use light in their works. Many of the sculptures have a lighting element, while the photographs require certain light in their development or use light as their main storyform when over- or under-developed. Still others are fascinating for the way they change depending on the light — reflecting it, absorbing it or changing color. "The Light Fantastic" opened on Jan. 29 and will be on display through May 30. Curator Larissa Randall says the show does two things well: It showcases work from the museum's collection not shown in a long time — or ever, in some instances — or frames them in a different way. "We wanted a good balance of literal applications of light with more (abstract) ones," Randall says. Isamu Noguchi's 1943 sculpture "Lunar Landscape" is an example of a literal application, since it has electric lights embedded in cement. For each of the works selected, Randall asked herself how light played a role. "That ambiguity alongside the more clear presences is where you can get rich dialogues about science and art in this exhibition, even with the photos," she says. Both of the Carrie Mae Weems photographs strongly feature a light hanging from the ceiling. It's clear how the subjects' proximity to it changes the mood of the piece. Randall says the exhibition illustrates how light can be an inspiration or medium, two very different things that are related. Randall says the majority of the works by the 27 artists are light-based sculptures that are in conversation with the chosen photographs and other more abstract media. Just a week into the exhibition, she says initial viewers were delighted by the light elements of the sculptures. Among the hidden treasures of Crystal Bridges is Jen Stark's wall- based sculpture "Kaleidoscopic," which has been in the collection since 2011 but never on view. This three-dimensional optical illusion protrudes in layers of pointed, spirally shapes — rainbow colored on one side and black and white on the other. And the best part, Randall says, is that it has a peephole. "That's the part that makes it perfect for this exhibit, [made for people] to lean up against and look into the sculpture that's a kaleidoscope," says Randall, who may have a special affinity for them since her grandmother used to collect them. "They're all light and movement and colors and patterns rotating really quickly, giving a surprisingly delightful, disorienting feel that Jen Stark says takes the viewer to a state of transcendence, meditative and healing." 8 WHAT'S UP! FEBRUARY 20-26, 2022 FAQ The Light Fantastic WHEN — Through May 30 WHERE — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way in Bentonville COST — Free; no ticket required INFO — 657-2335, crystal- bridges.org FEATURE 'The Light Fantastic' Crystal Bridges considers medium as message Isamu Noguchi's "Lunar Landsape" was made in 1943 of magnesite cement, electric lights, colored acetate sheets, cork and string. (Courtesy Image/Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas)