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APRIL WALLACE NWA Democrat-Gazette A rkansans interested in seeing the founding, historical documents of our country need not go all the way to Washington, D.C., this summer. All it takes is a quick drive down the road to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to see "We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy." There you can examine an original print of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the proposed Bill of Rights and the Emancipation Proclamation — with President Abraham Lincoln's signature still very clear. All are displayed among both historical and contemporary artworks to give context to the most important moments in our country's history. "To see originals in person would mean a trip to D.C. or a special, rare library like Sawyer Library at Williams College (Mass.) for founding documents," says Austen Bailly, chief curator at Crystal Bridges. "Many were in foundations and collections and not accessible to the public." Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin purchased the original print of the Constitution late last year with the hope of making it accessible to the public. When Crystal Bridges Board member Olivia Walton learned of the sale, she partnered with him to bring it to the Bentonville museum first. It's also a first, Bailly says, to have so many documents with the founding words, the very basis for our democracy, all together. She believes it's the museum's job to create new opportunities like this and illuminate connections that may not have been made clear before. "This opportunity is deeply connected to the art we show here," Bailly says. "Visual arts can so emphatically demonstrate the relevance between the documents and the art and give a new perspective." In the galleries are the sort of traditional portraits that you might on some level expect: a larger-than-life Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull; a Thomas Jefferson by Matthew Harris Jouett; James Madison by Chester Harding; and of course, George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. But alongside the faces of these founding fathers are some influential members of Indigenous communities, such as the Portrait of Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) by Charles Willson Peale and Portrait of Red Jacket by John Lee Douglas Mathies. "We at Crystal Bridges are very interested in the realities of Native American art and history being completely part and parcel of American history," Bailly says. "It's JULY 10-16, 2022 WHAT'S UP! 3 FAQ 'We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy' WHEN — Through Jan. 2, 2023 WHERE — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art COST — Free, but tickets are required INFO — crystalbridges.org See Exhibit Page 4 'We The People' Exhibit illuminates history in defining moments This first printing of the Declaration of Independence (center, left placed next to the Articles of Confederation) is one of 29 known copies and one of only two remaining in private collections. The founding documents shown in "We the People" have been in a great state of preservation, says Crystal Bridges Chief Curator Austen Bailly, since their significance was understood from the beginning. (Courtesy Photo/Stephen Ironside for CBM) Among the pieces at the end of the exhibition is a gigantic two- paneled charcoal work, "The United States Supreme Court (Split)" by Robert Longo, that stands 10 feet by 12 feet and is as detailed and clear as a photograph. Next to it is "Gordon Hirabayashi, American Patriot," by Roger Shimomura. Hirabayashi was a Japanese American citizen who appealed to the Supreme Court against the Japanese internment camps. He failed on the first attempt, but justice was served on his second when he returned to fight against it. (Courtesy Photo/Stephen Ironside for CBM) An original print of the Declaration of Independence is displayed during a member preview of the new "We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy" exhibition. The founding documents are in good shape due to being kept out of light and not excessively handled, Crystal Bridges staff members say. Photo and flash restrictions in place stem from practices of preserving them properly. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Charlie Kaijo) BENTONVILLE