What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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BECCA MARTIN-BROWN and APRIL WALLACE NWA Democrat-Gazette T he gifts have been opened, the turkey, ham, sweet potatoes and pecan pie consumed — and it's a long time until school starts again. What now? Northwest Arkansas is fortunate to have museums that encompass almost every kind of art and history — there's even a woolly mammoth at the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville! Here are some family- friendly ideas for the holiday week ahead. 'We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy' Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art This exhibit, on show through Jan. 2, includes documents you'd ordinarily only see in Washington, D.C., or a specialized library — an original print of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Indepen- dence, the Articles of Confederation, the proposed Bill of Rights and the Emanci- pation Proclamation with President Abra- ham 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. "This opportunity is deeply connected to the art we show here," says Austen Bailly, chief curator at the Bentonville museum. "Visual arts can so emphati- cally demonstrate the relevance between the documents and the art and give a new perspective." In the galleries are the sort of tradi- tional 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 found- ing 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. Before guests exit the exhibition, they are faced with a gigantic two-pan- eled charcoal work "The United States Supreme Court (Split)" by Robert Longo that stands 10 feet by 12 feet. At first glance, it's as detailed and clear as a photograph. Only if you move in closer does it become apparent that it's a draw- ing. Having two panels depicts the reality of split decisions and the meaning behind a court's vote, and taking a photo and then enlarging it through hand transcrip- tion depicts the monumental scale of the Supreme Court's decisions, Bailly says. "This show presenting art and history for all to engage with on their own terms is really not to be missed," Bailly says. "It's very rare for a hometown museum to marshal these resources right in their own back yard at a moment when it's in the news on a daily basis — and that's a really exciting opportunity." 'A Dash of Apple Vinegar' & 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' Rogers Historical Museum But national history isn't the only offer- ing in Northwest Arkansas this holiday season. The Rogers Historical Museum has two exhibits about local history, both open through Dec. 31. 'A Dash of Apple Vinegar' Apples were once the backbone of the Northwest Arkansas economy, and while trainload after trainload of apples were shipped out of the region, a second industry also rose in prominence to take care of the "bad apples" — those more suitable for making apple cider vinegar. "The impact of the apple industry and the apple cider vinegar industry on Rogers and Northwest Arkansas was enormous," says Rachel Smith, the museum's assistant director and curator of collections, who is also curator of the exhibit. Across the street, in the museum's 1895 Hawkins House, it's Christmas as it might have been at the turn of the 20th century. The Hawkins family is celebrating around the theme of Clement C. Moore's beloved 1823 poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," with a Christmas tree "decorated with homemade decora- tions, including popcorn garlands, paper cornucopias filled with treats, and scrap ornaments trimmed with tinsel, cotton- wool batting and shiny foil," Smith says. And, in the kitchen, last-minute work is in progress while Christmas songs are playing softly. 4 WHAT'S UP! DECEMBER 25-31, 2022 FAQ 'We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy' WHEN — Through Jan. 2; hours are Mondays and Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Christmas Day and Tuesdays WHERE — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville COST — Free; no ticket required INFO — crystalbridges.org FAQ Rogers Historical Museum WHEN — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, includ- ing Dec. 31 WHERE — 313 S. Second St. in Rogers COST — Free INFO — rogershistoricalmu- seum.org or 621-1154 FAQ 'Digi Know?' WHEN — On exhibit through Feb. 28 WHERE — Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, 118 W. John- son Ave. in Springdale COST — Free INFO — shilohmuseum.org/ project/digi-know/ BONUS — All elements are presented in both English and Spanish. What To Do, What To Do Museums entertain kids, holiday visitors ROUNDUP See To Do Page 39 A woolly mammoth roars to greet visitors at the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, a collection of more than 10,000 artifacts spanning 24,000 years. The museum is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday- Saturday, but will close at 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Admission is always free. monah.org. (File Photo)