What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1492257
8 WHAT'S UP! FEBRUARY 12-18, 2023 COVER STORY Thriving At 75 FSRAM celebrates with Picasso exhibit BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette O n the list of Arkansas' oldest museums, the University of Arkansas Museum dates back to 1873; The Clayton House in Fort Smith to 1882; the Fort Smith Museum of History to 1910; the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock to 1927; the Helena Museum of Phillips County to 1930; the Arkansas State University Museum in Jonesboro to 1933; and the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock to 1941. Notable on that list at No. 7 is what seems to be the first museum of visual arts, and it's celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023. It is known today as the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum. "In 1948, a handful of dedicated citizens organized under the Arkansas Association of University Women and then in 1951 as the Associated Artists of Fort Smith," Jackie Krutsch, president of the FSRAM Board, begins the story. "Their purpose was to bring art into the daily lives of Fort Smithians — through exhibits and through art classes. Using whatever space was available at the time, the group finally found its home in 1960 with the purchase of the Vaughn-Schaap House in the Fort Smith Historic District. "In 1968 the Fort Smith Art Center was incorporated as a nonprofit organization and continued to expand offerings in the Vaughn-Schaap House until 2013," Krutsch continues. "The small art center made a huge impact to the arts in this region, offering classes, programs, exhibitions and annual art camps. The permanent location allowed the Fort Smith Art Center to begin to accept and collect spectacular pieces into a permanent collection, including the extensive Boehm Porcelain Collection. "Fast forward to 2009, Arvest Bank graciously donated what was the former Superior Federal Savings and Loan building on Rogers Avenue in downtown Fort Smith to the Fort Smith Art Center," she goes on. "After a vigorous capital campaign, supported by the generosity of many, the building was completely renovated and opened as the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum — RAM!" Turning 75 means an entire year of celebration for FSRAM, beginning this winter with an extraordinary exhibit, "Pablo Picasso: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics from the Rosenbaum Collection," which will be on view through April 23. "Through several special events, we are working to celebrate the people who have given their time, talent, and gifts over the past to make RAM what it is today; to celebrate with our current community; and to begin affecting more lives by welcoming more people to RAM," says Julie Moncrief, the museum's development director. "We celebrated [Picasso] with an opening reception Jan. 21 that resulted in a filled museum of thrilled people. Our other two kickoff exhibitions include a historic timeline of this organization — the people involved and the milestones — and a tremendous exhibition of our Permanent Collection with artworks collected over the decades." There will be a time capsule in the timeline exhibition that the community will be filling all year, Moncrief says. "We will bury it in December, and it won't be opened until the next 75 years of RAM have passed." Also scheduled are an artist appreciation reception; a board member reception for all who have served over the years; a 75th Anniversary Celebration Gala, "Evening in Paris," on April 29; a block party in Internationally famed for his paintings, sculpture and graphics, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was long intrigued by ceramics. The whimsical ceramics featured this winter at the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum showcase the pottery made when Picasso partnered with George and Suzanne Ramié and the artisans at their Madoura Pottery workshop in Vallauris, southern France. (Courtesy Photo/FSRAM) FAQ Fort Smith Regional Art Museum WHEN — 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday WHERE — 1601 Rogers Ave. in Fort Smith COST — Free INFO — 784-2787; fsram.org