What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1259312
JUNE 14-20, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 9 See Welcome Page 10 space for distancing; and the performing arts, like concerts, theater and time-based performance pieces will not yet be scheduled at the Momentary. Part of the reason for delaying performances, Bertels reveals, is many of the artists the multidisciplinary space would normally bring in are not yet ready to travel. The FreshGrass bluegrass festival — postponed to October from its original April scheduling — is one casualty of changes. The festival is now officially canceled for 2020. "I think we will indeed try and offer more online programming than ever before," Bertels says in response to finding the balance of welcoming guests back to the physical space while continuing to engage those who will still refrain from venturing out to such a public sphere. "We have definitely looked at what other museums were doing; we're also in conversation through a formal network with most major museums and art centers around the country," he shares. "But it's very clear from everybody's process they're going through that this is very much about each person, each institution, finding what is right for their institution and for their region." "There's no such thing as pre- covid in our minds," Bigelow adds introspectively. "I think this experience was really hard, but it was one that transformed our ideas of what it is to connect with people. People are consuming differently. And we were able to actually produce and present different kinds of experiences that we wouldn't have before. I would call it a hybrid going forward — and an exciting opportunity to continue to explore in that space. "Our mission really is all about providing access to art," he continues. "And a powerful thing that we can do is open our doors and be a place for inspiration, activism, reflection. And it's more meaningful now than ever because of the events that have been happening around the country and around the world." FAQ Extended Exhibitions 'Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…' WHEN — Extended through July 13 WHERE — Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville COST — Free INFO — 418-5700, crystalbridges.org 'State of the Art 2020' WHEN — Extended through July 12 WHERE — CBM and the Momen- tary in Bentonville COST — Free INFO — 367-5700, themomentary. org, or contact Crystal Bridges FYI Reopenings • On June 10, Crystal Bridges returned to its regular oper- ating hours of 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; closed Tuesdays. The Momentary returns to its regular operating hours of 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Tues- day, Wednesday; 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; closed Mondays. • Visitors must register for a timeslot for both locations and will receive an email prior to their visit about what to expect and how to prepare. • Restaurants at both venues, Coffee Bar at CBM and The Tower Bar at the Momen- tary will all be open. Onyx Coffee Lab at the Momen- tary will open at a later date. • Shuttles between the Crys- tal Bridges entrance and additional parking will run; all riders (staff and guests) must wear face coverings. The shuttle between the Momentary, Crystal Bridges and 21c Museum Hotel will not be operating. "That work has never been more timely than now," Bertels says of Paul Stephen Benjamin's "State of the Art 2020" piece "Summer Breeze," which asks the viewer to consider how race relations have changed, or not, between different eras. "We saw that many people that came over the weekend really responded to that work, and were happy to spend some time with it because it reminds us of all the things that are going on, again, in this country. And it just goes to show that good art talks about everyday existence and what's happening around us, and reminds us of important topics." (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Ben Goff)