What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1259312
10 WHAT'S UP! JUNE 14-20, 2020 COVER STORY Welcome Continued From Page 9 It's more than the coronavirus pandemic Bertels and Bigelow are alluding to. George Floyd's killing at the hands of police on May 25 and the surge of protests against police brutality that have swept the world in response led to both institutions' further inclusion in the dialogue surrounding social justice because of the exhibitions both currently have on display. "What's amazing about having the exhibition before and after and during this moment, is that it does have the same meaning, and it has completely different meaning at the same time," Bigelow says of the exhibition "Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…," which was in the middle of its scheduled showing when the museum was forced to close. "Navigating the complexity of the exhibition is what's powerful. I mean, how do you talk about Hank's portrayal of his loved one who's been murdered? It's tragic then, and it's tragically more recognized now. So I hope that people who are walking through the space, and our own team, are more activated by the experience. But I think it also shows the long history of racism in this country, and how the ongoing struggles of social justice and civil rights are critical for a society that will be everything we want it to be: just and fair. I am confident that it will have incredible impact." Similarly at the Momentary, one of the pieces on display in "State of the Art 2020" saw many visitors engaging perhaps more urgently with it than they did in February. Paul Stephen Benjamin's work "Summer Breeze" is a multi-video monitor, which includes a snippet of the song "Strange Fruit" — made famous by Billie Holiday in the late '30s and protesting the widespread lynchings of black people. "That work has never been more timely than now," Bertels notes. "It just goes to show that good art talks about everyday existence and what's happening around us, and reminds us of important topics." FYI Safety Measures • Crystal Bridges and the Momentary will be limiting the number of visitors to a maximum of 30 guests per 15 minutes at CBM, and 15 guests every 15 minutes at the Momentary. These numbers are based on five people per 1,000 square feet of public space, which adheres to a one-third capacity guideline for the state's indoor venues. • Visitors and staff are required to wear face coverings per state directives. Wearing a face covering is a state requirement for visitors age 10 years and older. At Crystal Bridges and the Momentary, face coverings are recommended for ages 2 and older. Masks will be available for those who do not have one. • Signage has been placed to reinforce social distancing, as well as to direct flow through the galleries. • Touchless transactions, increased cleaning and sanitation, and more. "What I started seeing in many of our members was they felt very privileged because, not because of choice, but just because of circumstance, people are given much more space now to engage with the art," Momentary Director Lieven Bertels observed during the venue's reopening. "It feels very luxurious to walk around and to have an artwork or a couple of artworks just to yourself, and have more space. So people were very happy about that and actually responded really well to that." (Courtesy Photo/Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary) The trails and grounds on Crystal Bridges' campus have been open through the museum's closure, and Bigelow notes that while he is proud the museum was able to maintain engagement with art lovers in this outdoor space, he was excited to see guests back inside the halls upon CBM's reopening. "Nothing brings a museum to life more than the people that are in it." (Courtesy Photo/ Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary) Bertels and Bigelow assure their staffs have taken every precaution to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and volunteers as the art spaces are some of the first in the region, if not the country, to reopen their doors. "Our mission really is all about providing access to art. And a powerful thing that we can do is open our doors and be a place for inspiration, activism, reflection," Bigelow offers. (Courtesy Photo/Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary)