The very first article I ever published about Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, (www.crystalbridges.org) was over a decade ago, and there have been several more since then, with the most recent being dated October 14, 2017, and the first being December 12, 2011. (These can still be found in the archives of this blog).
However, no matter when I go, there always seems to be something new to see at this amazing facility, located on 134 acres of parkland, in Bentonville, Arkansas. On my most recent visit, I took the photo below, through the glass walls of one of the current galleries, that shows a major expansion, currently being constructed on the north end of the building. They are adding 114,000 square feet of galleries, studios, dining options, and event spaces. The opening of the expanded galleries is planned for June 6-7, 2026.
I think of Crystal Bridges as a treasure chest for the senses, and the translucent glass treasure chests displayed there, is just one example of artistic masterpieces.
There are also artistic masterpieces whose vibrant colors were created by the Master Painter in heaven, then artistically arranged by a gifted curator here on earth.
When the exhibits include seashells, I feel compelled to be pictured with this souvenir from the sea, since I have been a collector of seashells, from childhood onward.
With 2026 being the 250th anniversary of the signing of the USA Declaration of Independence, this room-sized display of those famous words is very appropriate. What makes it even more meaningful, is the fact that the words are written by the placement of thousands of multi-colored shoestrings!
Northwest Arkansas is famous for its poultry industry, since it is the headquarters of the Tyson Corporation. Where would we be without chickens??!!
Crystal Bridges is not only a free museum for all to enjoy, it provides grants for schools, to pay for bus transportation, to bring students on field trips to the museum! The museum, which was founded by Sam Walton's daughter, Alice Walton, is a non-profit facility, known for its stunning architecture by Moshe Safdie.
At one time, Northwest Arkansas led the entire country in new construction projects, and the accompanying landscaping needed for new construction. Therefore this colorful "room divider" made of an assortment of colored implements, might make the budding sculpture artist, reconsider throwing out the old metal tools, they may have inherited from their parents!
Has anyone every made a wish, by blowing on the "lighter than air" spires of a dandelion? Perhaps, that was the inspiration behind this magnificent work of metal art!
An Arkansas find, the giant crystal on the left of this photo, was a nod to the word "crystal" that is the namesake of the museum. The colorful glass balls, floating on the water feature, were part of a Chihuly exhibition.
The huge mirrored heart that hangs from the ceiling of the restaurant at Crystal Bridges, is always a magnet, for folks wanting to get their photo made with it.
One of the outdoor ponds on the property has been the location of an installation called "Narcissus Garden", by artist Yayoi Kusama.
There are nearly 1800 mirrored spheres, recalling the story of Narcissus, the self-obsessed hunter in Greek mythology, who is lured to a pond where, upon gazing at his own reflection in the water, he falls in and drowns.
Being photo-obsessed myself, I tried to get as close to one of the spheres as I could, without falling into the water. In the photo below, I got down on my knees to get a low-angle shot.
Having survived the low-angle shot, I stood up try a different viewpoint.
The photo below shows that these spheres truly are floating on actual water, and as such, they are not only reflecting what is above them, but the unseen (to us humans) that is below them!
It was not until I started writing this blog post, that I realized I have an exact replica of the Crystal Bridges silver spheres, on the top of my bookshelf at home. It has been there for decades, as a souvenir I carried home from a scuba diving trip with my husband, in Cozumel, Mexico. (The items on each side of the sphere are candle holders my father made, back in the last century, where he cut the bottom off of two-liter soda bottles, to make lanterns for the wooden stands the bottles sit in.) The water at Crystal Bridges reflects its surroundings, the silver spheres reflect their surroundings, and the candle holders reflect my father's heart for wood crafting projects. Therefore, I am using these items as a visual aid for one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses that says,
"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart." Proverbs 27:19
This visit to Crystal Bridges and these reflections, give me "MILES OF SMILES"! Tricia
