[ad_1]
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — As the expansion of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art nears its conclusion, recent gifts have increased the representation of both artists and artwork.
The gifts, presented by Olivia and Tom Walton, and Candace and Michael Humphreys, along with a 56% increase in gallery space, are part of four-year-long expansion effort.
The donations include 18 major works given by the Waltons and 200 pieces of artwork by the Humphreys.
Rod Bigelow, Crystal Bridges’ executive director, said Olivia Walton’s “next-generation leadership” takes the initial goal of Alice Walton — to make “great American art more accessible” to people — to the next level.
“It enhances our ability to tell more stories, including commissioning work by indigenous artists,” Bigelow said. “We can tell more American stories, with the space to do that.”
Olivia Walton serves as chairperson of Crystal Bridges. The Walton donation features 18 works by a variety of women artists including Yayori Kusama, Alice Neel and Nijideka Akunyili Crosby. The Humphreys’ gift features new artists to the museum holdings.
The gifts, along with the expansion underway by Safdie Architects, is designed to take the museum from 200,000 square feet to 314,000 square feet.
The grand opening of the expanded museum is set for June 6-7, 2026.
Expanding resources
Bigelow said the expansion also will provide additional space for art education — for students and teachers alike, as well as engagement opportunities for visitors.
“This allows for more opportunities for people to enter the dialogue of American art and American history,” Bigelow said.
One addition to the 134-acre campus is a splash pad to enhance the walking paths. This, Bigelow said, is designed to help patrons interact with nature, one of the three pillars of the museum.
It also creates active spaces, he said, to help people realize they can engage with the museum’s activities rather than just simply view art.
“There’s nothing more joyful than seeing kids frolicking on a splash pad,” Bigelow said.
Crystal Bridges opened in 2011, and through the expansion project, Bigelow said, staff members are reinstalling galleries in an effort to provide guests with an “all-new core experience,” which takes them “on a thematic journey through American life, landscape and spirit.”
“If you came before, not only is there a reason to come (view) the expansion (and new art works), but works of art we already have ¯ you can explore them in a whole new dialogue,” Bigelow said.
In a written statement, Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges founder, said the announcement of the gifts by the Waltons and Humphreys marks “an historic day” for Crystal Bridges.
Behind the gifts
The Waltons’ gift was made in memory of Olivia Walton’s mother, Monique Knowlton, a New York gallerist known for her support of women artists.
“These works reflect my mom’s spirit and influence, enriching the Crystal Bridges collection while continuing her legacy of opening doors for artists and inspiring future generations,” Walton said in a written statement.
The Walton donation includes 13 artists new to the Crystal Bridges collection, including three shown by Knowlton in her gallery by Betye Saar, Elaine Reichek and Helen Oji.
Bigelow said historically, women artisans have been undervalued and overlooked. He said the works included in the Walton’s 18 pieces are “fantastic” because of what they bring to the collection.
Bigelow said the other gift, coming from the Humphreys’ collection, is the biggest gift of art pieces to the museum since its opening in 2011 To mark the gift, a space within the Foundations of American Art installation at the museum will now carry the couple’s name in their honor.
Candace Humphreys is an honorary adviser and past member of the collections committee at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, while Michael Humphreys is a retired venture capitalist and past member of the painting and sculpture committee at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
The Humphreys’ donation includes work by Mary Cassatt, Barkley Hendricks and Alex Katz, as well as artists not previously represented at Crystal Bridges such as Robert Arneson, Robert Bechtle, Edward Ruscha, Kiki Smith and Do Ho Suh.
It also features the first two quilts in the museum’s collection.
“It will elevate multiple storytelling points,” Bigelow said. “There are so many stories to be told through these strong works of art, in a whole new way. It will also add depth, texture and layers to the collection.”
Ultimately, Bigelow said Crystal Bridges will continue to evolve, thanks to this donation and future acquisitions. He hopes it remains a space where creativity is not only sparked, but encouraged, a place where people can build connections between the museum and community.
“It’s a joyous place, something people can do together. I hope people find themselves somewhere in the museum,” Bigelow said. “Crystal Bridges is America’s museum.
If you go:
The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The trails and grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. General admission is free and open to the public.
The museum is located at 600 Museum Way in Bentonville. For more information persons interested may visit www.crystalbridges.org or call 479-418-5700.
[ad_2]
Source link
