Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Arkansas Times

Arkansas Blog

Archives | RSS

« Beebe won't commit on highway tax i… | Michigan House passes compromise an… »

Friday, November 11, 2011

Arkansas Culture and Characters Crystal Bridges opens today UPDATE

Posted by Max Brantley on Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 6:47 AM

CRYSTAL BRIDGES: Final work still in progress during recent press tour.

Brian Chilson
CRYSTAL BRIDGES: Final work still in progress during recent press tour.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opens today in Bentonville and if you didn't have a timed ticket in advance, you won't be getting in today. I'm hoping for a report before long from Leslie Newell Peacock, who's seen the collection (spectacular, according to every art critic's piece I've read) and written quite a bit about it previously.

A ceremony is scheduled at 11 a.m. on the Bentonville square and the museum doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Sight unseen, it seems clear from press accounts that the scope is overwhelming. The depth of the Walton fortune and commitment augur well for growth and expansion. It will be a destination for art lovers from all over, even if the relatively small local population and more difficult accessibility mean it won't draw the hordes that throng the likes of the Metroplitan Museum in New York every day. I expect the usual Walton discussion will ensue here — about their politics, how they made and choose to spend their money and so forth. I have thoughts on those issues, regular readers well know. But I'm not of a mind to flyspeck this museum. Ars gratia artis.

PS — Yes, there's an Occupy Crystal Bridges event planned, with leafleting about Walmart practices. I hope Bentonville authorities respect their right to assemble and distribute information.

UPDATE: Here's Leslie Peacock's report.

UPDATE: Here's a Facebook gallery of pictures Brian Chilson got today. We'll add more today.

IN THE GALLERY: Opening day at Crystal Bridges

Brian Chilson
IN THE GALLERY: Opening day at Crystal Bridges

Tags: Crystal Bridges, Alice Walton, Walmart

        
Tweet
Share

Speaking of...

Walmart workers protest in Bentonville during shareholders week

June 7, 2013

by David Koon

About 200 people, many of them Walmart employees, marched from the Bentonville town square to Alice Walton's Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art yesterday to protest the labor policies of the discount giant during the company's annual shareholders meeting, which drew over 14,000 people to town this year. /more/
Walmart hires Dan Bartlett, former George W. Bush spokesman, as executive VP

May 22, 2013

by Max Brantley

Walmart has announced the hiring of Dan Bartlett as executive vice president for corporate affairs. /more/
Keith Haring sculpture debuts at Crystal Bridges

April 24, 2013

by Leslie Newell Peacock

The graffiti artist's depiction of a two-headed creature is installed on the grounds. /more/
Internet sales tax nears Senate vote

April 22, 2013

by Max Brantley

Here's a good primer from the Washington Post Wonkblog on the legislation to make online merchants collect local sales taxes on purchases. /more/
Photo essay: A hog farm for the Buffalo River watershed

April 17, 2013

by Max Brantley

Don Nelms, a former Fayetteville auto dealer, political candidate, environmentalist and photographer, has taken up a roost near Jasper overlooking the Buffalo River. /more/
More »

Comments (28)

Showing 1-28 of 28

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-28 of 28

More by Max Brantley

Bishop speaks against St. Vincent affiliation with 'immoral medical practices'

Jo Ann Coleman, the civic gadfly who's been watchdogging the proposal for UAMS and St. Vincent Infirmary to form a new venture to jointly operate many clinical services, has seemingly produced a severe wrinkle in the process.
- by Max Brantley
- Apr 5, 2013
Riverfest finale today
- by Max Brantley
- May 26, 2013
More »