Another Arkansas Gem

Arkansas has a new gem and its name is Crystal Bridges where art merges with nature and gives the state a world class art museum.

And it's all yours free of charge. The catch is that you have to go to Bentonville in Northwestern Arkansas. If the name Bentonville sounds familiar that is because it is the corporate home of Wal- mart and its founding family, the Waltons. It was the Walton Foundation spearheaded by Alice Walton along with her collection among others' that make the museum a masterpiece and a gift to the public.

I will have to post a link to my pics because how can you decide which truly represent the essence of this all?

Since opening its doors officially in November of this year over 250,000 guests have discovered this gem. The visiting exhibit is the Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision featuring Thomas Cole. Good stuff.

Over 200,000 square feet of galleries,class areas, meeting spaces, a main hall, two pavillions and an excellent restaurant amidst spring fed ponds designed by the architect Moshe Safdie with copper and glass bridges,

provide the visitor with more eye candy than one would ever expect. My photographer friend referred to it as 'eye orgasms.' So be prepared to allow an entire day for your first visit and plan on returning.

The art collection tells the story of America from colonial times (This is the Arkansas Traveller) to the present and the extensive art reference resources (50,000) are available to you and me/any world art scholar interested in research. Resting areas are sprinkled between the galleries to peruse art books/click on line to research to your heart's delight.

BUT it is the 120 acre grounds dotted with sculpture which include 3+ miles of walking and bike trails that connect the gardens and woodlands to downtown Bentonville that blew me away and is the additional masterpiece as 7 trails intersect taking one through nature's play of light and shadows and blend the museum's structure into its surroundings.


Kudos to these artists of the landscape and even the accidental artists...

Rest assured that I will be finding my way back to Crystal Bridges and bringing Natureman with me...