Crystal Bridges Museum of Modern Art
Posted on March 8th, 2012
Take a journey through one of the finest collections of American Art from the
Colonial era to present at the Crystal Bridges Museum in historic Bentonville, Arkansas.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning in December when we arrived at Crystal Bridges, we were about an hour early for our scheduled museum tour so we decided to take a walk on one of the lovely nature trails surrounding the Museum.
There are 6 trails surrounding Crystal Bridges:
Rock Ledge Trail
- Length: 1/2 mile
- Surface: crushed granite hiking trail
- Difficulty: moderate slope with steps
The Rock Ledge Trail received it’s name from the rock bluffs once carved into the hills to create a path for a nineteenth century railroad that was never completed. It is exclusively a foot trail that overlooks several sculptures and features large colonies of serviceberry and wild hydrangeas.
Dogwood Trail
- Length: 1 mile
- Surface: soft surface hiking trail
- Difficulty: moderate slope with steps
The Dogwood Trail features over 500 dogwood trees that flower during spring. There are also several natural seating areas that have been carved out by the forest.
The Orchard Trail
- Length: 1/2 mile
- Surface: hard surface, walking and biking trail
- Difficulty: gentle slope
The Orchard Trail features an evergreen forest with several species of pine trees as well as Eastern red cedars. This trail accesses the main entrance to the museum.
The Tulip Tree Trail/Crystal Spring Trail
- Length: 1/2 mile
- Surface: crushed granite hiking trail
- Difficulty: moderate slope with steps
The Tulip Tree Trail features some of the largest trees on the Crystal Bridges grounds. Tulip Tree forms a loop into the Crystal Spring Trail which features a natural spring that flows from the ground at a cool 50 degrees and feeds the museums ponds. The Tulip Tree/Crystal Spring Trail provides access to the Museums’ Great Hall and South Lobby.
Art Trail
- Length: 1/3 mile
- Surface: hard surface, walking and biking trail
- Difficulty: moderate slope
The Art Trail features sculpture and many native plants including Cone Flowers, American Basket Flowers, and Black-eyed Susans. The Art Trail connects the Museum’s south entrance to the Crystal Bridges Trail.
The Crystal bridges Trail
- Length: 1 1/2 miles
- Surface: hard surface, walking and biking trail
- Difficulty: moderate slope
Crystal Bridges Trail features a lovely walk through Compton gardens, a mountain bike trail, and an overlook area where guests can view the Museum campus from the ridge above. Crystal Bridges Trail connects the Art Trail with downtown Bentonville.
The Museum
After our beautiful hike it was on to the museum! The design of the museum was
created by architect Moshe Safdie. The buildings form literal bridges within the landscape which formulates an exquisite fusion of design and nature.
The magnificent collection of art tells the unfolding story of the United States from the Colonial era to the present.
Colonial Section
Portraiture was the focus for American art during the Colonial period. Portraits enabled colonists to document family and business relationships as well as demonstrating their wealth and taste. The paintings were often based on British and European art giving colonists a link to their homelands. After the Revolutionary War, artists painted many portraits of founding fathers such as George Washington.
19th Century
In the early part of the nineteenth century American artists forged American identity with everyday life painted in a realist style. Artists also looked to nature and the American landscape which would become an important theme for painting throughout the 19th century.
Post Civil War, American art became cosmopolitan as artists traveled and studied in Europe. The late nineteenth century is marked by diverse artistic styles and subjects which influenced by the latest trends in European art adapted for American audiences.
Modern
In the Modern period (roughly 1900 -1960) American art continued to be diverse with some artists experimenting with fractured forms of Cubism and abstraction. Other artists explored the lives of Americans in urban and rural areas in a realist style. During the Great Depression of the 1930 s, many artists used their work to criticize social and economic conditions that they believed led to poverty and discrimination.
After World War II, several American artists blended European-derived Cubism and Surrealism with an interest in psychology and philosophy to produce a style known as Abstract Expressionism, which placed America on the leading edge of modern art.
Contemporary
Contemporary American art continues the experimental intricacy of late 20th century art. Works that are representative, abstract, and conceptual, created in painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, photography, mixed media, and new digital technologies.
Dining and Coffee
After we had strolled through the history of American Art, we were starving! Fortunately, Crystal bridges has a delightful restaurant that offers lunch daily from 11AM-3PM. They also serve dinner on Wednesday and Friday from 5PM-9PM. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
We topped our lunch off with a cup of gourmet coffee served at the coffee bar located in the main lobby, open everyday until 6PM except Tuesday.
The Museum Store
Next we stopped at the Museum Store which offered educational and art-centric toys and games, a wide selection of books, gifts, jewelry, apparel, and prints of the most popular works. Original works by the finest regional artists and artisans along with classic home decor and glassware by notable designers were also available for purchase.
Library
There is also a Crystal Bridges Library which offers a large collection of art
reference materials that are available to scholars, students, educators, and community members who wish to learn more about American art and cultural heritage.The library is open to the public during Museum hours.
What an amazing day of embracing American art, dining,
hiking, and shopping at Crystal Bridges Museum, a Northwest Arkansas ” Treasure.” Click here to reserve a tour.
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| Phone: 1-800-768-3892 · Address: 1294 State Hwy 248 Branson, MO. 65616 |
