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| Main entrance to museum with an aluminum tree sculpture overlooking the area |
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the vision of Alice Walton,
daughter of Sam Walton the founder of Walmart and Sam's Club. The museum
houses Alice Walton's collection of American art from Early American
artists to Contemporary American artists.
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| Looking down on the main gallery |
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| Part of the park area surrounding the museum |
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| Looking toward the lobby & Restaurant Eleven |
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| The "pool" between the bridges. |
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Alice's Purpose
Alice Walton learned about the history of America through art. She began collecting at an early age and this grew into her life's work. The exhibit covers American art from the early years of our country through contemporary times. Alice wanted to have a place where all people could come to see this incredible collection free of charge.
Not only is it free to go to the museum, but it is free to walk the grounds and trails that surround the museum. The museum is open 11 to 6 daily except for Tuesday when it is closed. The grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.
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| Detail of the roof interior |
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| Eleven Restaurant |
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| Another roof detail |
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| Looking toward the auditorium from restaurant |
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| Bridge to "The Light" exhibit |
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| Looking inside out. |
Everywhere "nature" is invading the museum
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| The library area at base of the ravine |
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| Looking up the ravine |
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| "Horse" just one of the beautiful sculptures |
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| Looking across the pond to the restaurant |
Moshe Safdie, the Architect
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| Moshe Safdie, the Architect of Crystal |
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| 2005 - 2011~The Building of Crystal Bridges |
The museum design is all about light and how it enhances the art. After years of contemplating and searching Alice learned about
Moshe Safdie, an Israeli born architect who moved to Canada as a youngster. is a world renown architect who designed the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Israel, the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, GA, and now the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR.
Not your local Walmart store
The photos below are of the Museum Store. As you look at these photos you must realize that all of this is from the huge fortune of the Walton family... the family whose business went from Walton's 5 and 10 in Bentonville to the worldwide empire of Walmart and Sam's Clubs. The items in this "store" are not your typical items found in your local Walmart.
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| Inside the Museum Store |
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| Woodwork & pottery by local artisans |
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| Art literature |
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| Beautiful lighting in the store |
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| Photo "multiplied". |
1 comment:
I read about this museum not long ago, can't remember where I was reading, but your photos really make me want to visit there. As I recall Alice Walton has garnered some criticism about her collecting and the building of this museum. I can't imagine why anyone would be put out by a museum, no matter where it is. NY and Paris don't have a monopoly on art or museums!
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