Art, people! Enjoy!

The highlight of our trip to Arkansas, the only reason for going within spitting distance of Branson, Missouri (no thank you) in a muggy August heat wave, was to see this magnificent art museum:

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, was built by Wal-Mart heiress, Alice Walton. and designed by Moshe Safdie (he designed the Habitat at the 1967 Montreal World's Fair). It is not without its controversies, mainly critics comparing its 'let them eat art' values to the way it treats its own workers, and rides roughshod over small towns and businesses.
I had seen a story on it on CBS 60 Minutes and realized it was in a day's journey away from us, so while Glenn was in Spain I made the plans. We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in Bentonville, near the museum, nicely remodeled, and close to the old town square still sporting the old five and dime store that would later be the Wal-mart evil empire.

I notice Sam Walton lovingly preserved his own home town, although he probably owns every inch of it.

Not that I'm judging. Who me? Miss Tolerence 2012, putting up with other people for 62 years? Oh no.
Well, at least his daughter spared no expense for the lovely museum, and it's free to the public. Art for all, and it's not sequestered away in New York. I like that.
Here are some more views of the building and grounds. Many nature walks outside (at the risk of heat stroke), and a nice cafe to break up the visit. You enter from above and then descend downwards to the water level:

As an architect, Glenn was quite impressed, and noticed all the details, like concrete pillars polished and varnished with a soft patina to look like marble.

Meanwhile I was looking for my own photo ops:

I didn't take too many photos of actual artwork, too busy enjoying it and fearful of the flash going off and a stern guard approaching. There was a touring exhibit of the Hudson River School that was just beautiful, featuring many of the leading artists of that group. The most impressive was a five painting series of the rise and fall of an empire by Thomas Cole, huge dramatic paintings with infinite detail. They were supposed to be symbolic of the U.S. at that time in 19th century history but this one reminded me of our current state and the upcoming election. Looks like the Tea Party and the Liberals are having it out:

The museum's own collection was arranged from Colonial to Modern art. The journey took about five hours including lunch and I did not get museum fatigue at all. There many familiar names: Sargent, Whistler, Homer, Eakins,Wyeth, Avery, Cassatt, O'Keeffe, Parrish, Pollock, Rockwell, and Warhol. Something for everyone. I had a few favorites, including this intriguing sculpture of Martha Graham, so exact in representing her personality:

This famous painting resides here too. Asher Durand's 'Kindred Spirits'.

And this stunning painting, nearly seven feet tall by Robert Henri. I love the way the woman seems to unfold out of the darkness and gaze directly at you with a serene, confident air.

This painting also held my attention, "The Intruder", a tempera work by Andrew Wyeth. I felt the still, alertness of the dog looking into the twilight. The textures of the rocks were just incredible.

And here's this ironic and iconic image by Norman Rockwell, a huge canvas of Rosie the Riveter, posed like Michaelangelo's prophet Isaiah on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. An ode to both women and workers that may be lost on the Waltons. Not judging, just observing...:-)

One of the last paintings we viewed was this huge canvas that took up an entire wall, done by Tom Uttech in 2009. It seemed a fitting end to a journey that started in the American wilderness of the Hudson River. A lone bear ponders a setting sun while thousands of birds swarm through the air like mosquitos. Is it the end of the world? A new beginning? Has nature reclaimed the land? The bear is the still point and only he knows.