September 11, 2025 • 26 mins
Art isn't just something to view—it's a catalyst for connection, hope, and transformation. That's the powerful message from Lela Davidson, Chief Operating Officer at Crystal Bridges Museum and the Momentary, who joined us to discuss the future of these remarkable institutions in Northwest Arkansas.
Davidson reveals exciting details about Crystal Bridges' ambitious expansion, adding 100,000 square feet through what museums call a "reinstallation"—not simply expanding physical space, but reimagining how visitors navigate collections and experience art relationships. Opening June 6, 2026, the expansion features a new crystal bridge structure, larger exhibition spaces, community engagement areas, and improved educational facilities. Most notably, the museum remains open throughout this extensive renovation process, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility.
What sets Crystal Bridges apart is its holistic approach to art as part of wellness. The museum campus now physically connects with the Alice Walton School of Medicine, where medical students incorporate art observation techniques into their training to develop stronger patient observation skills. This integration of art, nature, architecture, and wellness creates a unique destination experience while remaining deeply connected to local community needs.
Davidson paints a vivid picture of a museum that serves nearly 100,000 schoolchildren annually while hosting world-class exhibitions (including an upcoming Keith Haring show), outdoor sculptures, concerts, and speaker series. The expansion allows Crystal Bridges to become both a multi-day destination for tourists and a casual drop-in space for locals, all while maintaining free admission so visitors never feel pressured to "get their money's worth."
Whether you're a long-time art enthusiast or someone who simply appreciates beautiful spaces, Crystal Bridges offers something transformative. As Davidson says, "I challenge anyone to go on our calendars and not find something that they would like to do." Discover this unique intersection of art, architecture, and nature at crystalbridges.org and themomentary.org.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The thing, the biggest word that I learned with
the expansion is not just aphysical expansion, it's called
reinstallation and it's a bigdeal in museums because it
basically means it's not justtaking a few items off the wall
and, you know, putting them in adifferent gallery.
It's really reimagining the waythat people navigate through
(00:22):
the museum and experience thedifferent collections of art and
how they are put together, howthey speak to one another and
speak to the viewer.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome to the 4 Bars podcast.
I'm Ken Leis and I'm Patti.
Leis, we're your hosts for somecompelling dialogue,
encouraging our listeners tostrengthen their connections and
build strong communities,lifting each other up and
connecting in ways that matter.
We named the podcast 4.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Bars as a reference to how hard we work to find a
Four Bars connection on ourdevices, and we wondered what
could happen with relationshipsif we worked as hard at
connecting.
Let's find out.
Welcome back to Four BarsPodcast.
I'm your co-host, Patti Leith.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
And I'm Ken.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Leith, and we have with us again Leila Davidson.
She is the Chief OperatingOfficer at Crystal Bridges and
the Momentary and last time weheard from Leila about her
personal leadership journey.
If you haven't had a chance tolisten to that, you're going to
want to jump in because thereare some great pieces of advice
about how to navigate yourpersonal career journey.
Today we're really going toexplore a little bit more deeply
(01:24):
the things that are going on atCrystal Bridges and Momentary.
It's a fabulous local resourcebut also nationally known,
beautifully acclaimed art museumoffering just fabulous places
for community and connection andinspiration of hope.
I heard Alice speak recentlyand she was talking about how
(01:46):
art is hope.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So welcome and we look really forward to exploring
that.
Yeah, I appreciate you guyshaving me Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
So tell us about the kind of the story of Crystal
Bridges and then the momentary,how they came to be and what the
vision is for them in thiscommunity.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Well, of course, as you know, our founder has a
passion for art, for nature, forarchitecture, for wellness and,
really, above it all, just foraccess so that the people of our
community have access to theseincredible resources, and that's
really at the heart of it, allof everything that we do,
(02:31):
everything that the vision forour campus, for our expanded
campus, for the wellness, forthe health you know, and the
music building into that as well.
With the momentary, it's reallyall about creating these
moments where people in ourcommunity can connect.
So, whether they're connectingwith an art piece or an
(02:52):
experience or a musical piece orjust our architecture, our
grounds, it really is all aboutthat connection, and so that's
why I was excited that youinvited me to be here today and
represent Fantastic, fantastic,yeah, one of the things you just
described, too, is the wayeverything is connected within
the infrastructure there, andthen that permeates way beyond
(03:16):
the grounds.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
One of the things in Northwest Arkansas is you see
art everywhere, which we did notsee prior to Crystal Bridge's
arrival.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Yeah, I really feel like it has been a catalyst.
You know, I recall being up onthe trail watching the
groundbreaking and waiting andwalking and waiting and, you
know, seeing things start tohappen.
And never in a million yearswould I have thought that I
would be working there.
I thought maybe I'll go work inthe coffee shop there, you know
(03:46):
when they open.
But it's been really anincredible incredible to watch
the space grow and to play asmall part of it.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yes, yes, yeah, and I also remember walking in the in
that forested area before therewere trails, watching it all go
up and, and really forestedarea before there were trails,
watching it all go up and andreally I also remember on
opening day going in and how itexceeded my expectations by so
much.
Um, I grew up in the dc areaand so I really didn't think
(04:18):
that it would.
It would would top what I hadseen.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And it has and it continues to well, and I think
that you know of our expansioncoming on the Crystal Bridges
campus.
So, we're adding about a hundredthousand square feet so we will
have an additional bridge, so,as a new crystal bridge, we will
have a temporary gallery, alarge temporary gallery for our
(04:44):
exhibitions, so we will increasethe number of exhibitions that
we're able to bring to theregion every year.
An incredible large space forcommunity engagement.
So we talk about connection.
We have our learning andengagement area, which will have
all kinds of studios and newcommunity rooms and spaces and
(05:07):
really places for our communityto connect with each other, to
connect with local artists.
We're doing some incrediblethings on the education front.
the k-12 education initiativesare just out of this world and
so when you think about thatlittle kernel, that little seed
that's coming from this artcollection and how that has
created all these opportunitiesfor people to connect in ways
(05:31):
that just weren't here before,and then you think about that in
terms of the economicdevelopment that that has
catalyzed, and it's a reallyexciting place to be.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It really is.
It really is, and the expansionis set for really exciting
place to be.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
It really is, it really is, and the expansion is
set for.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
We will have our opening to the public day is
June 6th 2026.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
So we're on a racing countdown to all the things that
are happening between now andthen.
It's a very exciting time to bethere.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
As we walk through there.
It's been exciting to see thosebuildings come to fruition, and
they're going to be just asgorgeous as the first ones.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
It's great it's adding so much more space and
new ways to experience theproperty and experience the work
that we have and theprogramming.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Can you tell us about the programming and some of the
things that you've done and hadthe most fun with and things
that you know that are coming?
Speaker 1 (06:26):
So the expanded areas are just going to offer us a
lot more opportunity forinteraction with different types
of local and regional artists,more spaces for the education to
happen Again, more art spaces.
We'll have a new cafe space inthe new area.
(06:47):
We'll have a new courtyard withthis incredible water feature.
It's really more of the sameprogramming, but I think a
little, you know, it gives us abit of breathing room, because
the other piece of what we do isjust access to these beautiful
spaces for private events aswell.
(07:08):
And so you know, we'reconstantly managing that balance
of these public programs andthen making spaces available for
private events, whether it's awedding or a conference or
things like that, and so we justhave more now, so we have more
people can take advantage ofthat, that's fantastic, and we
have, of course we have a keithherring exhibit.
(07:31):
That will be our first exhibitin the the grand reopening.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
So that's going to be just absolutely incredible.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
It's keith herring in 3d, but the the new exhibition
space, the temporary exhibitionthere is permanent exhibition
space as well.
In the expansion there's alsothe temporary space is just very
spacious, has an incredibleinnovation in the way that the
light comes in the natural light.
(07:59):
So we're really excited to havethe Keith Haring exhibition.
That's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Very exciting.
It's going to be great.
Now, as you look at next year,will this expansion impact
anything other than space?
Are there things that you willbe adding to programming for the
community, or is it just thatthere's a lot more opportunity
(08:26):
to do that?
Speaker 1 (08:27):
now there will be different types of programming,
so we will have a ceramic studio.
We have I'm not quite surewhere we've landed on kind of
the maker slash digital area,but just a lot of different
spaces.
We'll have a space that's ormore than one space that's
available for community use, youknow, like a boardroom type of
(08:48):
a space we have.
One of the things that's reallynice is we are building up to
getting close to 100,000 schoolchildren that's come and tour
this, our museum, every year,and so they will have a space
that's a little bit moreaccommodating for them to enjoy
their lunch and just some of thethings that we are just
(09:10):
bursting at the seams in whatwe've been able to provide
already so this really helps,gives us that breathing room,
gives us, you know, anadditional entry point.
We won't have the new expansionnot really be a public access
entry point for the generalpublic, but we will have a place
for tour buses to come andschool buses and things like
(09:32):
that, so just it really?
It just expands what we're ableto do.
It also opens up our campus.
You know, if you look at ourcampus now, we are one campus
with the other entities that ourfounder has founded and that
are important, including themedical school, and so there's
also a partnership now with ourlearning team to integrate art
(09:57):
into the curriculum of theseincredibly lucky med students.
We had our first class startedat Awesome in July and so being
all on one campus, you know thatreally expands this idea of art
and wellness together as one.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
And can you speak a little bit about that?
Those entities working together, our viewers and listeners if
they're not from the area, maynot know what awesome is and
kind of how that's alsosupporting the community in
terms of the offerings thatthey're giving.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So awesome is the Alice Walton School of Medicine
and it's really intended toprovide a very wellness-focused
medical school curriculum.
So it's fully accreditedmedical school with that focus
on really understanding thewhole person, and part of that
(10:57):
being the art connection isreally when you observe
something closely.
The art educators call it closelooking but it's really.
You know what are the parallelsthere to observing another
human being closely, as we allwould want our doctors to do,
and to really pay attention tous as a person.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
That is the extent of my knowledge of health
curriculum that is the extent ofmy knowledge of health
curriculum.
Well, and the future of health,I think really is going to
integrate all of wellness of thewhole person.
I hope so, and mentalwell-being being a big part of
that.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Yeah, it's incredible .
Speaker 3 (11:38):
That changes the landscape quite a bit Sure.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And I mean just to be literal, on the landscape, just
working on our campus and youknow if I have a meeting in
another building and literallywalking through this incredible
forest garden landscape.
And so one of the things thatAlice Walton always tells us at
our all entity staff meetings is, you know, she wants us to
(12:04):
collide with one another.
She wants us to people to comefrom different disciplines,
different entities, differentbackgrounds and make some magic
happen.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
So that's amazing, it's fun, it's wonderful to have
that campus come together andthe landscape in that whole area
where we're both you know yourbuildings are and the medical
school buildings are is juststunning.
It's beautiful, it's juststunning, and you all did a
fabulous job cleaning up afterthe tornado.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Oh the tornado.
Such a fabulous job.
It's been a journey.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, it has been a journey.
It was something to see.
It really was something to see.
We've spoken on it on ourpodcast a bit because a lot of
people were impacted by it, um,but but to me, initially there
was so much destruction and andyou made such progress weekly,
(12:56):
monthly, that it's you can walkthrough and really not notice it
as much.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, our trails and grounds team is absolutely
incredible, amazing and ourfacilities team.
They have the partnerships inthe community to be able to, you
know, get that help that weneeded very quickly and they've
just done a great job.
So we have different areas thatyou know, in the refurbishing
of the forested and unforestedareas, you'll see gardens coming
(13:23):
, you'll see reforestation inthe years to come.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah that's pretty incredible.
We've definitely watched someof that actually happen in real
time and the fact that they sawsomething change.
Okay, how do we make itbeautiful again?
What do we bring in differentthat will?
Add overall, to the overallexperience.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Right.
One of our grounds leads talksabout.
There are definitely spaceswhere it was only shade before,
where we can now have flowers ifwe want to, because the sun's
coming in, but she talks aboutlast summer, the sapling parties
.
Because all these littlesaplings that didn't have a
chance before.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Yes, that do.
Now we have a lot of that inour yard.
So I'm chuckling because I'mthinking of the number of shade.
We had bought probably 20 goodshade plants to plant the day
before it happened.
Oh no, and there was no shade.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Shade's gone, shade's gone we were also considering
the fact that the trees hadgrown so much since we'd been
there that we no longer couldhave the same amount of light,
which was one of the reasons weloved it.
The house built on a hillside,and so we were still looking at
taking out some just plain doorsand putting in large petitions
of glasses, doors to the decksand stuff, but we literally
(14:39):
after about two weeks, were likegoing wow, it's so bright in
here.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Stop thinking about the way it weather.
Maybe we don't need all thesethings.
You don't need to do themodifications.
That's right.
It's wonderful to let theoutside come in like that.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Well, tell us about your role there as COO.
It's a big role.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, it's really, I mean it's so.
I have the earned revenuecomponents, responsibility for
that, and then also, really moreimportantly I think, just
making sure that we have thesystems in place and the
infrastructure for everyone tobe able to get their jobs done
in a way that feels as seamlessas possible.
(15:18):
We do a lot compared to otherinstitutions.
We are very programming heavy.
(15:48):
We want to.
Again, it's all about access.
So you, you can't, people can'taccess events and and there is
a, you know, a thirst for moreand more, and that requires a
lot of coordination and so,being only 15 years old, we'll
be 15 next year with ourreopening.
Um, you know, that's a prettyyoung company really in terms of
systems and infrastructure andbusiness process, and so that is
(16:10):
something that is a big part ofmy role in listening to a lot
of different functions, helpingthem speak the same language,
helping them get literally onthe same page.
You know, alignment and clarityand order is the the call of
the day.
Yeah, and it's.
It's been especially heightenedright now because we're you
(16:32):
know, we're ramping up for this.
The thing, the, the biggest wordthat I learned with the
expansion is not just a physicalexpansion, it's called
reinstallation and it's a bigdeal in museums because it
basically means it's not justtaking a few items off the wall
and, you know, putting them in adifferent gallery.
(16:52):
It's really reimagining the waythat people navigate through
the museum and experience thedifferent collections of art and
how they are put together, howthey speak to one another and
speak to the viewer, and so thatis an incredibly complex thing
to do.
Most museums would not remainopen while they were doing that
(17:17):
kind of a project.
They would close for a periodof time.
But we don't do that becausewe're all about access.
We want people to be able toenjoy the art, so that's been
really a great time for themuseum to come together.
So it was the right time for meto come into this role, having
that kind of systems mindset andthat cross-functional, you know
(17:39):
pulling together.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
That's what's been fun.
Yeah, I bet, I bet, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
As you think about, once you do reopen and you have
these new, larger spaces, newspaces.
People who come here alreadyhave seen incredible things.
What would their experience be?
How will it be different whenthey come back?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
be?
How will it be different whenthey come back?
Hmm, I think we continue tobuild, you know, together with
our partners in Bentonville,just more of an experience, a
longer experience, a multi-dayexperience.
Right, I mean, even right nowyou could come to Crystal
Bridges and tour the collectionand maybe do lunch.
(18:25):
You could go over to themomentary and take in a concert
and browse through the galleriesat the momentary.
You could top off your day inthe tower bar.
You could come back and do itall over again the next day and
you would have a completelydifferent experience because we
have that much programming dayand you would have a completely
different experience because wehave that much programming
happening and you could spendhalf a day just browsing around
(18:48):
the trails.
You know, just, and we have alot more outdoor sculpture
coming in the next couple ofyears and just, really, you know
, creating that full campusexperience.
It's going to be even more andso I feel like it's we are just
this core foundation of thattourist experience in northwest
(19:10):
Arkansas and that's, you know.
At the same time, we want to bejust your drop-in space, we want
it to be for our locals, not abig deal to come to the museum.
Just come in.
You know you're out on thetrails with your kids.
Just pop in for an hour.
That's the beauty of being noadmission, you know free
(19:31):
admission is.
You don't have to think, oh, doI need to get my money's worth
and spend a day and see everysingle piece of art?
No, just pop in, just hang outfor a little while.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Yeah, and come as you are too.
Absolutely come as you are.
It's not pretentious at all.
No, we want people to come inoff their mountain bike off the
trails and just stop in enjoy alittle peace yeah and for me
personally I have gone there formany things Generally it is to
see something, but I'm alwaysmotivated in some way to either
(20:06):
be more inspirational or to getmore hope.
Just the surrounding is veryinvigorating, and so I have made
it a point recently to go moreoften, not for a particular
program, just to be there.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Yeah, it is a great space, just to be in and the
architecture you know, bringingthe outside in.
That is, and there are thesemoments.
It's very intentional.
I don't you know, I know verylittle about art or architecture
, but as I learn and understandthe intentionality behind how
there are.
you go through a gallery andthen there's a moment of
(20:42):
reflection where there's moreaccess to the outside views, or
there's a place to go enjoy theoutdoors and then come back in
and get back into the art, andso it's just really, it's just
such a thoughtfully designedspace that you can't help but
(21:02):
kind of calm down your bloodpressure comes down when you go
in.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
My 13-year-old niece was visiting when her mom was
ill and so there was a lot ofthings going on in her life, and
she went with one of our frienduh, 15 year old daughters to
crystal bridges and, um, whenshe got back I asked what she
liked the most and she said thewindows yeah, I liked looking
out the window that's so cool.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, that's so.
Yeah, it's beautiful it reallyis it's fun to be there, too,
all the time and watch theseasons change, because you see
the red buds.
And then you see the dogwoodsand, like you, just get to watch
this whole seasonal changehappening right out the window
as you're having businessmeetings yeah, since you're open
also in the winter time you'reable to go there and it's dark
(21:53):
outside, and that's a completelydifferent experience when
you're illuminated the groundsyes, and
you get to see all that uniquelydifferent and sometimes the
snow you can see as well indeedum, the other thing that we try
to take in whenever possible arethe speaker series oh yeah come
and I just saw mia ham wasgoing to be here coming up too.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Yes, oh, I love her yeah she's great.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
We are so lucky, uh, we are able to take advantage of
a lot of different speakersthat come into town and we've
had some incredible moments inthat great hall and now with
them, with the whole healthInstitute building which is on
our campus.
We there's a larger space, itaccommodates a little bit more
(22:37):
than our great hall, and so youknow, the speaker series usually
sell out immediately.
So, now we have a little bitmore space that we can provide
more access to these incredibleminds that come and share with
us.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Well, as we wrap up, there's some resources you'll
put in our portal so people cango in and look around,
particularly the website.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, crystalbridgesorg and
themomentaryorg.
They both have updatedcalendars.
You know, crystal Bridges isreally about art, architecture,
nature, the momentary beingabout art, music and food and
the moments of our time, and sojust that connection to art and
the arts and these incredibletransformational experiences.
(23:23):
But I challenge anyone to go onour calendars and not find
something that they would liketo do they would like to do,
absolutely, absolutely.
and, as we wrap up today, canyou share with our listeners and
viewers, whether local or notlocal, a couple of great reasons
to come and visit the momentary, or crystal, bridges yeah, our
(23:46):
place is just unlike any otherand until you experience it,
even the fact that our buildingis situated in this ravine is so
incredibly unique and just thisintersection between art,
architecture and nature.
And then you can go to thisworld-class art museum and in
(24:07):
the same time, you can seeincredible music acts out on
this, either out on the green,which is just a wonderful
experience in the summer, or inthe state-of-the-art studio, our
Roadhouse studio, which is justevery artist that comes tells
(24:27):
us that it's the most incrediblesystem that they've ever played
on and the sound is the highestquality.
So to have those two here, Imean, you can't beat it.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yes, we are.
Sometimes we talk aboutourselves as like we're a little
bit spoiled by what you havehere, because you typically do
not have communities of thissize that have the amount of
amenities and the quality of theamenities that we have.
And it really, when you talk topeople walking the grounds we
do this tons of times and theyare just shocked.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yes, we are pleasantly surprising to
everyone.
We are spoiled.
We're absolutely spoiled, yeahfor sure, For sure.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Well, this has been delightful.
Thank you for both episodes andfor sharing your life and your
work with us and our viewers.
And Ken any additionalquestions you have.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
No, I just really want to thank you for really
painting a very good picturethat will help people who are
watching or listening uh, ifthey'll pique their curiosity of
why they need to come here andcheck it out and what the
opportunities are.
It's found family friendly.
It is the opportunity to engagein the inside and the art, but
also embrace the exterior ofeverything and and if you are
(25:36):
adverse outdoors person, youjust incorporate that into your
experience while you're here.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Yeah, it's really wonderful, absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
It's been a pleasure and thank you, and we want to
thank you again, our listeners,for being a part of this today,
and let you know to please goonline to 4BarsPodcastcom and
follow us, and follow us andalso let us know any things that
you would like as far as topicsfor us to bring in guest
(26:04):
speakers and talk about how wecan connect with you, and, again
, Four Bars Podcast is reallyabout exploring good connections
in our life, our work and ourcommunities.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
You can also find the resources from Leila and past
speakers in that portal underresources.
So thanks for being here.
Have a great day.
The 4 Bars podcast has beenbrought to you by Edges Inc.
A growth advisory firm based inBentonville, arkansas.
I founded the company in 2001.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Edges promotes growth , people, companies and ideas.
Our team collaboration tool,called Interface Methods, is a
basis for teams to work togethermore collaboratively,
understand each other and acceptdifferences and address
challenges together.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
We also started a nonprofit called Unform your
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We teach kids and their adultinfluencers how to utilize
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We hope you'll check us out,subscribe to our podcast and
look at our website.
The thing, the biggest word that I learned with
the expansion is not just aphysical expansion, it's called
reinstallation and it's a bigdeal in museums because it
basically means it's not justtaking a few items off the wall
and, you know, putting them in adifferent gallery.
It's really reimagining the waythat people navigate through
(00:22):
the museum and experience thedifferent collections of art and
how they are put together, howthey speak to one another and
speak to the viewer.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome to the 4 Bars podcast.
I'm Ken Leis and I'm Patti.
Leis, we're your hosts for somecompelling dialogue,
encouraging our listeners tostrengthen their connections and
build strong communities,lifting each other up and
connecting in ways that matter.
We named the podcast 4.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Bars as a reference to how hard we work to find a
Four Bars connection on ourdevices, and we wondered what
could happen with relationshipsif we worked as hard at
connecting.
Let's find out.
Welcome back to Four BarsPodcast.
I'm your co-host, Patti Leith.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
And I'm Ken.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Leith, and we have with us again Leila Davidson.
She is the Chief OperatingOfficer at Crystal Bridges and
the Momentary and last time weheard from Leila about her
personal leadership journey.
If you haven't had a chance tolisten to that, you're going to
want to jump in because thereare some great pieces of advice
about how to navigate yourpersonal career journey.
Today we're really going toexplore a little bit more deeply
(01:24):
the things that are going on atCrystal Bridges and Momentary.
It's a fabulous local resourcebut also nationally known,
beautifully acclaimed art museumoffering just fabulous places
for community and connection andinspiration of hope.
I heard Alice speak recentlyand she was talking about how
(01:46):
art is hope.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So welcome and we look really forward to exploring
that.
Yeah, I appreciate you guyshaving me Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
So tell us about the kind of the story of Crystal
Bridges and then the momentary,how they came to be and what the
vision is for them in thiscommunity.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Well, of course, as you know, our founder has a
passion for art, for nature, forarchitecture, for wellness and,
really, above it all, just foraccess so that the people of our
community have access to theseincredible resources, and that's
really at the heart of it, allof everything that we do,
(02:31):
everything that the vision forour campus, for our expanded
campus, for the wellness, forthe health you know, and the
music building into that as well.
With the momentary, it's reallyall about creating these
moments where people in ourcommunity can connect.
So, whether they're connectingwith an art piece or an
(02:52):
experience or a musical piece orjust our architecture, our
grounds, it really is all aboutthat connection, and so that's
why I was excited that youinvited me to be here today and
represent Fantastic, fantastic,yeah, one of the things you just
described, too, is the wayeverything is connected within
the infrastructure there, andthen that permeates way beyond
(03:16):
the grounds.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
One of the things in Northwest Arkansas is you see
art everywhere, which we did notsee prior to Crystal Bridge's
arrival.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Yeah, I really feel like it has been a catalyst.
You know, I recall being up onthe trail watching the
groundbreaking and waiting andwalking and waiting and, you
know, seeing things start tohappen.
And never in a million yearswould I have thought that I
would be working there.
I thought maybe I'll go work inthe coffee shop there, you know
(03:46):
when they open.
But it's been really anincredible incredible to watch
the space grow and to play asmall part of it.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yes, yes, yeah, and I also remember walking in the in
that forested area before therewere trails, watching it all go
up and, and really forestedarea before there were trails,
watching it all go up and andreally I also remember on
opening day going in and how itexceeded my expectations by so
much.
Um, I grew up in the dc areaand so I really didn't think
(04:18):
that it would.
It would would top what I hadseen.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And it has and it continues to well, and I think
that you know of our expansioncoming on the Crystal Bridges
campus.
So, we're adding about a hundredthousand square feet so we will
have an additional bridge, so,as a new crystal bridge, we will
have a temporary gallery, alarge temporary gallery for our
(04:44):
exhibitions, so we will increasethe number of exhibitions that
we're able to bring to theregion every year.
An incredible large space forcommunity engagement.
So we talk about connection.
We have our learning andengagement area, which will have
all kinds of studios and newcommunity rooms and spaces and
(05:07):
really places for our communityto connect with each other, to
connect with local artists.
We're doing some incrediblethings on the education front.
the k-12 education initiativesare just out of this world and
so when you think about thatlittle kernel, that little seed
that's coming from this artcollection and how that has
created all these opportunitiesfor people to connect in ways
(05:31):
that just weren't here before,and then you think about that in
terms of the economicdevelopment that that has
catalyzed, and it's a reallyexciting place to be.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It really is.
It really is, and the expansionis set for really exciting
place to be.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
It really is, it really is, and the expansion is
set for.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
We will have our opening to the public day is
June 6th 2026.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
So we're on a racing countdown to all the things that
are happening between now andthen.
It's a very exciting time to bethere.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
As we walk through there.
It's been exciting to see thosebuildings come to fruition, and
they're going to be just asgorgeous as the first ones.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
It's great it's adding so much more space and
new ways to experience theproperty and experience the work
that we have and theprogramming.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Can you tell us about the programming and some of the
things that you've done and hadthe most fun with and things
that you know that are coming?
Speaker 1 (06:26):
So the expanded areas are just going to offer us a
lot more opportunity forinteraction with different types
of local and regional artists,more spaces for the education to
happen Again, more art spaces.
We'll have a new cafe space inthe new area.
(06:47):
We'll have a new courtyard withthis incredible water feature.
It's really more of the sameprogramming, but I think a
little, you know, it gives us abit of breathing room, because
the other piece of what we do isjust access to these beautiful
spaces for private events aswell.
(07:08):
And so you know, we'reconstantly managing that balance
of these public programs andthen making spaces available for
private events, whether it's awedding or a conference or
things like that, and so we justhave more now, so we have more
people can take advantage ofthat, that's fantastic, and we
have, of course we have a keithherring exhibit.
(07:31):
That will be our first exhibitin the the grand reopening.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
So that's going to be just absolutely incredible.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
It's keith herring in 3d, but the the new exhibition
space, the temporary exhibitionthere is permanent exhibition
space as well.
In the expansion there's alsothe temporary space is just very
spacious, has an incredibleinnovation in the way that the
light comes in the natural light.
(07:59):
So we're really excited to havethe Keith Haring exhibition.
That's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Very exciting.
It's going to be great.
Now, as you look at next year,will this expansion impact
anything other than space?
Are there things that you willbe adding to programming for the
community, or is it just thatthere's a lot more opportunity
(08:26):
to do that?
Speaker 1 (08:27):
now there will be different types of programming,
so we will have a ceramic studio.
We have I'm not quite surewhere we've landed on kind of
the maker slash digital area,but just a lot of different
spaces.
We'll have a space that's ormore than one space that's
available for community use, youknow, like a boardroom type of
(08:48):
a space we have.
One of the things that's reallynice is we are building up to
getting close to 100,000 schoolchildren that's come and tour
this, our museum, every year,and so they will have a space
that's a little bit moreaccommodating for them to enjoy
their lunch and just some of thethings that we are just
(09:10):
bursting at the seams in whatwe've been able to provide
already so this really helps,gives us that breathing room,
gives us, you know, anadditional entry point.
We won't have the new expansionnot really be a public access
entry point for the generalpublic, but we will have a place
for tour buses to come andschool buses and things like
(09:32):
that, so just it really?
It just expands what we're ableto do.
It also opens up our campus.
You know, if you look at ourcampus now, we are one campus
with the other entities that ourfounder has founded and that
are important, including themedical school, and so there's
also a partnership now with ourlearning team to integrate art
(09:57):
into the curriculum of theseincredibly lucky med students.
We had our first class startedat Awesome in July and so being
all on one campus, you know thatreally expands this idea of art
and wellness together as one.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
And can you speak a little bit about that?
Those entities working together, our viewers and listeners if
they're not from the area, maynot know what awesome is and
kind of how that's alsosupporting the community in
terms of the offerings thatthey're giving.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So awesome is the Alice Walton School of Medicine
and it's really intended toprovide a very wellness-focused
medical school curriculum.
So it's fully accreditedmedical school with that focus
on really understanding thewhole person, and part of that
(10:57):
being the art connection isreally when you observe
something closely.
The art educators call it closelooking but it's really.
You know what are the parallelsthere to observing another
human being closely, as we allwould want our doctors to do,
and to really pay attention tous as a person.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
That is the extent of my knowledge of health
curriculum that is the extent ofmy knowledge of health
curriculum.
Well, and the future of health,I think really is going to
integrate all of wellness of thewhole person.
I hope so, and mentalwell-being being a big part of
that.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Yeah, it's incredible .
Speaker 3 (11:38):
That changes the landscape quite a bit Sure.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
And I mean just to be literal, on the landscape, just
working on our campus and youknow if I have a meeting in
another building and literallywalking through this incredible
forest garden landscape.
And so one of the things thatAlice Walton always tells us at
our all entity staff meetings is, you know, she wants us to
(12:04):
collide with one another.
She wants us to people to comefrom different disciplines,
different entities, differentbackgrounds and make some magic
happen.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
So that's amazing, it's fun, it's wonderful to have
that campus come together andthe landscape in that whole area
where we're both you know yourbuildings are and the medical
school buildings are is juststunning.
It's beautiful, it's juststunning, and you all did a
fabulous job cleaning up afterthe tornado.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Oh the tornado.
Such a fabulous job.
It's been a journey.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, it has been a journey.
It was something to see.
It really was something to see.
We've spoken on it on ourpodcast a bit because a lot of
people were impacted by it, um,but but to me, initially there
was so much destruction and andyou made such progress weekly,
(12:56):
monthly, that it's you can walkthrough and really not notice it
as much.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Yeah, our trails and grounds team is absolutely
incredible, amazing and ourfacilities team.
They have the partnerships inthe community to be able to, you
know, get that help that weneeded very quickly and they've
just done a great job.
So we have different areas thatyou know, in the refurbishing
of the forested and unforestedareas, you'll see gardens coming
(13:23):
, you'll see reforestation inthe years to come.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah that's pretty incredible.
We've definitely watched someof that actually happen in real
time and the fact that they sawsomething change.
Okay, how do we make itbeautiful again?
What do we bring in differentthat will?
Add overall, to the overallexperience.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Right.
One of our grounds leads talksabout.
There are definitely spaceswhere it was only shade before,
where we can now have flowers ifwe want to, because the sun's
coming in, but she talks aboutlast summer, the sapling parties
.
Because all these littlesaplings that didn't have a
chance before.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Yes, that do.
Now we have a lot of that inour yard.
So I'm chuckling because I'mthinking of the number of shade.
We had bought probably 20 goodshade plants to plant the day
before it happened.
Oh no, and there was no shade.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Shade's gone, shade's gone we were also considering
the fact that the trees hadgrown so much since we'd been
there that we no longer couldhave the same amount of light,
which was one of the reasons weloved it.
The house built on a hillside,and so we were still looking at
taking out some just plain doorsand putting in large petitions
of glasses, doors to the decksand stuff, but we literally
(14:39):
after about two weeks, were likegoing wow, it's so bright in
here.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Stop thinking about the way it weather.
Maybe we don't need all thesethings.
You don't need to do themodifications.
That's right.
It's wonderful to let theoutside come in like that.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Well, tell us about your role there as COO.
It's a big role.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Yeah, it's really, I mean it's so.
I have the earned revenuecomponents, responsibility for
that, and then also, really moreimportantly I think, just
making sure that we have thesystems in place and the
infrastructure for everyone tobe able to get their jobs done
in a way that feels as seamlessas possible.
(15:18):
We do a lot compared to otherinstitutions.
We are very programming heavy.
(15:48):
We want to.
Again, it's all about access.
So you, you can't, people can'taccess events and and there is
a, you know, a thirst for moreand more, and that requires a
lot of coordination and so,being only 15 years old, we'll
be 15 next year with ourreopening.
Um, you know, that's a prettyyoung company really in terms of
systems and infrastructure andbusiness process, and so that is
(16:10):
something that is a big part ofmy role in listening to a lot
of different functions, helpingthem speak the same language,
helping them get literally onthe same page.
You know, alignment and clarityand order is the the call of
the day.
Yeah, and it's.
It's been especially heightenedright now because we're you
(16:32):
know, we're ramping up for this.
The thing, the, the biggest wordthat I learned with the
expansion is not just a physicalexpansion, it's called
reinstallation and it's a bigdeal in museums because it
basically means it's not justtaking a few items off the wall
and, you know, putting them in adifferent gallery.
(16:52):
It's really reimagining the waythat people navigate through
the museum and experience thedifferent collections of art and
how they are put together, howthey speak to one another and
speak to the viewer, and so thatis an incredibly complex thing
to do.
Most museums would not remainopen while they were doing that
(17:17):
kind of a project.
They would close for a periodof time.
But we don't do that becausewe're all about access.
We want people to be able toenjoy the art, so that's been
really a great time for themuseum to come together.
So it was the right time for meto come into this role, having
that kind of systems mindset andthat cross-functional, you know
(17:39):
pulling together.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
That's what's been fun.
Yeah, I bet, I bet, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
As you think about, once you do reopen and you have
these new, larger spaces, newspaces.
People who come here alreadyhave seen incredible things.
What would their experience be?
How will it be different whenthey come back?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
be?
How will it be different whenthey come back?
Hmm, I think we continue tobuild, you know, together with
our partners in Bentonville,just more of an experience, a
longer experience, a multi-dayexperience.
Right, I mean, even right nowyou could come to Crystal
Bridges and tour the collectionand maybe do lunch.
(18:25):
You could go over to themomentary and take in a concert
and browse through the galleriesat the momentary.
You could top off your day inthe tower bar.
You could come back and do itall over again the next day and
you would have a completelydifferent experience because we
have that much programming dayand you would have a completely
different experience because wehave that much programming
happening and you could spendhalf a day just browsing around
(18:48):
the trails.
You know, just, and we have alot more outdoor sculpture
coming in the next couple ofyears and just, really, you know
, creating that full campusexperience.
It's going to be even more andso I feel like it's we are just
this core foundation of thattourist experience in northwest
(19:10):
Arkansas and that's, you know.
At the same time, we want to bejust your drop-in space, we want
it to be for our locals, not abig deal to come to the museum.
Just come in.
You know you're out on thetrails with your kids.
Just pop in for an hour.
That's the beauty of being noadmission, you know free
(19:31):
admission is.
You don't have to think, oh, doI need to get my money's worth
and spend a day and see everysingle piece of art?
No, just pop in, just hang outfor a little while.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Yeah, and come as you are too.
Absolutely come as you are.
It's not pretentious at all.
No, we want people to come inoff their mountain bike off the
trails and just stop in enjoy alittle peace yeah and for me
personally I have gone there formany things Generally it is to
see something, but I'm alwaysmotivated in some way to either
(20:06):
be more inspirational or to getmore hope.
Just the surrounding is veryinvigorating, and so I have made
it a point recently to go moreoften, not for a particular
program, just to be there.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Yeah, it is a great space, just to be in and the
architecture you know, bringingthe outside in.
That is, and there are thesemoments.
It's very intentional.
I don't you know, I know verylittle about art or architecture
, but as I learn and understandthe intentionality behind how
there are.
you go through a gallery andthen there's a moment of
(20:42):
reflection where there's moreaccess to the outside views, or
there's a place to go enjoy theoutdoors and then come back in
and get back into the art, andso it's just really, it's just
such a thoughtfully designedspace that you can't help but
(21:02):
kind of calm down your bloodpressure comes down when you go
in.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
My 13-year-old niece was visiting when her mom was
ill and so there was a lot ofthings going on in her life, and
she went with one of our frienduh, 15 year old daughters to
crystal bridges and, um, whenshe got back I asked what she
liked the most and she said thewindows yeah, I liked looking
out the window that's so cool.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, that's so.
Yeah, it's beautiful it reallyis it's fun to be there, too,
all the time and watch theseasons change, because you see
the red buds.
And then you see the dogwoodsand, like you, just get to watch
this whole seasonal changehappening right out the window
as you're having businessmeetings yeah, since you're open
also in the winter time you'reable to go there and it's dark
(21:53):
outside, and that's a completelydifferent experience when
you're illuminated the groundsyes, and
you get to see all that uniquelydifferent and sometimes the
snow you can see as well indeedum, the other thing that we try
to take in whenever possible arethe speaker series oh yeah come
and I just saw mia ham wasgoing to be here coming up too.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Yes, oh, I love her yeah she's great.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
We are so lucky, uh, we are able to take advantage of
a lot of different speakersthat come into town and we've
had some incredible moments inthat great hall and now with
them, with the whole healthInstitute building which is on
our campus.
We there's a larger space, itaccommodates a little bit more
(22:37):
than our great hall, and so youknow, the speaker series usually
sell out immediately.
So, now we have a little bitmore space that we can provide
more access to these incredibleminds that come and share with
us.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Well, as we wrap up, there's some resources you'll
put in our portal so people cango in and look around,
particularly the website.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Yeah, crystalbridgesorg and
themomentaryorg.
They both have updatedcalendars.
You know, crystal Bridges isreally about art, architecture,
nature, the momentary beingabout art, music and food and
the moments of our time, and sojust that connection to art and
the arts and these incredibletransformational experiences.
(23:23):
But I challenge anyone to go onour calendars and not find
something that they would liketo do they would like to do,
absolutely, absolutely.
and, as we wrap up today, canyou share with our listeners and
viewers, whether local or notlocal, a couple of great reasons
to come and visit the momentary, or crystal, bridges yeah, our
(23:46):
place is just unlike any otherand until you experience it,
even the fact that our buildingis situated in this ravine is so
incredibly unique and just thisintersection between art,
architecture and nature.
And then you can go to thisworld-class art museum and in
(24:07):
the same time, you can seeincredible music acts out on
this, either out on the green,which is just a wonderful
experience in the summer, or inthe state-of-the-art studio, our
Roadhouse studio, which is justevery artist that comes tells
(24:27):
us that it's the most incrediblesystem that they've ever played
on and the sound is the highestquality.
So to have those two here, Imean, you can't beat it.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yes, we are.
Sometimes we talk aboutourselves as like we're a little
bit spoiled by what you havehere, because you typically do
not have communities of thissize that have the amount of
amenities and the quality of theamenities that we have.
And it really, when you talk topeople walking the grounds we
do this tons of times and theyare just shocked.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yes, we are pleasantly surprising to
everyone.
We are spoiled.
We're absolutely spoiled, yeahfor sure, For sure.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Well, this has been delightful.
Thank you for both episodes andfor sharing your life and your
work with us and our viewers.
And Ken any additionalquestions you have.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
No, I just really want to thank you for really
painting a very good picturethat will help people who are
watching or listening uh, ifthey'll pique their curiosity of
why they need to come here andcheck it out and what the
opportunities are.
It's found family friendly.
It is the opportunity to engagein the inside and the art, but
also embrace the exterior ofeverything and and if you are
(25:36):
adverse outdoors person, youjust incorporate that into your
experience while you're here.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Yeah, it's really wonderful, absolutely.
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
It's been a pleasure and thank you, and we want to
thank you again, our listeners,for being a part of this today,
and let you know to please goonline to 4BarsPodcastcom and
follow us, and follow us andalso let us know any things that
you would like as far as topicsfor us to bring in guest
(26:04):
speakers and talk about how wecan connect with you, and, again
, Four Bars Podcast is reallyabout exploring good connections
in our life, our work and ourcommunities.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
You can also find the resources from Leila and past
speakers in that portal underresources.
So thanks for being here.
Have a great day.
The 4 Bars podcast has beenbrought to you by Edges Inc.
A growth advisory firm based inBentonville, arkansas.
I founded the company in 2001.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Edges promotes growth , people, companies and ideas.
Our team collaboration tool,called Interface Methods, is a
basis for teams to work togethermore collaboratively,
understand each other and acceptdifferences and address
challenges together.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
We also started a nonprofit called Unform your
Bias.
We teach kids and their adultinfluencers how to utilize
storytelling as a means toreduce bias in the world.
We hope you'll check us out,subscribe to our podcast and
look at our website.
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