Museum Way

Hear about how 120-acres of trails and grounds is maintained, including the variety of ways landscaping compliments art, and how programs like the popular Forest Concert Series and the first-ever Museum Camp-Out help connect visitors to art and nature. This episode features Avant Gardener Coordinator, Marina McCoy, from the Horticulture Team and Sara Segerlin, Senior Manager, Public Programs and Community Engagement. View the trans...

The museum was designed by Moshe Safdie and embodies the mission to connect visitors with the power of art and the beauty of nature. But HOW did we build a 200,000 square-foot art museum in the middle of a natural forest and ravine? 

Today, we talk to Ken Robinson, Facilities Engineer, who was on-site from the very beginning of the construction process for Crystal Bridges. Learn about the infamous "Thelma and Louise&q...

Superman and Wonder Woman are two of the most beloved icons in American pop culture. Created in times of economic adversity and world war, these characters quickly emerged as beacons of American morality and equality, representing the ideals of truth, justice, and the American way.

The artists in Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, on view at Crystal Bridges, use Superman and Wonder Woman to explore national identity, American values, so...

March is Women's History Month! To celebrate, we’ve invited six fantastic women from our staff to talk about their favorite women artists in the Crystal Bridges collection. From Georgia O'Keeffe to Vanessa German, you'll learn more about these artists and how they inspire us each day. 

The episode features Copywriter, Erica Harmon; Volunteer Services Assistant Manager, Julie Springer; Guest Services Assistan...

Welcome back to Museum Way! Today’s episode is one we’ve been excited to share for a while now. On the final day of Black History Month, we look to the coming year and consider how we can take the lessons of Black History forward. One way we’d like to do that is to listen back on a conversation we had last year. In June of 2018, we sat down with Museum Educators Raven Cook and Kentrell Curry to discuss the American Spirit and the u...

On this episode of Museum Way, we learn more about our focus exhibition Personal Space with Associate Curator Allison Glenn. Then, we talk with Creative Director Anna Vernon all about museum design.

Personal Space takes a look at various depictions of space within Modern and Contemporary art, including sculpture, photography, and installation. This free, focus exhibition asks viewers to consider what emotions are evoked by...

This November, the museum celebrated its 7th anniversary! Since opening our doors on November 11, 2011, we’ve welcomed over 4 million visitors from around the world to experience the art, architecture, and nature that Crystal Bridges has to offer. On today’s episode, we’re talking about our museum mission to welcome all! We talk with Brittany Johnson, Co-Chair of the museum’s IDEA committee, which addresses inclusion, diversity, eq...

Contemporary Indigenous art comes front and center in Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now—on view now at Crystal Bridges through January 7. Discover new stories as today’s Indigenous artists fill the gallery with exquisite colors, images of community and joy, and thought-provoking moments of reflection.

In this episode, we talk with Interpretation Manager Samantha Sigmon and Director of Audience Resear...

On this episode of Museum Way, we talk with artist Negar Ahkami, featured in The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art. Ahkami’s paintings are colorful collisions of influence and critique that she refers to as “an aesthetic of contradiction.” She incorporates Persian architecture and design into her paintings as a proxy for Iranian culture alongside a stylized cartoon aesthetic. Growing up in the U.S., she was acutely...

Alyson Shotz is an artist whose work investigates concepts of space, light, gravity and perception. Her sculptures examine these concepts while allowing viewers to contemplate and appreciate the environment surrounding the piece. In this episode, Shotz visits Museum Way to talk about installing her work "Scattering Screen" in our North Forest. Then we talk with Assistant Preparator Drew Divilbiss about his role in handlin...

Located at 600 Museum Way in Bentonville, Arkansas is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In this new podcast series, we’re sharing all the ins-and-outs of the museum, from the galleries to the trails, the architecture and more—you’ll learn the museum way of Crystal Bridges.In this episode, we’ll talk with Curator Mindy Besaw on why we chose to redo our Early American Art Galleries, and we’ll meet Exhibition Designer Jessi Muel...