Crystal Bridges and a Weather Disaster

 I am on the email list of a museum in Benton County, Arkansas called Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  It isn't just any museum, though.  I know this because my spouse and I had the pleasure of visiting it in 2013.  Most of the post below was written several years later.

But the storms that hit much of the interior of the United States in the past several days weren't kind to the area, though, as I found out from a museum email blast. Some seven tornados hit Northwest Arkansas and nearby parts of Oklahoma on May 26. As of right now, the extensive outdoor trails are closed.  The schools of two nearby cities had to end their school years early.  That damage appears to have been from straight line winds.  Crystal Bridges had to cancel a number of their programs.

But the museum also feels it has a mission to bring comfort to the people of the area.  To quote:

"Crystal Bridges aims to offer a respite to those who seek comfort, safety, and community bonding," Emma Claybrook with Crystal Bridges said. 

Admission to the previously priced exhibit Exquisite Creatures will be free until June 3. They also plan to offer free artmaking activities for people of all ages. 

"Expanded, free, drop-in artmaking activities for people of all ages will be available, a hopeful resource for families impacted by early school year closures in Bentonville and Rogers," Claybrook said. "

Arkansas, the land of art?  Yes. 

Walmart, which is headquartered in Bentonville, has done much with this museum of art.

There isn't just folk art.  But fine art, the museum quality art of people such as Arthur Dove, Gilbert Stuart, John Singleton Copley, Asher Durand, Thomas Cole, and others.  Best of all, general admission is free. (Some exhibitions are not free, but they will be free temporarily in the wake of the storms.)

In the Northwest Arkansas city of Bentonville, where the giant chain Walmart got its start, the family of the late Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton opened a world class art museum called Crystal Bridges in 2011.  It is sponsored by the Walton family - so, when you shop at Walmart, think of this place as your reward.

It is worth seeing.  You can get right up close, and sketch if you want.  It is a dream for those who love to study art.  I am not any kind of art expert, but I enjoyed the little bit of the exhibit I saw.

When we visited back in late August of 2013, we were just slightly overwhelmed.  Yes, a blogger who grew up in New York City, overwhelmed by an art museum.

Can you imagine retiring in this area, as many have, and having something like this in your backyard?

The museum is nestled into a ravine cut by Crystal Spring (hence, the name) with the spring in the middle.

 It really fools you - you think the building is on multiple levels, but (we were assured by a docent) it is only due to the topography.

A Friday concert being set up, near the spring.

This is one of the many outdoor sculptures (it was in the 90's F, and we just didn't have the stamina after a full day of sightseeing to explore the extensive grounds.)  But tomorrow, we hope to explore some of the trails. (We have never returned, and now they have been extensively damaged).

This is one of the art works I enjoyed.  It is called "Winter Scene in Brooklyn" by Francis Guy.  Photography (without flash) is permitted and I hope it is OK to post this.  This scene is from the early 1800's and I loved the scene.

There are even two George Washington paintings by Gilbert Stuart, the man who created the portrait that is on the American one dollar bill.

Arkansas - land of surprises.  The rural Benton County I remembered from the 1980's has grown tremendously.  It was amazing in 2013.

I'm sure it is just as amazing now.

I wish Benton County, Arkansas a speedy recovery as they recover from the May 26 storms.

Local Saturday - Walmart and Whoopie (Pies)

No more "urban offense and rural defense".

Walmart is ending an experiment begun in 2011, with small "express" stores.  Some 10,000 people in the United States, and another 6,000 outside our country, will lose their jobs.

Walmart had hoped that lower income shoppers (who will shop several times a week, as they accumulate enough money to shop)  would embrace the concept of a smaller, 10,000. sq foot type store, larger than a convenience store but smaller than a mega-big box superstore.

All the more reason why you should support your local grower and shop (if there is one) at your local farmer's market.  Big corporations are not there for their customers.  Obviously, all sellers sell to make profits (otherwise, why be in business?), but for small sellers, the customer and his/her needs is always a main focus.

Why?  Because they've met you.  They know you personally.  You are a person to them, not a dollar amount of profits.

Today, a visit to the twice a month indoor winters farmers market in downtown Binghamton, New York illustrated that.

A farmer we've bought from many times invited us to come up to his farm.  "It will be more relaxed there.  We can visit, and we have more items than we can take to the market."  As he spoke, a young woman helping him out smiled and interacted with another customer's young son.  I can just imagine the pleasant memories this young boy will have when he is older.

Niechelle Wade, a woman who farms (Sunny Hill Farms) near Whitney Point, New York, greeted me from her booth.  She had chocolate and gingerbread whoopie pies for sale.  I couldn't resist.   These are hand made, with love.

You can get whoopie pies at Walmart, too.  But you can't talk to the baker.

Another bakery person, the owner of Boer Bakery at Downward Slope Farms, chatted with me about her out of this world crackers.  She explained that I could call her before Wednesday and she would have the baked goods I wanted at the Saturday market.  That included her crackers, which are so labor intensive she only makes them by special order now (and not during the summer heat).  She also said if I wanted something not in her selection of breads and baked goods, to suggest them.

Do Walmart executives go out and talk to their customers at their stores?  I wonder.

Perhaps it isn't fair to compare a huge Walmart with small local growers and producers.  But, as far as I am concerned, that's exactly why I like to shop at farmer's markets - because it is more than a trip to buy food and make someone far away that much wealthier.

It's social contact, money that stays in the community and is respent, and food for the soul.

Will you or someone you know be affected by the Walmart layoffs?