Thursday, January 12

Some friends and I took a road trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, today to have lunch and visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  All I can say is WOW!  What an incredible place to visit.  We're already planning a trip back in the spring when the dogwoods are in bloom so we'll be able to enjoy the numerous trails on the museum grounds.  This is a must-see place, folks.  You definitely need to put a visit to this museum on your bucket list.  Here's just a smidgen of what we saw:  

We saw this guy.  2:25 p.m.

Here's an up close shot.  Wasn't he patient to allow me to get so close?  2:27 p.m.

Creepy!  This is entitled "Old Self, Portrait of the Artist as He Will (Not) Be. Variation #2 2010"  by Evan Penny, made of silicone, pigment, hair, fabric and aluminum.  2:35 p.m.

A small section of "Hall of the Mountain King" by Marsden Hartley.  To really view this painting, you have to stand way back.  I can't figure out how he was able to paint it and make sense of his strokes unless he has very, very long arms.  3:32 p.m.

Probably my favorite sculpture of those we saw today.  Her gracefulness really captured me.  3:33 p.m.

I love this little guy's smirkey smile.  It's an oil on canvas by William Holbrook Beard and is entitled "School Rules."  The chimp is holding a copy of Darwin's Descent of Man.  3:43 p.m.

 A welcome resting place, that gives a glimpse of the architecture.  4:20 p.m.

"Standing Explosion (Red)" by Roy Lichtenstein, with Andy Warhol's "Dolly Parton" in the background.  4:24 p.m.

This is entitled "Big Red Lens" by Frederick Eversley.  It sits in a hallway with a bench directly opposite it and just invites you to sit and look through it.  4:26 p.m.

After visiting most of the galleries, we stopped into Eleven for an afternoon snack and drink.  This cupcake was heavenly; rich chocolate with a coffee buttercream frosting.  Yum.  The Raspberry Fizzy was pretty good, too.  4:47 p.m.

The sun started down and brought beautiful skies.  I liked the reflections of the beams against the pink sky.  5:24 p.m.

In the restaurant.  5:25 p.m.

Bonus shot of some really neat light fixtures in the museum gift shop.  5:48 p.m.

I wanted to pull a Ticklebear and post about 50 pictures this month, but I resisted.  There are so many wonderful things to see at Crystal Bridges.  Don't take my work, though; go see for yourself!