Look Here! Future Gets Boost
Walton Family Foundation Helps Children's Museum
Last updated Thursday, April 3, 2008 4:14 PM CDT in Entertainment
By Becca Bacon Martin
The Morning News
The Children's Museum of Northwest Arkansas took one more step toward reality this week with the receipt of a $370,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation. The grant will "help fund the foundational and fundamental aspects of the museum to include an executive director and the launching of project initiatives," according to Shannon Letts, a Children's Museum founding board member.
"This project is gaining momentum each day as more and more corporations, individuals and businesses embrace our vision for this type of 'hands-on' discovery learning for all children and families in this area, those visiting as well as those traveling through," she says.
Jim Demaree, the man behind the idea, says the vision for the museum includes permanent exhibits such as an International Kids City that would feature a grocery store, theater, construction site, bank, fire house, jail, restaurant and hospital; hands-on exhibits that focus on food, technology, the environment, health and other relevant issues; and "developmental opportunities for children while promoting family interaction and a renewed sense of community."
A special museum task force will begin a national search for an executive director, whom they hope to hire this summer.
For more about the museum, Google Northwest Arkansas Children's Museum.
Rogers Museum Honored
Of course, Northwest Arkansas already has some fine museums, including the historical museum in Rogers, recently honored with the Arkansas Museum Association 2007 Exhibit of the Year award for its "Discovering the Bluff Dwellers" exhibit. The exhibit opened in March 2007 and will be on view through December of this year.
"Since the late 1800s, amateur enthusiasts and trained archeologists have searched the bluffs along the White River for clues to the lives of the Native Americans who became known as the 'Ozark Bluff Dwellers,'" says Assistant Museum Director John Burroughs, who accepted the award on behalf of the museum at the annual AMA conference in Fort Smith. "This exhibit tells that story through photographs, text, and objects recovered from the bluff shelters. The panels explore the first discoveries, the excavations of archeologists, and recent reinterpretations of 'bluff dweller' artifacts. Finally, a re-creation of a bluff shelter illustrates the ways Indians used the bluffs and provides space for hands-on activities."
Exhibits nominated for the AMA Exhibit of the Year award must demonstrate excellence in fulfilling a museum's community education mission and the effective use of resources by museum staff in their production. The "Discovering the Bluff Dwellers" exhibit received recognition for providing enrichment and enjoyment to families, partnering with the University of Arkansas Museum to utilize and publicize its archeological collection, and introducing the community to new scholarship regarding the subject.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free. Information: 621-1154.
Siloam Museum
Passes the Buck
The Siloam Springs Museum is hosting a free program at 2 p.m. April 12 on "Civil War Money Issued By the Confederate States And Arkansas."
Presented by Quintin Trammell, chief financial officer of the Siloam Springs schools, the program will feature his collection of paper money issued by the Confederate States of America and the State of Arkansas, as well as scrip notes issued by private businesses in Arkansas during the Civil War. Trammell will also share information about collecting Civil War money, including sources, costs and especially rare and interesting notes.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 524-4011.
At UA Gallery
Shannon Dillard Mitchell, director of the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center Gallery, reports that master of fine arts candidate Tanya Johnston will be the next featured artist with her thesis exhibition, "Meditative Spaces," opening Monday and continuing through April 18. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Johnston's work evokes the feeling expressed in the exhibition's title, Mitchell says. The artist describes her current body of work as "an investigation into memory, identity and personal mythology (in which) all of the work possesses still and meditative qualities and craft is a crucial element in each piece."
The exhibition features paintings - landscapes, figures and still-lifes, or a combination of all three - shadow boxes and several hand-made books.
"Johnston's emphasis on craftsmanship is evident throughout and allows the viewer to connect with the work on a technical level, before they consider the symbolic elements in her art," Mitchell says.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Information: 575-7987.
Reminders
• Fusion Fine Art Gallery in Bentonville will hold a First Friday reception from 6 to 9 p.m. today for Carol Cooper and Susanna Jones. Information: 273-9278.
• About 20 Northwest Arkansas artists will show and sell their original art at the Living It Green Expo Saturday and Sunday at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers. Information: 899-6294.
Art to Go
GALLERIES
ARSAGA'S on Crossover at 1852 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville (527-0690): Art from the Fayetteville schools, through April; a reception is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 17.
ARSAGA's at 2418 N. Gregg Ave. in Fayetteville (444-6557): Acrylic, stoneware and mixed media by Rod Hannaman, through April.
ART EXPO NWA at the Legacy Building, 401 W. Watson in Fayetteville (361-1211): Art by regional artists; visit www.artexponwa.org for hours.
ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS at 214 S. Main St. in Springdale (751-5441): 25th annual ACO Competition for Northwest Arkansas Senior High Artists,through April 26.
COMMUNITY IMAGINATION STUDIO at 818 N. Sang Ave. in Fayetteville (442-8586): Classes for children and adults; Family Day 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
FLAT ROCK CLAY STUDIO at 2002 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville (521-3181): Works by Oklahoma and Arkansas potters; weekly adult classes in pottery and clay sculpture and open studio memberships; Boston Mountain Potters Association on the second Tuesday at 6 p.m. New schedule of workshops available at www.flatrockclay.com.
FUSION FINE ARTS GALLERY at 109 N. Main St. in Bentonville (273-9278): Works by Mark Rademacher, Nancy Baptiste, Kyle Henry, Stephanie Henry, P.J. and Steve Robowski, Victor Chalfant, Toeri Jackman, Carol Cooper, Eric Haun, Kelly Green and Dan McWilliams; workshops Saturday with Sean Fitzgibbon, April 19 with D.G. Womack and May 17 with Sean Fitzgibbon.
HEARTWOOD GALLERY at 428 S. Government Ave. in Fayetteville (444-0888): An artists' collective of 26 local artists.
JULIE WAIT DESIGNS at 318 S. First St. in Rogers (631-8706): Paintings by Vicki Ross, through April 25.
POOR RICHARD'S ART GALLERY at 116 S. First St. in Rogers (636-0417): Baskets by Margaret Alter and Chris Dahl, through March.
SAGER CREEK ARTS CENTER at 301 E. Twin Springs St. in Siloam Springs (524-4000): 28th Ozark Arts Alliance competitive show, through April 18.
Other galleries in the area include:
• APOLLO FINE ART at 210 S. First St. in Rogers. Information: 366-2787.
• ART at 2204 S.E. 14th St. in Bentonville. Information: 273-0668.
• ART EMPORIUM at 2914 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville. Information: 521-4141.
• ART EXPERIENCE at 641 W. Sixth St. in Fayetteville. Information: 442-0557.
• ARTFUL SPACES at 266 W. Mountain St. in Fayetteville. Information: 582-5554.
• ART RESOURCES at 3291 S. Thompson St., Suite H101, in Springdale. Information: 725-2100.
• CITIZENS BANK GALLERY at 116 E. Buchanan in Prairie Grove. Information: 846-0899 or 846-2738.
• DUCK CLUB GALLERY at 2333 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville. Information: 443-7262.
• 83 SPRING STREET GALLERY at 83 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-8310.
• EUREKAN ART STUDIO AND GALLERY at 150 N. Main St. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-0928.
• EUREKA THYME at 121 E. Van Buren in Eureka Springs. Information: 363-9600.
• GALLERY WEST at Highlands Crossing in Bella Vista. Information: 273-1798.
• IRIS AT THE BASIN PARK at 8 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-9494.
• J. GALLERY at 311 W. Dickson St., Suite 103, in Fayetteville. Information: 521-2004.
• MULLINS LIBRARY at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Information: 575-4104.
• MYSTIC MELON at 16 S. West Ave. in Fayetteville. Information: 582-9482.
• OZARK GLASSWORKS at 675 E. Huntsville Road in Fayetteville. Information: 387-6773.
• QUICKSILVER ART & FINE CRAFT GALLERY at 73 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-7679.
• RICHLAND NURSERY & ART GALLERY at 500 S. Harris St. in Huntsville. Information: 738-5305.
• SERENDIPITY AT THE CRESCENT at 75 Prospect Ave. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-2769.
• STUDIO 62 at 335 W. Van Buren in Eureka Springs. Information: 363-9209.
• SUSAN MORRISON'S SIGNATURE GALLERY at 60 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-8788.
• TERRA STUDIOS at 12103 Hazel Valley Road in Durham. Information: 643-3185.
• WISHING SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS GALLERY at U.S. 71 and Benton County 40 in Bella Vista. Information: 273-1798.
• ZEPHYR BLEVINS GALLERY at 116 S. Second St. in Rogers. Information: 631-8988.
MUSEUMS
ARKANSAS AIR MUSEUM at Drake Field, 4290 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville (521-4947): Exhibits on the history of aviation in Arkansas including numerous displays of original artifacts and aviation memorabilia, ongoing.
CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM at 930 California Blvd. in Fayetteville (444-0066): Exhibits on the life of President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, ongoing.
CRYSTAL BRIDGES AT THE MASSEY at 125 W. Central Ave. (418-5700 or www.massey.crystalbridges.org): International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration from the Hunt Institute, through May 4.
ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM at 322 S. Second St. in Rogers (621-1154): "American Red Cross: Ninety Years of Saving Lives in Northwest Arkansas," through April 12; "Discovering the Bluff Dwellers," through December; "Down a Lazy River: Float Fishing on the White River," through December.
SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY at 118 W. Johnson Ave. in Springdale (750-8165): "Scenes of Boone County," a photo exhibit exploring the county's history, through April 25; "Tech • Knowledge • Gee!" through June; "Play Ball!" an exhibit about the history of baseball in Northwest Arkansas, through July 26.
Other museums in the area include:
• ARKANSAS COUNTRY DOCTOR MUSEUM at 107 N. Starr Ave. in Lincoln. Information: 824-4307 or www.drmuseum.net.
• BELLA VISTA HISTORICAL MUSEUM at U.S. 71 at Kingsland Road in Bella Vista. Information: 855-2335.
• BUD WALTON ARENA RAZORBACK SPORTS MUSEUM at 1207 Leroy Pond Road in Fayetteville. Information: 575-8618.
• DAISY AIRGUN MUSEUM at 202 W. Walnut in Rogers. Information: 986-6873.
• EUREKA SPRINGS HISTORICAL MUSEUM at 95 S. Main St. in Eureka Springs. Information: 253-9417.
• GRAVETTE HISTORICAL MUSEUM at 503 Charlotte St. S.E. in Gravette. Information: 787-7334.
• LOWELL MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY at 304 Jackson Place in Lowell. Information: 601-3713.
• OZARK MILITARY MUSEUM at 4360 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville. Information: 587-1941.
• PEA RIDGE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK at 15930 U.S. 62 near Pea Ridge. Information: 451-8122.
• PEEL MANSION MUSEUM & HERITAGE GARDENS at 400 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville. Information: 273-9664.
• PRAIRIE GROVE BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK at 506 E. Douglas St. in Prairie Grove. Information: 846-2990.
• SILOAM SPRINGS MUSEUM at 112 N. Maxwell in Siloam Springs. Information: 524-4011.
• TONTITOWN HISTORICAL MUSEUM at 151 Henri de Tonti Blvd. in Tontitown. Information: 361-2498.
• WAL-MART VISITORS CENTER at 105 N. Main St. in Bentonville. Information: 273-1329.
This listing, COMPILED BY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BECCA BACON MARTIN, includes art galleries and museums around the region. Information may be submitted BY FAXING 872-5055 or e-mailing BMARTIN@nwaonline.net. INFORMATION IS ACCEPTED ONLY IN WRITING, and all submitted information is eligible for publication. The deadline to be included is 3 p.m. Tuesday to be listed the following Friday. The listing is free.
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