Museum Calls Attention To Collection
Chief Curator To Lead Art Appreciation Program
Last updated Monday, November 17, 2008 8:50 PM CST in News
By Richard Dean Prudenti
THE MORNING NEWS
BENTONVILLE -- Look -- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art plans to take a visual journey through the museum's permanent art collection during a new public offering called "A Look at the Collection" today.
The museum's chief curator, Chris Crosman will provide an overview of 30-plus works announced so far during the program at the Bentonville Public Library. Most of these can be seen in digital format at www.crystalbridges.org.
"Enough interest has been raised about the collection," Crosman said. "We just try to inform people about the collection as it's evolving. We'll probably do this several times before we open."
Crystal Bridges would like the to begin enhancing appreciation for the works in advance of the scheduled 2010 opening, he said.
The museum is under construction a half-mile northeast of the Bentonville square.
"This will be geared toward the general audience -- people who have an interest in art, but may not have had a lot of previous knowledge or experience about it," Crosman said.
Museum officials generally announce acquisitions through news releases. At times, word of mouth is enough to bolster excitement for works debuted publicly and without notice at other museums or institutions.
The Crystal Bridges Web site identifies the works that have been or are currently on loan at various museums throughout the United States. "A Look at the Collection" will allow enthusiasts an opportunity to ask questions, such as why some works have been chosen to represent the collection.
Museum officials have said they would like the announced works to speak for the depth and breadth of the collection.
Crosman hopes his talk will focus on works that have received relatively little publicity, such as Robert Henri's "Jessica Penn," an oil on canvas painting, 1908, and Fairfield Porter's "October Interior" oil on canvas painting, 1963.
People are curious about where the works are and why they are on loan, said Lynn Berkowitz, director of the learning experiences division.
Crystal Bridges collaborates with other institutions in part because officials believe great works of art should be in the public's eye for the public's enjoyment.
"'A Look at the Collection' is the alternative for us right now, until we can have the experiences of standing in the gallery with the works of art," Berkowitz said.
At A Glance
Learning Experiences
"A Look at the Collection," a new program for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Bentonville Public Library, 405 S. Main St.
Source: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
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