Exquisite Creatures is a dialogue with art, nature, and science that asks the question: what is it about the natural world that calls to us? Throughout the exhibition, artist and naturalist Christopher Marley reflects on humanity’s intimate relationship with nature, revealing its intricate beauty and diversity through three-dimensional works comprised of animal, mineral, and plant specimens arranged in precise, geometric compositions. Shown together, the works create an immersive environment which inspires wonder and fosters a desire to preserve the natural world.

Crystal Bridges welcomes guests to experience the connection between art, nature, and science, emotionally and aesthetically, throughout the exhibition. The museum will activate the show’s themes through nature and science-based programming and activities both inside the museum and outdoors across its trails and grounds.

A Soldier’s Journey is a study for a monumental bronze by Sabin Howard. In 2024, the finished piece measuring 58 feet wide will be the centerpiece, completing the new World War I Monument in Washington, DC.

University of Arkansas graduate Joe Weishaar won the World War I Monument design competition when he was just 25 years old. His concept, “The Weight of Sacrifice,” incorporates two sculptures, landscape elements, and a reflecting pool.

See a preview of the new World War I memorial!

Friday, May 3rd 5:30-6:30p or 7:00-8:00p

Spring into berry season with our Bring-a-Date Berry Bowl Workshop! Through this hour long class, we will explore the basics of slabs and slump molds to create a unique and functional work of art. This is a great class to take with your mom, grandparent, friend, or someone special! This workshop is beginner friendly, which makes it great for everyone including children 8 yrs and up (when accompanied by an adult). Students will learn the skills of prepping a slab, using a mold, and using cookie cutters to create design and drainage. So grab a pal and come play with clay! 

Each ticket includes two seats for you and your ‘date’, please choose what time you would like to attend this one hour workshop! 

Ozark Ballet Theater (OBT), the premier academy of classical ballet in Northwest Arkansas, is thrilled to announce its largest and most ambitious production yet: Sergei Prokofiev’s timeless ballet, “Cinderella.” This enchanting production, featuring choreography by the renowned Vadim Fedotov, will showcase an international cast of ballet stars, including the illustrious directors of OBT, who will perform alongside the talented students from the academy.

This landmark event marks OBT’s first major production in Benton County, symbolizing the theater’s commitment to bringing world-class ballet to audiences across Northwest Arkansas. The performances are scheduled to take place at Bentonville West High School, with showings on Thursday, April 26th, at 7 PM and Friday, April 27th, at 2 PM.

“Cinderella” promises to be a breathtaking experience, combining Prokofiev’s captivating score with Fedotov’s dynamic choreography, set against the backdrop of this classic fairy tale’s heartwarming narrative. Audiences can expect a visually stunning production, complete with exquisite costumes, innovative set designs, and a cast of characters that will bring the magic of Cinderella’s story to life.

Tickets for this must-see event are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.obt.dance. Early booking is highly recommended, as seats are filling up fast for what is anticipated to be a sell-out performance.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the magic of “Cinderella” and support the Ozark Ballet Theater as it continues to elevate the art of classical ballet in Northwest Arkansas. Join us for an unforgettable journey of magic, romance, and the triumph of good over evil. 

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In Dark Waters, a tour de force of Southern Gothic Noir, Kristine Potter reinvents a centuries-old genre with coolness and clarity. With this recent collection of seductive and darkly brooding photographs, Potter reflects on the Southern Gothic mythos found in the popular imagination of “murder ballads”—traditional songs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that often end in death and despair.

Her richly detailed black-and-white images channel the setting and characters of these songs, capturing the landscape of the American South and creating portraits that stand in for the oft-unnamed women at the center of their stories. In doing so, she both evokes and exorcizes the ambient sense of threat that women often grapple with as they move through the world.

Free, no tickets required.

Make museum memories every second Saturday of the month with an afternoon of artmaking and in-gallery fun!

This month, we are celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander American artists in our museum. We will be highlighting the work Silver Upper White River by artist Maya Lin. Drop into the galleries to enjoy activities created by Walmart’s Asian Pacific Associates Network (APAN) and University of Arkansas students! You’ll chat with museum educators as they guide you through a fun hands-on activity inspired by the artwork in the galleries, then head to the studios for an artmaking activity that you can take home.

See you there!

Saturday, May 11th, 6-8pm

Join us for a night of making your very own, one of a kind, colorful salad bowl, perfect for serving the perfect spring salad! In this class we will forming a slab around a plaster mold to create the shape of our bowls. While the bowls are setting, we will discuss composition and color theory as it relates to abstract design by looking at works of famous abstract artists. We will also sketch out a plan for how we will paint our bowls. We will then spend the rest of class working as abstract artists to create a masterful design on our bowls out of colorful underglazes! This class is perfect for any art enthusiast and is perfect for those new to pottery!

Grab a friend and make it the perfect night out, exploring color and function while making a lasting memory and a special piece of pottery!

This class is built for ceramic makers with moderate to advanced experience, home potters looking to start making their own glazes, and any makers wanting to dive deeper into the craft of ceramics.

Class begins Monday, MAY 13th, 6-8pm

All Students must fill out a waiver before utilizing the studio.

The class will meet weekly for 5 consecutive weeks beginning on the evening of May 13th. Each class includes 2hrs of group instruction per week, all materials, unlimited studio time to make extra work to be glazed.

All firing services, glaze materials, and mixing tools will be provided. Mixing of dry glaze chemicals will ONLY be done during class time with instructors present. Students are not permitted to enter the glaze shed or mix dry chemicals during their open studio time.

You will learn:

• Fundamentals of glaze chemistry
• How to read glaze recipes
• How to make test tiles
• How glazes react on differently toned claybodies
• How to properly mix slips & glazes
• Which chemicals give which surface results
• How to experiment with recipes and run tests to get a desired effect
• How to narrow down variables in order to develop specific glaze finishes
• How to record, talk about, and use your findings

Students will be provided with:

• All glaze chemicals
• All containers for glaze storage
• A notebook for recording findings & interactions
• All test tiles
• Worksheets to document your experiments

 class instructed by Ella Watson and Alex DerGazarian

The class will meet weekly for 5 consecutive weeks beginning on the date listed. The wheel class includes 2hrs of group instruction per week, unlimited studio work time per week to make small items to experiment glazes on up until last class session, and access to all equipment and materials needed. Clay for open studio must be purchased. 

Learn the basics of pottery on the wheel in this 6-week beginner class! 

Classes begin Tuesday, May 14th, 6-8p

All Students must fill out a waiver before utilizing the studio. 

This course is built for true beginners and will give students the formational skills of throwing pottery!  

The class will meet weekly for 6 consecutive weeks beginning on the date listed. The wheel class includes 2hrs of group instruction per week, unlimited studio work time per week up until last class session, and access to all equipment and materials needed for throwing pottery. Twelve pounds of clay, all firing, and tools for class projects are provided in the class. Additional clay is available for purchase. 

We will cover: 

• Hand wedging
• Reclaiming clay by hand 
• Centering on the wheel 
• Throwing basic forms 
• How to glaze  

We will learn these basics through three projects: 

• Bowl forms 
• Cylinder forms
• Spoon rest or trinket dish 

Students will be provided with:

• 12 pounds of clay for class projects  
• All necessary tools
• Firing services

We recommend bringing your own towels, rags, or aprons.

Wheel I classes taught by Ella Watson 

We look forward to having you in! If you have any questions visit our FAQhere.

All tools and clay are provided for class, but if you wish to have your own tool set you may purchase it here.

Learn the basics of handbuilding in this 6 week beginner class!

Classes begin Tuesday May 14th

All Students must fill out a waiver before utilizing the studio.

In this course, students will explore handbuilding basics through functional pottery. Students will have four projects incorporating pinch method, coil method, slab construction and soft slab draping. Students will have opportunities to apply surface decoration through stamps, underglaze application and sgrafitto. A glazing course will be provided on the last week and pieces will be fired and finished approximately two weeks after the last class day.

This course is built for true beginners and will give students the formational skills of handbuilding pottery!

We will cover: 

• Coil method 
• Pinch method 
• Soft slab draping 
• Slab construction 

We will learn these basics through four projects: 

• Slab constructed box or lidded jar
• Coil built vase 
• Pinch tea cups with handles
• Soft slab bowls/planters

 Students will be provided with:

• Clay for projects 
• All necessary tools
• Firing services

We recommend bringing your own towels, rags, or aprons.

Build your Handbuilding skills in this 6 week intermediate course.

Classes begin Wednesday May 15th

All Students must fill out a waiver before utilizing the studio. 

This 6-week course is tailored for students eager to advance their handbuilding skills in pottery. Participants will explore a range of handbuilding techniques, focusing on mastering the creation of intricate vessels using slabs, molds, and coils. Through hands-on practice and guided instruction, students will deepen their understanding and proficiency in handbuilding.

This course is built for intermediate students, Handbuilding I or other significant pottery experience is a recommend prerequisite. 

We will cover: 

• Mixed technique construction
• Advanced decoration techniques including making your own transfers, inlay and sgraffito
• Coil building and slab coil building  
• Sculpture methods  

We will learn these basics through four projects: 

• Mixed technique vessel 
• Coil thrown vessels 
• Sculpture Project

 Students will be provided with:

• Clay for projects 
• All necessary tools
• Firing services

We recommend bringing your own towels, rags, or aprons.

Class instructed by Xanat Howe  

The class will meet weekly for 6 consecutive weeks beginning on the date listed. The wheel class includes two hours of group instruction per week, unlimited studio work time per week up until last class session, and access to all equipment and materials needed. Twelve pounds of clay, all firing, and tools for class projects are provided in the class. Additional clay is available for purchase. 

We look forward to having you in! If you have any questions visit our FAQhere.

All tools and clay are provided for class, but if you wish to have your own tool set you may purchase it here.

Continue to grow your skills on the wheel in this 6-week intermediate class! 

Classes begin Wednesday, May 15th, 6-8p

All Students must fill out a waiver before utilizing the studio. 

We will use projects to further wheel throwing skills: consistency, throwing height, method for throwing larger amounts of clay. 

At the end of class students should complete a set of 3 mugs, 3 cereal bowls, and 3 ramen bowls. 

The class will meet weekly for 6 consecutive weeks beginning on the date listed. The wheel class includes 2hrs of group instruction per week, unlimited studio work time per week, and access to all equipment and materials needed for throwing pottery. Twelve pounds of clay, all firing, and tools for class projects are provided in the class. Additional clay is available for purchase. 

We ask that students registering for this class have taken “Wheel I”. 

Students will be provided with:

• 12 pounds of clay for class projects
• All necessary tools
• Firing services

We recommend bringing your own towels, rags, or aprons.

Tuesday PM class taught by Ella Watson

We look forward to having you in! If you have any questions visit our FAQhere.

All tools and clay are provided for class, but if you wish to have your own tool set you may purchase it here.

This is built for true beginners or those with some experience and will give students the foundational skills in throwing pottery and hand building!

Class begins Thursday, May 16th

All Students must fill out a waiver before utilizing the studio. 

The class will meet weekly for 6 consecutive weeks beginning on the date listed. The wheel class includes 2hrs of group instruction per week, unlimited studio work time per week up until last class session, and access to all equipment and materials needed. Twelve pounds of clay, all firing, and tools for class projects are provided in the class. Additional clay is available for purchase. 

We will cover:

• Hand wedging 
• Centering on the wheel 
• Throwing basic forms 
• Coil building 
• Pinch method 
• How to glaze 

We will learn these foundations through four projects:

• Pinch cups or mugs 
• Coil built vases 
• Thrown ring or trinket plates 
• Thrown cups or vases

Students will be provided with:

• 12 pounds of clay for class projects 
• All necessary tools 
• Firing services 

We recommend bringing your own towels, rags, or aprons.

2024 early bird tickets on sale now—get your tickets at the lowest price today!

Set amongst the beauty of the Ozarks, FreshGrass | Bentonville is a two-day, all-ages festival with the best in bluegrass and roots music filling multiple outdoor stages, courtyards, and galleries of the Momentary (exhibitions are always free to view!). Knockout performances and world premieres will be accompanied by fun family-friendly activities, great local food and drink, homegrown retail vendors, artist merchandise, and more.

Festival programming also includes FreshScores, a silent film with original live music; FreshGrass commissions and world premieres; and FreshSongs, premier performances of new music created at The House of Songs for the festival.

Friday, May 24th, 6:00p-8:00p

Kuriniki is a traditional Japanese handbuilding method that yields such fun, playful results! We’ll start with a sold block of clay and carve away the inside to create a lidded jar with tons of personality! These jars are perfect for sugar, tea, trinkets, incense, and more. We’ll add texture with studio tools and found objects, then the instructor will glaze your jar after class. 

This handbuilding method is so simple and great for beginners and advanced makers alike! So come and play with clay with us in this 2 hour pottery workshop!

Exquisite Creatures is a dialogue with art, nature, and science that asks the question: what is it about the natural world that calls to us? Throughout the exhibition, artist and naturalist Christopher Marley reflects on humanity’s intimate relationship with nature, revealing its intricate beauty and diversity through three-dimensional works comprised of animal, mineral, and plant specimens arranged in precise, geometric compositions. Shown together, the works create an immersive environment which inspires wonder and fosters a desire to preserve the natural world.

Crystal Bridges welcomes guests to experience the connection between art, nature, and science, emotionally and aesthetically, throughout the exhibition. The museum will activate the show’s themes through nature and science-based programming and activities both inside the museum and outdoors across its trails and grounds.

In Dark Waters, a tour de force of Southern Gothic Noir, Kristine Potter reinvents a centuries-old genre with coolness and clarity. With this recent collection of seductive and darkly brooding photographs, Potter reflects on the Southern Gothic mythos found in the popular imagination of “murder ballads”—traditional songs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that often end in death and despair.

Her richly detailed black-and-white images channel the setting and characters of these songs, capturing the landscape of the American South and creating portraits that stand in for the oft-unnamed women at the center of their stories. In doing so, she both evokes and exorcizes the ambient sense of threat that women often grapple with as they move through the world.

Free, no tickets required.

Encompassing photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, Awol Erizku’s work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to iconic symbols from across history, including the Pan-African flag and the image of Nefertiti. Erizku’s vision is expansive, drawing on traditions of spirituality, Surrealism, and Conceptualism to create uniquely powerful art.

Mystic Parallax is the first major monograph (co-published by the Momentary and Aperture) and exhibition by this rising interdisciplinary artist. It blends his studio practice with work made as an in-demand editorial photographer, and features his conceptual portraits of leading Black cultural figures, such as Amanda Gorman, Michael B. Jordan, Pharrell Williams, and Solange. As Erizku has said, “It’s important for me to create confident, powerful, downright regal images of Black people.”

Free, no tickets required.

ENROLL 

Ovations Theatre & Music Camps

(Ages 4-18)

June 3, 2024 – August 2, 2024 | Full Day and Half Day Camps available

Summer camps for theatre and orchestra are now open for registration. Give your child an unforgettable summer filled with creativity, music and fun!

• Sibling Discounts
• Payment Plans
• Includes Camp T-Shirt
• Gift Cards available

Learn more and enroll: bit.ly/enroll-ovations

You are invited to experience “Noche en Jalisco” on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM. This event will be held on the 6th floor of the Ledger Building in Bentonville, Arkansas.

During this event, you will celebrate the culture of Jalisco, Mexico by learning the entire tequila production process, from harvest to aging, as you sip top-shelf expressions from a wide range of tequila makers.

This evening will include exclusive tequila tastings, authentic Mexican cuisine, and live music inspired by the sounds of Jalisco.

Not only will you experience an evening filled with the rich culture of Jalisco, Mexico, but you will also support Casa Dos Alas, a local nonprofit aiming to fight food insecurity in Northwest Arkansas’ Hispanic communities.

Join us for “Noche en Jalisco” to be part of an event that celebrates and supports the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas.

This event is 21 only and you will be required to show a valid photo ID to enter. Please drink responsibly. Rideshare services will be available for a safe journey home. 

Tickets:

General Admission: $150

VIP: $200

You can reserve your spot at https://www.nocheenjalisco.com/get-tickets.

Find yourself at the Tower Bar each month during our laid-back Tower Bar Sessions. Be immersed by the sounds of local talents, each handpicked to elevate your evening and complemented by a unique drink special. Don’t miss this perfect evening of music and mixology as folksy improv violinist, Joe Majerus, takes to the stage.

Free, no tickets required. Drop in anytime between 6-8 p.m.

Exquisite Creatures is a dialogue with art, nature, and science that asks the question: what is it about the natural world that calls to us? Throughout the exhibition, artist and naturalist Christopher Marley reflects on humanity’s intimate relationship with nature, revealing its intricate beauty and diversity through three-dimensional works comprised of animal, mineral, and plant specimens arranged in precise, geometric compositions. Shown together, the works create an immersive environment which inspires wonder and fosters a desire to preserve the natural world.

Crystal Bridges welcomes guests to experience the connection between art, nature, and science, emotionally and aesthetically, throughout the exhibition. The museum will activate the show’s themes through nature and science-based programming and activities both inside the museum and outdoors across its trails and grounds.

In Dark Waters, a tour de force of Southern Gothic Noir, Kristine Potter reinvents a centuries-old genre with coolness and clarity. With this recent collection of seductive and darkly brooding photographs, Potter reflects on the Southern Gothic mythos found in the popular imagination of “murder ballads”—traditional songs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that often end in death and despair.

Her richly detailed black-and-white images channel the setting and characters of these songs, capturing the landscape of the American South and creating portraits that stand in for the oft-unnamed women at the center of their stories. In doing so, she both evokes and exorcizes the ambient sense of threat that women often grapple with as they move through the world.

Free, no tickets required.

Encompassing photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, Awol Erizku’s work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to iconic symbols from across history, including the Pan-African flag and the image of Nefertiti. Erizku’s vision is expansive, drawing on traditions of spirituality, Surrealism, and Conceptualism to create uniquely powerful art.

Mystic Parallax is the first major monograph (co-published by the Momentary and Aperture) and exhibition by this rising interdisciplinary artist. It blends his studio practice with work made as an in-demand editorial photographer, and features his conceptual portraits of leading Black cultural figures, such as Amanda Gorman, Michael B. Jordan, Pharrell Williams, and Solange. As Erizku has said, “It’s important for me to create confident, powerful, downright regal images of Black people.”

Free, no tickets required.

ENROLL 

Ovations Theatre & Music Camps

(Ages 4-18)

June 3, 2024 – August 2, 2024 | Full Day and Half Day Camps available

Summer camps for theatre and orchestra are now open for registration. Give your child an unforgettable summer filled with creativity, music and fun!

• Sibling Discounts
• Payment Plans
• Includes Camp T-Shirt
• Gift Cards available

Learn more and enroll: bit.ly/enroll-ovations

In Dark Waters, a tour de force of Southern Gothic Noir, Kristine Potter reinvents a centuries-old genre with coolness and clarity. With this recent collection of seductive and darkly brooding photographs, Potter reflects on the Southern Gothic mythos found in the popular imagination of “murder ballads”—traditional songs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that often end in death and despair.

Her richly detailed black-and-white images channel the setting and characters of these songs, capturing the landscape of the American South and creating portraits that stand in for the oft-unnamed women at the center of their stories. In doing so, she both evokes and exorcizes the ambient sense of threat that women often grapple with as they move through the world.

Free, no tickets required.

Encompassing photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, Awol Erizku’s work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to iconic symbols from across history, including the Pan-African flag and the image of Nefertiti. Erizku’s vision is expansive, drawing on traditions of spirituality, Surrealism, and Conceptualism to create uniquely powerful art.

Mystic Parallax is the first major monograph (co-published by the Momentary and Aperture) and exhibition by this rising interdisciplinary artist. It blends his studio practice with work made as an in-demand editorial photographer, and features his conceptual portraits of leading Black cultural figures, such as Amanda Gorman, Michael B. Jordan, Pharrell Williams, and Solange. As Erizku has said, “It’s important for me to create confident, powerful, downright regal images of Black people.”

Free, no tickets required.

ENROLL 

Ovations Theatre & Music Camps

(Ages 4-18)

June 3, 2024 – August 2, 2024 | Full Day and Half Day Camps available

Summer camps for theatre and orchestra are now open for registration. Give your child an unforgettable summer filled with creativity, music and fun!

• Sibling Discounts
• Payment Plans
• Includes Camp T-Shirt
• Gift Cards available

Learn more and enroll: bit.ly/enroll-ovations

In Dark Waters, a tour de force of Southern Gothic Noir, Kristine Potter reinvents a centuries-old genre with coolness and clarity. With this recent collection of seductive and darkly brooding photographs, Potter reflects on the Southern Gothic mythos found in the popular imagination of “murder ballads”—traditional songs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that often end in death and despair.

Her richly detailed black-and-white images channel the setting and characters of these songs, capturing the landscape of the American South and creating portraits that stand in for the oft-unnamed women at the center of their stories. In doing so, she both evokes and exorcizes the ambient sense of threat that women often grapple with as they move through the world.

Free, no tickets required.

Encompassing photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, Awol Erizku’s work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to iconic symbols from across history, including the Pan-African flag and the image of Nefertiti. Erizku’s vision is expansive, drawing on traditions of spirituality, Surrealism, and Conceptualism to create uniquely powerful art.

Mystic Parallax is the first major monograph (co-published by the Momentary and Aperture) and exhibition by this rising interdisciplinary artist. It blends his studio practice with work made as an in-demand editorial photographer, and features his conceptual portraits of leading Black cultural figures, such as Amanda Gorman, Michael B. Jordan, Pharrell Williams, and Solange. As Erizku has said, “It’s important for me to create confident, powerful, downright regal images of Black people.”

Free, no tickets required.