The museum was designed by Moshe Safdie and embodies the mission to connect visitors with the power of art and the beauty of nature. But HOW did we build a 200,000 square-foot art museum in the middle of a natural forest and ravine?  Today, we talk to Ken Robinson, Facilities Engineer, who was on-site from the very beginning of the construction process for Crystal Bridges. Learn about the infamous "Thelma and Louise" Tulip Trees, and all the ways the museum took great care to not disrupt the natural setting, to re-purpose materials after the museum opened, and how to maintain the integri ..read more

This bonus episode ‘gets real’ with Vanessa German, artist, activist, performer, and poet. The inspiring and emotional conversation journeys into the gallery near Vanessa’s “power figures” where she talks about the driving force behind these works, the studio visit that landed her in the groundbreaking exhibition, State of the Art, and how language and art can confront violence and trauma.  ..read more

In this episode of Museum Way, we meet Shane Richey, Creative Director of Experimentation and Development, to talk about museums in the digital age. We also talk with Curator of Contemporary Art Lauren Haynes and Senior Museum Educator Moira Anderson about Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power and its opening Symposium that was streamed online by nearly 10k viewers ..read more

Superman and Wonder Woman are two of the most beloved icons in American pop culture. Created in times of economic adversity and world war, these characters quickly emerged as beacons of American morality and equality, representing the ideals of truth, justice, and the American way. The artists in Men of Steel, Women of Wonder, on view at Crystal Bridges, use Superman and Wonder Woman to explore national identity, American values, social politics, representation, and the concept of humanity. In this episode, host Stace Treat has an exciting conversation with Men of Steel, Women of Wonder curat ..read more

Located at 600 Museum Way in Bentonville, Arkansas is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In this new podcast series, we’re sharing all the ins-and-outs of the museum, from the galleries to the trails, the architecture and more—you’ll learn the museum way of Crystal Bridges.In this episode, we’ll talk with Curator Mindy Besaw on why we chose to redo our Early American Art Galleries, and we’ll meet Exhibition Designer Jessi Mueller to learn what it means it design a gallery and much more. View the transcript here ..read more

Welcome back to Museum Way! Today’s episode is one we’ve been excited to share for a while now. On the final day of Black History Month, we look to the coming year and consider how we can take the lessons of Black History forward. One way we’d like to do that is to listen back on a conversation we had last year. In June of 2018, we sat down with Museum Educators Raven Cook and Kentrell Curry to discuss the American Spirit and the upcoming “Independence Day.” We were unable to turn the episode around in time for the holiday, but we’re excited to share it with you today as we round out Black His ..read more

We’re talking about two of our favorite things: art and nature. We hear from Field Horticulturalist Cody George about preparing our trails and grounds for spring, and we meet Curatorial Assistant Dylan Turk to learn about the new focused exhibition, The Garden ..read more

New year, new podcast season! We’re so excited to kick off season 2 of Museum Way with Crystal Bridges’ Executive Director and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Rod Bigelow and Deputy Director Sandy Edwards. They share all about their roles at the museum, as well as their favorite moments of 2018 and what they’re looking forward to in 2019. Thanks for tuning into Museum Way ..read more

This November, the museum celebrated its 7th anniversary! Since opening our doors on November 11, 2011, we’ve welcomed over 4 million visitors from around the world to experience the art, architecture, and nature that Crystal Bridges has to offer. On today’s episode, we’re talking about our museum mission to welcome all! We talk with Brittany Johnson, Co-Chair of the museum’s IDEA committee, which addresses inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. Then we talk with Rachel Tucker, our Senior Content Specialist, to share how we reach visitors across our social media channels and more ..read more

On this episode of Museum Way, we talk with artist Negar Ahkami, featured in The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art. Ahkami’s paintings are colorful collisions of influence and critique that she refers to as “an aesthetic of contradiction.” She incorporates Persian architecture and design into her paintings as a proxy for Iranian culture alongside a stylized cartoon aesthetic. Growing up in the U.S., she was acutely aware of her identity as an American, but one who was constantly defending her Iranian heritage. While her fusion of styles underscores her own sense of cultural hybridi ..read more