Museum Way

Contemporary Indigenous art comes front and center in Art for a New Understanding: Native Voices, 1950s to Now—on view now at Crystal Bridges through January 7. Discover new stories as today’s Indigenous artists fill the gallery with exquisite colors, images of community and joy, and thought-provoking moments of reflection.

In this episode, we talk with Interpretation Manager Samantha Sigmon and Director of Audience Research & Evaluation Juli Goss about planning an exhibition from the beginning. From interpretation tactics to focus groups and research, we're sharing the behind-the-scenes planning process for Art for a New Understanding.

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 hybridity, the work reflects Ahkami’s idea that Iran is presented in American media as a “cartoon” of its real self. We also chat with Kim Crowell, Associate Museum Educator in Access and Inclusive Programs and Accessibility Coordinator, about museum programs focused on access and inclusion. Thanks for tuning in to Museum Way! View the transcript here!

Alyson Shotz is an artist whose work investigates concepts of space, light, gravity and perception. Her sculptures examine these concepts while allowing viewers to contemplate and appreciate the environment surrounding the piece. In this episode, Shotz visits Museum Way to talk about installing her work "Scattering Screen" in our North Forest. Then we talk with Assistant Preparator Drew Divilbiss about his role in handling artwork, working with installations, and more. Read this episode's transcript.

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.

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!