Joined by a world-renowned architect, art historians, and dignitaries from around the country, the Walton Family Foundation has unveiled the design of a major new art museum and cultural center being built within walking distance of the Bentonville town square -- just 45 minutes from Eureka Springs.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art takes its name from an inspired glass-and-wood design that traverses a local spring-fed stream. Designed by Boston-based architect Moshe Safdie, the museum complex is expected to open in 2010 and will present perspectives on the flow of America's history and heritage through the eyes of the nationÿs most influential artists.
During a press conference, Alice Walton, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, said, "Crystal Bridges is a wonderful way to build appreciation for Americaÿs artistic heritage and create cultural opportunities here in Northwest Arkansas."
The museum will house a permanent collection of masterworks from American artists along with galleries dedicated to Native American and regional art and artists. In addition, temporary exhibitions drawn from national institutions will be displayed in the museum. A dynamic temporary exhibitions program will complement the holdings of the permanent collection. The permanent collection, assembled by Alice Walton and the Walton Family Foundation, is composed of paintings and sculptures by American artists from the Revolutionary period through the modern era.
The innovative museum design includes plans for approximately 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting and office space. Crystal Bridges will house a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, gallery rooms suitable for large receptions, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. The museum will be built on 100 acres of scenic woodland donated by the Walton family.
The museum's permanent collection will include numerous notable paintings, including: portraitist Charles Willson Peale's 18th century painting of a confident George Washington completed near the end of the Revolutionary War; and Hudson River School masterwork Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand. Other announced artists and works represented include Charles Bird King's early 19th century portraits of American Indian leaders and Winslow Homer's depictions of the interplay between man and nature.
The estimated cost of the building and grounds is expected to exceed $50 million, and is expected to draw upwards of 250,000 visitors annually.
