re: NY Times article on an additional space in Bentonville for Crystal Bridges art

"Unexpected" was a great thing for Fort Smith. I hope it spills over to NWA, although I can't think of a lot of big old buildings around here that would be mural-worthy. Most of the NWA built-environment is relatively new, and the oldest buildings are "historic" and not really fit for murals.

Gawd, that sounds awesome. The Walton Family really is going to turn central Bentonville into mini-Williamsburg.

When they're done establishing Bentonville as its own thing, I hope they'll put some more stuff in Fayetteville.

In the past 5 years, Bentonville by itself has added:

A world class art museum.

A world class art-hotel.

A regional Children's Science Museum.

A nationally relevant film festival which attracts huge Hollywood names.

Enough bike trails and mountain biking amenities to host the AMBA National Summit.

None of the above existed in 2010. That's insane. Coming down the pipe are the Brightwater Culinary Institute, also downtown, and this new contemporary art space. Not to mention all of the restaurants and the seafood market in downtown now.

Define "world class?"


I see this term tossed around a quite a bit. Having been to some world class museums in my travels, I'd put Crystal Bridges as more of a regional thing.

It's probably the best collection of American art west of New York/Philadelphia/DC.

If you're looking at art from around the world then clearly Crystal Bridges isn't going to fit the bill. But for what it does (American art) it's one of the best.

The most prized works of art in the world can't be bought.


Hence, they aren't here. I would rank Dallas and KC over crystal bridges and they aren't even close to world class. Ultimately it's just a word people like to use, like "fresh" food. It's pretty meaningless in the long run.

I do know if you go to Paris or Amsterdam and ask around about crystal bridges, they haven't heard of it. Maybe hat will change in another 10 years if money keeps pumping into it.

quote:

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The majority of artists on the Heartwood Gallery page are transplants

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You're trying really hard to push the idea that NWA's only art scene is due to the Waltons. Quit reaching. It makes you really obvious.

And that, followed (total non sequitur btw) by a critique of the architecture of a PAC built in 1992 just shows me you're a negative nancy all around.

The WAC was built in 1992. It took the form of a lot of late 80s early 90s buildings with that "suburban bank" look about it. The objective was for it to look "clean" and conservative, in contrast to the raggedy hippie street it was crash-landed into.

Parts of NWA have been developed haphazardly, but other parts are really nice. Aren't you the guy who posted that one of the things you wish NWA had was a "skyline"? Have you ever lived in a real city, a real large metropolitan area with a skyline? You can't find areas that are safe and nice with quality schools like you find pretty much all over NWA, without spending a fortune in those bigger metros.

My impression is that you haven't lived or spent time in enough other places to appreciate what makes NWA a good place to live. And I'm not talking about driving to Dallas on a Saturday when there's no traffic. I'm talking about mid summer, hour commutes punctuated by the occasional 1:30 to 2 hour commute when there's a wreck, to live in decent area with good schools and not spend a million bucks on a house....

Also, frick finding a decent city with any nature nearby worth visiting, for anything remotely resembling prices in NWA.