#StateOfTheArt- Crystal Bridges Museum

**Disclosure**  I was invited to attended blogger’s day at Crystal Bridges Museum as a member of the Arkansas Women Bloggers and was provided with lunch and a guided tour.  I have not and will not be compensated for this post in any way.  Opinions are my own and as always, I will neither recommend nor write about anything that I do not wholeheartedly believe in. 

A lot of times, when I run into old friends online (and in real life when I’m back home in Michigan), and I tell them that I live in Arkansas now I get the same look and the same questions.  Isn’t Arkansas podunk; redneck; lacking in culture?

Ummm. No. Just, no. After declaring my love for the Natural State, showing pictures of my view of Greer’s Ferry Lake from our little cottage, and telling them about Arkansas’ many treasures I think they finally understand just how misunderstood Arkansas is.

Over the weekend I got to visit one such Arkansas treasure along with my Arkansas Women Blogger friends; Crystal Bridges Museum. We were given a tour of the #StateOfTheArt exhibition by one of the exhibitions curators, Chad Alligood. I have to tell you it was one of the best guided tours I’ve ever had. This particular curator has such passion for the art and artists that he has brought to Arkansas and it is evident in his tour. He was full of knowledge about every single installation, of its artists, and he was so encouraging of us to be interactive that the excitement grabbed my attention and pulled me in. 

Curator Chad Alligood showing us a video art piece.

#StateOfTheArt features 102 artists that represent American art right now. I loved that it wasn’t traditional art only-not just paintings and sculptures, but pieces that included mediums like yarn, material, crepe paper, lost & found items, and items collected from every day life.  It included techniques like sewing,  making art with smoke and canvas, interactive “action” art, and video art.

The “Mom Booth” installation inspired me to ask for a “mom hug” since I was missing my own.  She even had mom tissues available when I got a little teary.

Not part of the #StateOfTheArt exhibit, but “The Bubble” called out to me and I had to gaze for awhile longer after our tour.

“Fort Dirt Hole” by artist Gina Phillips.  Fabric, thread, ink, and paint.

Some of my favorite colors in this piece, as evidenced by my matching attire.

You guys.  I could go on and on showing you pictures but you really need to see Crystal Bridges for yourself.  And, the best part:  admission is complementary.  I’ll say that again.

Admission is c o m p l i m e n t a r y.

As in: free.

Yep.  Let that sink in.  Admission to an American art museum, that in my opinion, rivals the Louvre (I’ve been there) in it’s dedication to American artists of all types is free.

I implore you to check it out.  In person.  Online.  On the #StateOfTheArt app. 

You can see more of my pictures here.