Personal Space + Museum Design

Famed gardener, TV host, author, conservationist, artist, and long-time museum friend, P. Allen Smith joins Museum Way. Allen and our host, Stace Treat swap stories about art, nature, sustainability, homes, and diversity. Allen gives us an update on Moss Mountain, the 600-acre farm in Little Rock, Arkansas, talks pollinators, aging, and more! This podcast was filmed in front of a live audience in one of the museum’s many glass reflection areas, highlighting the natural surroundings, as well as the art and architecture.  Learn more about the P. Allen Smith team's visit to Crystal Bridges, both in the galleries and on the trails HERE. 

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. 

Hear about how 120-acres of trails and grounds is maintained, including the variety of ways landscaping compliments art, and how programs like the popular Forest Concert Series and the first-ever Museum Camp-Out help connect visitors to art and nature. This episode features Avant Gardener Coordinator, Marina McCoy, from the Horticulture Team and Sara Segerlin, Senior Manager, Public Programs and Community Engagement. View the transcript here!

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 integrity and beauty of the building today. Hope you enjoy!   

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 curator Alejo Benedetti. Then, Alejo sits down with Laylah Ali, an artist featured in the exhibition, to discuss her process and artworks featured in the show. Men of Steel, Women of Wonder is on view at Crystal Bridges through April 22.View the transcript here!

March is Women's History Month! To celebrate, we’ve invited six fantastic women from our staff to talk about their favorite women artists in the Crystal Bridges collection. From Georgia O'Keeffe to Vanessa German, you'll learn more about these artists and how they inspire us each day. The episode features Copywriter, Erica Harmon; Volunteer Services Assistant Manager, Julie Springer; Guest Services Assistant Manager, Melissa Busch; Membership Assistant, Christy Witt; Art Instructor, Kim Ly; and Marketing Manager, Alison Nation. They’ll tell us about their roles at the museum, and the women artists who inspire them.

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 History Month.At Crystal Bridges, it is our mission to welcome all to celebrate the American Spirit. So what exactly is the American Spirit? We strive to develop a museum culture known for providing positive, enriching experiences for our guests and staff, and we want to continue thinking forward. What does it mean to be an inclusive art museum?We’ll talk with Raven and Kentrell about how we at Crystal Bridges can continue to foster this rich and valuable discussion. We want to recognize our complicated history around the idea of an “Independence Day,” and talk about some of the artworks in our collection that help us think through this. Enjoy this episode of Museum Way.

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!

On this episode of Museum Way, we learn more about our focus exhibition Personal Space with Associate Curator Allison Glenn. Then, we talk with Creative Director Anna Vernon all about museum design.Personal Space takes a look at various depictions of space within Modern and Contemporary art, including sculpture, photography, and installation. This free, focus exhibition asks viewers to consider what emotions are evoked by the places, people, objects, and symbols depicted within the artworks on view, both from the Crystal Bridges collection and on loan. Walk through a bedroom by artist Genevieve Gaignard created in homage to her nine-year-old niece, see images of artists in their studio spaces by Arkansas photographer Kat Wilson, view Carrie Schneider’s intimate depictions of contemporary artists reading books by their favorite female authors, and much more. Discover objects, both real and imagined, that help us define how we construct our personal space in the world. Personal Space is on view through March 2019.

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.