Bentonville, Arkansas is gaining attention in the art realm with the development of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. When this immaculate structure is completed in 2010, it will house hundreds of works by famous American artists, such as John Singer Sargent, Asher B. Durand, and Marsden Hartley.
If a year seems too long to wait, visit Crystal Bridges at the Massey, also located in Bentonville, to see touring art exhibits and updates on the museum's progress. For a gallery that seems to be an interim for hyping the grand opening, the Bentonville community and avid museum visitors have turned the Massey into a successful community arts center.
Interestingly, though, the actual museum is searching for a new director. Bob Workman, who joined the Crystal Bridges team in 2004 has resigned from his position as executive director. Apparently he "could not make a commitment to stay beyond the museum's opening."
Maybe it's just me, but I'm curious about Workman's other priorities. In a wounded economy, it's true that arts and entertainment may suffer. But with Alice Walton (the only daughter of Wal-Mart mogul Sam Walton) as the founder and ceremonial figure behind the Crystal Bridges Museum, there's little doubt that this $50 million dollar endeavor will have difficulty succeeding financially. And they probably won't have trouble finding a new director. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this project? (Apart from myself and others who already boycott Wal-Mart for reasons I will not go into here...)
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