The Morning News: Santa Has Been Good to NWA Art Lovers

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas

Santa Has Been Good to NWA Art Lovers

By Becca Bacon Martin
The Morning News“The museum will also be a great resource for teachers and kids from surrounding communities who perhaps have never traveled to a museum.”

– From an Internet story about Crystal Bridges

It’s certainly not that I’m sorry to see Crystal Bridges, an American art museum of international caliber, come to Northwest Arkansas. As art aficionados, we are incredibly lucky to have that kind of opportunity.

I am, however, sorry that so many people apparently don’t realize the wonderful resources in art and history already available here.

It’s three days before Christmas, so this week, Look Here! considers the gifts we’ve already opened.

Let’s start with the big kid on campus, the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, where important exhibits grace the galleries on a regular basis. Right now, the lobby gallery is filled with movie posters. Big deal, you might shrug. But these posters chronicle the black experience in America as captured on film, and they come from perhaps the largest private collection in the world, John Kisch’s Separate Cinema Archive in Hyde Park, N.Y. As the collector says, beyond being “hip,” they’re also historic.

In the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery until mid-February is a collection of photographs from the Great Depression, taken by renowned Southern writer Eudora Welty. The selections are part of a larger exhibition developed by the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, an exhibit that was also showcased at the National Museum of Women and the Arts in Washington. And down the block, in the McCoy Gallery at Nadine Baum Studios, “A Second Glance: Photographs by Don House,” a local photographer with a national name, continues through Dec. 29.

That’s three examples, and we’re not even out of Fayetteville yet! Did you know that the University of Arkansas has on permanent display seven original mobiles by Alexander Calder? And the Fine Arts Center that usually houses them was designed by a world-renowned architect, Fayetteville native Edward Durell Stone, who just happened to be a friend of Calder’s? Right now, the mobiles are on exhibit at Mullins Library, which is a great cultural stop anyway.

Up the road in Springdale, the Arts Center of the Ozarks may not pull in national artists, but the scores of regional artists who show their work there certainly give viewers a chance to consider every possible kind of art. ACO is also a great place for school-age artists to showcase their work every year, and nothing builds art appreciation like a chance to be appreciated as an artist. And then there’s the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Its mission is to chronicle the history of the Arkansas Ozarks, and its treasure trove of historic photos alone makes it a museum of national caliber.

But we’re still not done.

In Rogers, the Rogers Historical Museum also looks at history with national impact. Will Rogers, one of history’s most popular entertainers, married a local girl, and he is intimately intertwined in local history, as is Coin Harvey, who had a national reputation for his avant garde theories on money and government at the turn of the 20th century.

Last on my list, but certainly not least, is the community of Bella Vista and the Wishing Spring Gallery, where work by artists with a national reputation can often be found.

That’s not to mention all the privately owned galleries here or the world-class museums that are just four hours away — the Gilcrease and the Philbrook in Tulsa, the Nelson-Atkins and the Kemper in Kansas City and the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock. The Nelson-Atkins has a Monet, a Goya, a Seurat and a Rodin, for heaven’s sake!

A little further afield, if you’re up for the couple of extra hours to St. Louis, the Saint Louis Art Museum has “Rembrandt: Master Etchings from St. Louis Collections” on show through Jan. 14. Created in celebration of Rembrandt van Rijn’s 400th birthday, the exhibit includes more than 40 of Rembrandt’s best etchings from the public and private collections of the museum and features the artist’s famous painting “Self-Portrait” from the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis in The Netherlands. Imagine 40 Rembrandts in one place — and it’s just six hours away!

Crystal Bridges will certainly put Bentonville on the map as far as the intelligentsia of the East and West coasts are concerned. But those of us in the heartland should know that our stockings are already stuffed with good things.

Art to Go

GALLERIES

APOLLO FINE ART at 210 S. First St. in Rogers (366-2787): Original lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by artists from the 16th to 20th century, ongoing.

ART, 2204 S.E. 14th St. in Bentonville (273-0668): Architectural ceramics, clay sculpture, pottery, original paintings and more by Becky Christenson.

ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS at 214 S. Main St. in Springdale (751-5441): “Reep Show: Routines” by Robert Reep, McCuistion-Matthews Gallery, and “Night Patrol” by Gary Cawood, Smith-Kelly Gallery, both Jan. 5-Feb. 12. A reception is set for 7-9 p.m. Jan. 12. The arts center will be closed Dec. 17-Jan. 1 for the holidays.

ARSAGA’S on Crossover Road in Fayetteville (527-0690): Ernie Killman, oil on canvas, through December.

ARSAGA’s on Gregg Avenue in Fayetteville (444-6557): Martha Guirl, collages and montages, through December.

ART EMPORIUM at 2914 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville (521-4141): Works by Christina Mariotti, Gail Stoops, Ruben Morawicki, William Flanagan, Nathan Beatty, Judy Maurer, Jane Garrison, Don House, Alice Lynn Greenwood, Nathan Bottoms, Sharon Gonzalez, Lila Rostenberg, Nadine Rippelmeyer and Robert Andes.

ARTFUL SPACES at 266 W. Mountain St. in Fayetteville (582-5554): Giclee prints by Don House; watercolors by Dan Kerlin; lamps by Don Hardgrave; stained glass by P.J. and Steve Robowski; pottery by Peter Lippincott.

ART RESOURCES at 3291 S. Thompson St., Suite H101, in Springdale (725-2100): Prints and original works by artists including Erica Daniel, Jane Garrison, Diana Harvey, Rebecca Johnson, Paul Rossi, Hank and JoAnne Kaminsky.

COMMON GROUNDS, 412 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville (442-3515): Paintings by Amber Winters, through December.

DDP GALLERY, 7 East Mountain St. in Fayetteville (442-0001): Small Work 2006, through Jan. 20.

DREAM GALLERY at 99 Spring St., Eureka Springs (253-8422): Paintings, prints, sculpture, metal work and more.

DUCK CLUB GALLERY at 2333 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville (443-7262): Prints by William McNamara, Jane Wier Garrison, Wilnita Holland, Ed Daggett, Karolyn Farrell and Richard DeSpain; photography and prints by Tim Ernst; collector decoys by Jules Bouillet; federal and state duck stamp prints; University of Arkansas art prints by various artists; engraving by Linda Cullers.

ENIGMA at 15 N. Block Ave. in Fayetteville (587-0304): Contemporary American crafts, pottery and jewelry.

ESSENTIAL ARTS at 1208 N. Garland Ave. in Fayetteville (442-0100): Paintings by James Yale and Annemieke Knox, photography by Clare Marie Cosmos and Marc Quiley, pottery by Carsten Ewald and Katy Carnaham, crafts by local artists.

EUREKAN ART STUDIO AND GALLERY at 150 N. Main St., Eureka Springs (253-0928): Local and regional artists; 2005 Artery paintings.

EUREKA THYME at 121 E. Van Buren, Eureka Springs (363-9600): Featuring works by more than 90 local artists and craftspeople, including painting, jewelry, woodcraft and metal works. Oils, watercolors and pen and ink drawings by Barbara Robinson, through December. Winter Solstice party, 6 p.m. to midnight today.

FLAT ROCK CLAY STUDIO at 2002 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville (521-3181): Works by Oklahoma and Arkansas potters and studio clay artists.

FUSION FINE ARTS GALLERY at 109 N. Main St. in Bentonville (273-9278): Works by Mark Rademacher, Nancy Baptiste, Kyle Henry, Stephanie Henry, P.J. and Steve Robowski, Victor Chalfant, Toeri Jackman, Carol Cooper, Eric Haun, Kelly Green and Dan McWilliams.

GALLERY WEST on the Garden Level in Highlands Crossing at Bella Vista (273-1798): A new exhibit of paintings and crafts by members of the Village Art Club, through Jan. 31, featuring works in watercolor, oils, pastels, and mixed media by Susan Edgmon, Jane Davis, Pat McCartney, Marlene Murray, Jodie Taylor, Linda Breitzke, Anita Carroll, Carol Peters, Beth Schindler and LaRee Shackelford; framed photographs by Lori Brown; carved birds by Don Gibbs; ceramics by Lisa Bowman; and quilted wall hangings by Marti Ginest.

GUMPSHUN GALLERY at 84 Spring St., Eureka Springs (253-0123): Original carvings, Western and Native American art.

HEARTWOOD GALLERY at 428 S. Government Ave. in Fayetteville (444-0888): Artists’ cooperative featuring the works of more than 20 regional artists.

J. GALLERY at 311 W. Dickson St., Suite 103, in Fayetteville (521-2004): Works by Christina Mariotti, Eric Smith, John Fitzgibbon, Sean Fitzgibbon, Jason Howell-Smith, Thomas Arvid, Jeanette Baxter, Eric Miser, Amy Laser, N. Yarbrough and Steven Wise.

JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY in Siloam Springs (524-7358):

MULLINS LIBRARY on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville (575-1962): “From Cardinal to Razorback: a History of the UA Mascot,” entrance display; “Through the Lens of Geleve Grice,” Special Collections west; Arkansas Country Doctor Museum, Walton Reading Room; “25th Anniversary of the University of Arkansas Press,” Special Collections; works by Stephen Chism, lobby level.

MYSTIC MELON at 16 S. West Ave. in Fayetteville (582-9482): Folk art, jewelry and gems by Sat and Teresa Pictor.

ONE TRICK PONY at 82 Spring St., Eureka Springs (253-8310): Fine art prints, bronze and furniture.

OZARK NATURAL FOODS, 1554 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville (521-7558): Watercolors, oils and pastels by Cate McCoy, through December.

THE PERK ON WEDINGTON, 3980 W. Wedington Dr. in Fayetteville (251-7375): Ron Levy photos of Prague and Budapest, through Jan. 2.

QUICKSILVER ART & FINE CRAFT GALLERY at 73 Spring St., Eureka Springs (253-7679): Pottery; smoke drawings by Ed Lohrum; wildlife watercolors by Christina Smith; photography by Jim Mayfield; the McNamara Collection of limited edition prints; artist-made jewelry in silver, gold and bronze; more.

RICHLAND NURSERY & ART GALLERY, Arkansas 23 south in Huntsville (738-5305): Works by local artists.

SHELBY LANE THOMAS KINKADE GALLERY at 120 S. Second St. in Rogers (621-0505): Prints, canvases and more by Thomas Kinkade.

STUDIO 62 at 335 W. Van Buren, Eureka Springs (363-9209): Art by Ron Lutz and Jody Stephenson.

TERRA STUDIOS at 12103 Hazel Valley Road in Durham (643-3185): Whimsical works in glass and pottery plus Bluebirds of Happiness.

THE VINEYARD, 3200 SW Regency Parkway in Bentonville (464-9463): Cityscapes by Steve Horan, through December.

WALTON ARTS CENTER, at West Avenue and Dickson Street, Fayetteville (443-5600): “A Second Glance: Photographs by Don House,” through Dec. 29 in the McCoy Gallery at Nadine Baum Studios; “Passionate Observer: Photographs by Eudora Welty,” through Feb. 17 in the Joy Pratt Markham Gallery; “From Slavery to Freedom: The Issue of Race in Film,” through Feb. 17 in the Cynthia H. Coughlin Gallery. The arts center will be closed Dec. 25-26 for Christmas and Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

WILLOW SPRING GALLERY at 33 White St., Eureka Springs (253-7806): Works by members of the Arkansas Craft Guild.

WISHING SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS GALLERY, east of U.S. 71 and Benton County 40 in Bella Vista (273-1798): Fine art and crafts created and sold by members of the Village Art Club.

ZEPHYR BLEVINS GALLERY at the Victory Theater in downtown Rogers (631-8988): Photographs by Morning News staff photographers, through December.

MUSEUMS

CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM, 930 California Blvd. in Fayetteville (444-0066): Exhibits on the life of President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hilary, ongoing.

ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 322 S. Second St. in Rogers (621-1154): “A Rogers Christmas” at the Hawkins House, through 2006; and “That’s Entertainment” a look back at the history of professional entertainment in Northwest Arkansas, through 2007. The museum will be closed Dec. 23-25 for Christmas and Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

SHILOH MUSEUM OF OZARK HISTORY, 118 W. Johnson Ave. in Springdale (750-8165): “Building Beaver Lake,” a photo exhibit on the reservoir’s construction in the 1960s, ends Dec. 21; and “Yours in FLT,” an exhibit on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Northwest Arkansas, through March 24. The museum will be closed Dec. 24-25 for Christmas and Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

SILOAM SPRINGS MUSEUM, 112 N. Maxwell in Siloam Springs (524-4011): “Vintage, Antique and Unique Dolls,” through Feb. 3. The museum will be closed Dec. 22-25 for Christmas and Dec. 30-Jan. 3 for New Year’s.

This listing, COMPILED BY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BECCA BACON MARTIN, includes art galleries and museums around Northwest Arkansas. Information may be submitted BY FAXING 872-5055 or e-mailing BMARTIN@nwaonline.net. INFORMATION IS ACCEPTED ONLY IN WRITING, and all submitted information is eligible for publication. The deadline to be included is 3 p.m. Tuesday to be listed the following Friday. The listing is free.