Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas

Friday, April 26, 2013

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas

The 25th April is Anzac Day, one of the most important national occasions in Australia (and New Zealand). ANZAC was the name give to those in the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps who fought in Gallipoli in WW1. While the day is a National Day of Remembrance of the first landings of the ANZACs in Gallipoli, the day now commemorates all those who have served and died in all wars and conflicts. Dawn services are held all around the country and are very moving events.

LEST WE FORGET.

On a brighter note, Murray and I celebrated the day by visiting a recommended Museum that was only about 20 minutes drive from our campground. Crystal Bridges Museum of America Art is a beautiful, modern building set in 120 acres of gardens and forests. There are six outdoor nature trails, and at this time of the year, the 'Appalacia Red' Redbud and white dogwood trees were flowering along the trails. The trails provide a beautiful and tranquil environment as an adjunct to the art contained within the buildings. It wasn't until we got on the shuttle to return to our RV that the driver asked if we had seen any red cardinal birds on our walks. He said there were several seen around the area, and if I had only known, I would have spent some time sitting, waiting and watching. Fortunately we are stopping in at Sandy and Joe Bill's home in Fordyce, Arkansas after we pick my daughter Kim up in Nashville in a few weeks time, and I expect we will see lots of red cardinals then.

View from Museum cafe where we had lunch, to one of the trails outside

Silver tree art at the entrance to the Museum

Of course the beautiful grounds with their natural flora and art work are just part of the attraction. Inside the building are American masterworks dating back to the Colonial period. Here are just two paintings done in the 1800's that took my eye, and the description is below each one.