Crystal Briges Museum Economic Impact on NW Arkansas (Benton, Bentonville: sale, receptions)

[joebaldknobber]

I've read a few articles that the Crystal Bridges museum opening in 2010 in Bentonville will be an economic driver beyond compare. It seems more European Publications notice is paid to the museum than US. The world will be coming to Bentonville.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by joebaldknobber

I've read a few articles that the Crystal Bridges museum opening in 2010 in Bentonville will be an economic driver beyond compare. It seems more European Publications notice is paid to the museum than US. The world will be coming to Bentonville.

That's because all the coastie elitists are up in arms over some great pieces of American art being bought and displayed in the backwater that they believe Arkansas to be.

[Clay Lady]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

That's because all the coastie elitists are up in arms over some great pieces of American art being bought and displayed in the backwater that they believe Arkansas to be.

I don't think that is it at all. I think it is more likely that they are shopping in Europe for their art. Conversations I have had with art people on the west coast are excited about the museum. It promises to be on art lovers to see list.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow73

That's because all the coastie elitists are up in arms over some great pieces of American art being bought and displayed in the backwater that they believe Arkansas to be.

LOL...funny I think your probably right on this one. They are narrow-minded

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Clay Lady

I don't think that is it at all. I think it is more likely that they are shopping in Europe for their art. Conversations I have had with art people on the west coast are excited about the museum. It promises to be on art lovers to see list.

Well, the West coasties may be ok with it but a lot of things I've read lead me to believe the East coast art scene is in an uproar about it. Read about the fight the Walton's have had to acquire the Stieglitz collection from Fisk College. The college is just about bankrupt and the sale of this collection would let the school right itself. CB even agreed to allow the college to continue displaying the pieces a good deal of the time. IIRC some group filed legal proceedings to block the sale to prevent it coming to AR. Same thing with the Eakin piece the museum wanted to buy. The city of Filthadelphia blocked the sale until a museum there could secure the funds to purchase it to keep it there. Someone involved in that pretty much stated such a piece of art did not belong in AR. Granted, I don't have enough info at my fingertips to document all of this, I'm working solely from memory but there's a distinct bias against this museum in some circles at least.

I'm pretty sure most of the pieces they are buying were previously in American collections since it is a museum of American art.

[joebaldknobber]

This article from the UK "The Independent" states: The greatest unspoken objection is, of course, that no self-respecting East Coast art snob would be seen dead in rural Arkansas.

The woman who put the art in Wal-Mart - Americas, World - The Independent

[Clay Lady]

Well, when the Crystal Bridges Museum opens let's all go people watch! It is going to be too fabulous to not notice. I think it is fun poor little backward Arkansas is making a splash in the ART world. I am out of state right now. I am going to dig my "Arkansas Proud" button out of my jewelry box and start wearing it...maybe someone will ask me about Crystal Bridges!!

[Clay Lady]

Thanks for posting the link Joebaldknobber. Alice is doing a wonderful thing for NW Arkansas - all of Arkansas. The bad mouthers hate she has the money to get what she wants. Since what she wants is for Arkansas to have a first class museum, I say "way to go Alice"!!

[Aporkalypse]

I'm a big proponent of this but I don't think the economic impact will be massive along the lines of say, the Clinton Library. I think it will largely be a regional museum that people from nearby cities like LR, KC, Springfield and Tulsa visit. It will also be a prime gathering spot for NW Arkansans for meetings, marriages, receptions, etc.

There has been a tremendous amount of resistance nearly every time a purchase is made for the museum. The purchase of the works from Fisk University being blocked by the Georgia O'Keefe Museum is more benign, but the Philadelphia community's blockage of Thomas Jefferson University's sale of a couple of works by Eakins was savage. The Philly papers' commentary on it focused on what a waste it will be to have artwork like this in Arkansas where nobody will see it.


Well, I will see it and the East Coast snobs can bite me. Or buy a plane ticket, we're glad to have you here in beautiful Arkansas.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Well, I will see it and the East Coast snobs can bite me. Or buy a plane ticket, we're glad to have you here in beautiful Arkansas

This is a fine example of what I call the "Arkansas Complex".........