Arkansas Arts Roundup: Free admission, rare paintings and a White House Christmas tree

The Clinton Presidential Center will be free for visitors two days this week. Wednesday, Nov. 11, all entrances are free, and the Center extends a special invitation to veterans, active duty service members, and their families Saturday, Nov. 14, the Center will celebrate 11 years since opening its doors on November 18, 2004, with another free admission day.

On both days, visitors will be able to see the Center’s 42nd temporary exhibit, “Coca-Cola: An American Original,” as well as the permanent exhibits. In addition to showcasing the art and history of the iconic bottle itself (there have been 13 official bottles), the Coke exhibit will explore how the brand influenced some of the country’s most noted illustrators and artists – like Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Haddon Sundblom, and Howard Finster – as well as pop culture here in the United States and throughout the world.”

The Center will also display a full-size antique Coca-Cola delivery truck produced in 1949 by the White Motor Company and a spectacular installation comprised of more than 750 3D-printed, ribbon-shaped interpretations of the bottle’s classic shape.

During the past 11 years, The Center has welcomed more than 3.8 million visitors to the Center; displayed 42 impressive and unique temporary exhibits; and hosted a variety of educational and cultural programs.

CRYSTAL BRIDGES HOSTS UNIQUE EXHIBIT
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the only U.S. location to view a new exhibition, “Picturing the Americas: Landscape Painting from Tierra del Fuego to the Arctic,” through January 18, 2016.

This is the first exhibition to explore the evolution of landscape painting from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century in an inclusive, hemispheric context. Picturing the Americas was organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario, Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, and the Terra Foundation for American Art. The exhibition will travel to the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo after it leaves Bentonville.

“This exhibition gives visitors a platform to go beyond territorial boundaries and expand conversations and connections to landscape painting across the Americas,” said Rod Bigelow, Crystal Bridges executive director. “It’s an honor to be the only U.S. museum where visitors can see this stunning exhibition, which connects deeply with the mission of Crystal Bridges to celebrate art and nature.”

Picturing the Americas includes more than 100 oil paintings, watercolors, and prints by well-known American landscape painters, Frederic E. Church, Martin Johnson Heade, and Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as masters from both North and South America, such as Jose Maria Velasco (Mexico), Juan Manuel Blanes (Uruguay), Lawren Harris (Canada), and Tarsila do Amaral (Brazil).

Landscape imagery from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century shows connections and continuities through shared history and land, while also celebrating distinctions.

HOT SPRINGS ARTIST’S WORK ON WHITE HOUSE TREE
Hot Springs artist Barbara Cade’s work will featured at the White House this holiday season. Cade was selected to join artists from all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia to design ornaments for the 2015 National Christmas Tree Display.

“America Celebrates: Ornaments from across the USA” is one of the highlights of the National Christmas Tree Lighting, a national event presented by the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service. The tree lighting will be held Dec. 3 at the President’s Park.

Cade created 12 ornaments that will be adorn the Arkansas tree. The National Christmas Tree is accompanied by 56 small Christmas trees, one representing a U.S. state or territory.

This year, the selected artists were asked to create ornaments that are inspired by America’s national parks and their programs to pay tribute to the upcoming National Park Service Centennial in 2016. Cade’s ornaments are inspired by the the famous bath houses in Hot Springs National Park.