Wal-Mart Heirs Unveil Plans For Fine Arts Museum

Charles Willson Peale Winslow Homer Asher Brown Durand Edward Hopper Eastman Johnson Charles Bird King Corcoran Plans to De-accession 10 Works The Hit Parade

Send a letter to the Editor

Save to Del.icio.us Digg this

"I'm honored to be able to make this announcement today because I know my father would have been very proud of what we're proposing," Alice Walton said Monday in a statement released along with designs for the museum. "Crystal Bridges is a wonderful way to build appreciation for America's artistic heritage and create cultural opportunities here in northwest Arkansas."

The Crystal Bridges Museum, designed by Boston-based architect Moshe Safdie, is expected to open among spring-fed pools and hilly forests in May 2009 in Bentonville, the hometown of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The museum and cultural center will present views of American history and heritage through the works of the nation's most influential artists, the Walton Family Foundation said.

To be included among the collection is the 19th century Asher B. Durand painting Kindred Spirits, reportedly purchased by Alice Walton for about $33 million, the largest sum ever paid for an American painting. She and the Walton Family Foundation are assembling the permanent collection.

Also to be included are Charles Wilson Peale's 18th century painting of George Washington, Charles Bird King's early 19th century portraits of American Indian leaders, and paintings by Winslow Homer, Eastman Johnson, and Edward Hopper. In addition, the center will have galleries dedicated to American Indian and regional art and artists, plus temporary exhibits drawn from national institutions.

Construction is to begin in mid-2006. The building will be within walking distance of the Bentonville town square. Plans call for about 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting and office space. It also will house a 250-seat indoor auditorium, areas for outdoor concerts and public events, gallery rooms suitable for large receptions, as well as sculpture gardens and walking trails. In addition, the museum will have programs for young students, an art library and a research center.

The Walton Family Foundation expects about 250,000 visitors will be drawn to the museum each year. The newly opened Clinton Library in Little Rock estimates an annual visitor count of about 300,000.

The Walton family donated 100 acres for the museum. Landscape architect Peter Walker designed trails and paths linking the downtown and nearby neighborhoods with the center. John Wilmerding of Princeton University is serving as an adviser, and Bob Workman, former deputy director of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, is the project director.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press

ON THE NET CLICK:

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art