If the Capital Hotel is Little Rock’s “Front Porch,” then the new Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is very likely its living room, or at least the third floor Cultural Living Room is.
The Cultural Living Room at Arkansas Museaum of Fine Arts in Little Rock. (Gwen Green photo)
The spacious, airy and light-filled room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a mix of chairs, couches and settees arranged for easy conversation over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
A bar in the corner sells drinks and a small selection of snacks and bakery items. A scattering of gorgeous coffee-table-style art books invite leisurely perusal.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, the room was busy, as performers with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" greeted the young and young at heart, while the reckless, awaiting an iced coffee order, encouraged Harriet Stephens to take some snacks from the bar countertop.
She, smartly, declined the offer and said that would be “shoplifting.” Maybe, but when your name is on the wall, is it?
The two-comma-donor club has some privileges, after all.
Regardless, Harriet and Warren Stephens went to a couch to wait on their wine, and maybe that’s just a normal Sunday for them. Having been to several dozen museums, it felt a little unusual to see the ones with their names at the top of the benefactor wall, and adorning a gallery, just hanging out.
But that’s what one does in a living room.
As for the museum, there’s always some recency bias, but wow, it really is nice.
The 133,000 square feet of space is smartly configured. The pieces on view include some 700 years old and ones made this decade.
In the "Together" exhibit, there’s a Monet or two, plus works which are much more contemporary. From a Carroll Cloar painting by the door to LaToya Hobbs' large woodblock print, the Arkansas connections are fun to discover. The Art Perch is also a nice spot to linger - or even snap a selfie with Natasha Bowdoin's colorful Spring Song installation.
All together, the AMFA makes for a stunning experience that’s worth repeat visits. Plus, admission is free.
On a more personal note, from someone firmly in the one-comma-household camp, it is actually pretty great the state’s three-comma club is using their resources to enhance the arts.
From Crystal Bridges in Bentonville to the Murphy Arts District in El Dorado to this museum, the thumbprints of the local billionaires are clearly and plainly visible.
And that’s great. Those with generational wealth should do things for the next several generations.
Also, the iced coffee and candied popcorn were pretty good. Looking forward to returning for a spectacular date night dinner at Park Grill and — if anyone with some influence happens to be reading this — Immersive Van Gogh, please and thank you.
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If the Capital Hotel is Little Rock’s “Front Porch,” then the new Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is very likely its living room, or at least the third floor Cultural Living Room is.
The spacious, airy and light-filled room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a mix of chairs, couches and settees arranged for easy conversation over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
A bar in the corner sells drinks and a small selection of snacks and bakery items. A scattering of gorgeous coffee-table-style art books invite leisurely perusal.
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On a recent Sunday afternoon, the room was busy, as performers with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" greeted the young and young at heart, while the reckless, awaiting an iced coffee order, encouraged Harriet Stephens to take some snacks from the bar countertop.
She, smartly, declined the offer and said that would be “shoplifting.” Maybe, but when your name is on the wall, is it?
The two-comma-donor club has some privileges, after all.
Regardless, Harriet and Warren Stephens went to a couch to wait on their wine, and maybe that’s just a normal Sunday for them. Having been to several dozen museums, it felt a little unusual to see the ones with their names at the top of the benefactor wall, and adorning a gallery, just hanging out.
But that’s what one does in a living room.
As for the museum, there’s always some recency bias, but wow, it really is nice.
The 133,000 square feet of space is smartly configured. The pieces on view include some 700 years old and ones made this decade.
In the "Together" exhibit, there’s a Monet or two, plus works which are much more contemporary. From a Carroll Cloar painting by the door to LaToya Hobbs' large woodblock print, the Arkansas connections are fun to discover. The Art Perch is also a nice spot to linger - or even snap a selfie with Natasha Bowdoin's colorful Spring Song installation.
All together, the AMFA makes for a stunning experience that’s worth repeat visits. Plus, admission is free.
On a more personal note, from someone firmly in the one-comma-household camp, it is actually pretty great the state’s three-comma club is using their resources to enhance the arts.
From Crystal Bridges in Bentonville to the Murphy Arts District in El Dorado to this museum, the thumbprints of the local billionaires are clearly and plainly visible.
And that’s great. Those with generational wealth should do things for the next several generations.
Also, the iced coffee and candied popcorn were pretty good. Looking forward to returning for a spectacular date night dinner at Park Grill and — if anyone with some influence happens to be reading this — Immersive Van Gogh, please and thank you.