Morad Al Zaghal from Jordan, an architecture visiting student, joined our field trip to Bentonville. He shared his unique perspective to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum. Compare his story to Sun Li from China from the Spring 2012: very different and both are great stories!

*****

Visiting Student Program Bentonvill Trip

In October, the Visiting Student Program in the International Students (ISS) Office organized a trip to Bentonville to visit the Walmart Visitor Center, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The trip was possible because of the amazing volunteers who drove us there.

Visiting Bentonville had been a recommendation I received from many friends since I arrived to Fayetteville and I was so excited to know the ISS office was going to organize this trip for visiting students. Although the timing of the trip actually had a schedule conflict with my design studio class, my professor thought it would be beneficial for me to visit the Crystal Bridges, and he allowed me to go on the trip and make up for the work at the next studio.

Morad viewing displays at the Visitor Center

First, we visited the Walmart Visitor Center where we could learn about the history of the company; from its start as a small store at the corner of the Bentonville square to its rapid progression to the massive global company as it is right now. It was pretty inspiring to be able to see the success story of a working man into a famous businessman.

After having early dinner at an American restaurant at the Bentonville square, we headed to the museum. I was extremely excited for this part of the trip! Being an architecture student, I already knew the building complex of the museum was designed by the renowned architect Moshe Safdie who’s mostly known for his project Habitat 67.

Yield

Upon arrival to the main entrance you’ll notice the 47’ tall stainless steel tree sculpture named “Yield”, designed by artist Roxy Paine. The art stands in front of the museum and welcomes visitors. It marks the fact that the museum is already known as one of the premier art museums and cultural attractions in the states, a world-class cultural attraction that was made possible by Alice Walton: Her vision and donation of her personal art collections enrich people’s lives in the Northwest Arkansas where she lived and has her childhood memories.

After walking to the entrance of the museum and taking the stairs down to the gift shop and the restaurant, you’ll be guided through the galleries; the museum displays the work of American masters from the Colonial era to twentieth-century abstract expressionism and pop art, ending back at the museum’s restaurant where we began.

Crystal Bridges

During the time given for us to enjoy the galleries, I was mostly looking at the building, the interior, the exterior, and their relationship to the beautiful lake that in some points continued underneath the galleries. The interior of the building was indeed contemporary, but warm unlike many other contemporary interiors: perhaps because of the use of wood with glass and concrete, in addition to the organic form of the ceilings.

I chose to go through the whole museum first, and leave the best for last; the modern and contemporary art exhibition! I was so happy to be able to finally see paintings that I became familiar with because I studied about them either in “History of Modern Architecture” or “American Landscape” course that I am currently taking during the Fall 2012 semester. It was an opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible for me to link what I study with what I experience right away if I was not studying at the U of A.

Crystal Bridges

Being an architecture student studying abroad is indeed very beneficial for my experience. For my appreciation of good spaces and good art of the era, chances like these are what accumulate in the memory to allow better perception of the art and architecture that I am exposed to, here or at home. The Crystal Bridges experience itself was special uniqueness to me because of the beautiful architecture and landscape architecture of the museum, and the magnificent exhibited works of art.