Last Sunday afternoon, we had reservations for a visit to the new Crystal Bridges art museum
near our home.
The setting, in the Ozark town of Bentonville, AR is wonderful! The architecture and environment work together so beautifully!

The galleries flow from one century to another, covering American Art History. There is plenty of room to see each painting at your leisure.

This whimsical work by Maxfield Parrish is currently on display....

A contemporary "winged victory" in essence, this beautiful molded glass draped dress is life-size and beautifully captures the lights nearby. It was one of my favorite pieces!

My least favorite was probably this pile of molten metal....

Mary Cassatt and other American Impressionists are well represented. Here is Cassatt's

"Woman Reading".

One wing had a temporary show of very current 21st century art and here I am in front of one thing which I loved..... this yellow "lace" piece made from disassembled silk flowers which were stitched together...I love the shadows it casts too!

You can see from my smile that I was delighted to be there. Thank- you Alice Walton!

Yesterday afternoon was cold, dreary and gray. I happened to have the afternoon off so decided to go with Mr. Pear (still recuperating) on a short road trip.

We stopped at the gallery which has my bird watercolors for sale.

It was energizing to see these bright happy paintings on the cloudy day! Other works in the gallery were inspiring too. I hope to be painting more again soon!

Besides the art gallery and a coffee shop for a pumpkin scone to share, we visited a store with fabrics and a couple of flea markets and charity thrift stores.

These are the fat quarters (10) I picked up and below that, a pair of soft rayon pull on pants from April Cornell (a surprise find at the thrift store!). The pants are perfect for lounging or pj bottoms next summer!

top of pants in scanner....

More thrift store finds! A Japanese tea cup, a wooden serving dish (origin?) and a "holly" plate from England.
It was fun! Now back to work. [Maybe these new "things" can pose in a still life painting for me!]