Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Current Exhibition

Alfred Maurer: Art on the Edge
October 10, 2015 – January 4, 2016

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Crystal Bridges is an American modern art museum located in the charming small town of Bentonville, Arkansas. The glass and wood space was designed by Boston-based architect Moshie Safdie and opened its doors to the public in 2011. The museum sits on 120 acres of Ozark forest: the flow of the space is great, surrounded by nature and lots of water and connected by three miles of trails that are used for walking, running and biking. Outdoor sculptures by Keith Haring, Paul Manship, Roxy Paine, Mark di Suvero and James Turrell are some of the must-see pieces. The permanent collection boasts a wide array of work from artists like Jasper Johns, Chuck Close, Winslow Homer, Mark Rothko, Josef Albers, Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Donald Judd. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House was fully relocated to Crystal Bridges and opens on November 11, 2015. Arkansas is considered a flyover state by many, but this world-class museum is changing that. After my recent visit I am happy to report it is well worth the trip.

—Crystal Bridges Museum

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TF at 1: Ten Years of Quartersnacks

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—01. 208 pages.

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If you have any interest in skateboarding, you've probably read Quartersnacks. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the hilarious trendsetting internet skateboarding hub. The site provides a truly original viewpoint on a sport that has exploded in popularity and gained mainstream acceptance. Quartersnacks captures the unmistakable energy of the Downtown NYC skate culture with plenty of humour and a healthy dose of self-awareness. QS doesn't only exist online though: they produce a very popular collection of T-shirts, sweats and decks, and have even collaborated with Nike on a shoe. To celebrate their anniversary, Brooklyn’s powerHouse Books is publishing a collection of the best (and worst) from the site alongside new essays, and a look back at the spots, shops and slang that have defined New York skateboarding in the past decade. TF at 1: Ten Years of Quartersnacks is available now for pre-order.

—powerHouse Books

Interview: Geographic North

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—01. Sketch for Winter III: Green Sleeves by Night Cleaner.

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Geographic North is an independent record label based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 2008 they have built an impressive roster, releasing limited edition tapes and records from both established and new artists in genres ranging from dream pop to dance, bridging electronic and analog. Inspired by record clubs and subscription series, the old school model encourages fans of the label and its aesthetic to discover new music easily by bringing collectible physical products into a world that is going more and more digital. Each release from Geographic North has a very consistent and interesting look, spearheaded by co-founder and designer Farbod Kokabi. I spoke to Kokabi about his design inspirations and what the future holds for the label.

—Geographic North

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Arcana: Books on the Arts

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8675 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
+1 310 458 1499

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Arcana: Books on the Arts is a great store located on Washington Boulevard in Culver City, California. Since 1984 they have offered a wide range of new, rare and out of print books on 20th and 21st century photography, art, architecture, cinema, design, and fashion. I have never left the store empty-handed. During one visit I was chatting with an employee about a long out of print magazine that I was looking for. He told me to hold on while he ran across the street to their storage facility (they have over 100,000 items on hand) and returned with a pristine copy that I quickly added to my purchase pile. They recently launched a beautiful new website designed by Art Design Office. The site has a modern feel, which compliments the psychical location well. Now you can shop 24 hours a day without having to be in the Los Angeles area.

—Arcana: Books on the Arts

Bountiful by Noah Emrich

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—01. Edition of 150.

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New York-based photographer Noah Emrich's new book Bountiful is a collection of photos he took during a mostly solo 12,000-mile trip in a minivan around the United States during the summer of 2013. Emrich set out on a less traveled path, avoiding major highways when possible, allowing himself to see and discover beautiful things like huge rock formations and redwoods along the coast and small quaint towns. He also encountered lots of depressed 'Main Streets' that always seemed to feature a liquor store and quite often a Family Dollar, but little else. He wanted to "capture the American landscape," one that, five years later, was still recovering from the financial crisis of 2008. Emrich sums it up best, "These are only slight glimpses of a public culture shifting over time."

—Available from Done to Death Projects

Court

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—01-02. The Veterans of West 4th Street by Samuel Bradley.

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There is not a lack of basketball coverage on the internet, but most of that coverage focuses on statistics, trade rumours, power rankings and gossip. A new London-based online biannual publication called Court sets out to focus on the rich culture that surrounds the sport. Collecting original stories and photography, it shines a light on the people and places that make basketball one of the most diverse and well-loved sports in the world. Founded by Callum Green and Louis Bennett the site’s design is smart, current and digestible. Issue 00 features Samuel Bradley’s photographs of NYC's legendary West 4th Street veterans as well as an interesting look at backboards from all over the world by Christopher Tubbs. Court is worth a read even if you aren’t the biggest basketball fan.

—Court

Cholo Picnic

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–01. Thursday night at 10pm EST.

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The internet is awash with podcasts, mixes and radio shows, but Cholo Picnic is one that stands above the rest. Broadcast on New York’s Know-Wave Radio every Thursday night at 10pm EST (and then catalogued on Soundcloud), the show is hosted by Arthur Soleimanpour and his friends Arto and Daniel Barragan. A well-liked man about town, working in a variety of creative fields, Soleimanpour has been involved in Know-Wave since the early days. The music chosen by him and his rotating ragtag crew of talented friends is a great mix of indie rock, folk, Brit-pop and classic rock – cool and diverse without being too obscure and weird. You can catch classics from The Stone Roses, Van Morrison or The Breeders, or more current artists like Caribou, Parquet Courts and The War on Drugs. Discover something new or be reminded of something old – it’s a good listen either way.

—Know-Wave Radio: Cholo Picnic

Mythical Caves

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Photographs by Mikael Kennedy.

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On a recent trip to Santa Fe, NM photographer Mikael Kennedy took a short drive to the remote town of Española in search of some mythical caves he had read about while researching the Nakashima Church in Chama Canyon. The caves aren't listed anywhere on a map but, with the help of a friend who is proficient with Google Earth, Kennedy was able to pinpoint the exact location. It was worth it: the caves are breathtaking – hand carved and extremely ornate. They almost look fake. When asked about his experience Kennedy told me, “They are kept secret for a reason; somethings have to be earned and you tend to better respect the things you have to work for."

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