Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

Crystal Bridges American Art Museum Heartfelt Gift Wows Spanista

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Crystal Bridges American Art Museum Heartfelt Gift Wows Spanista with the vision of the courageous women of  the Wal-Mart Family. Deep in the center of America is a small town that became famous as the birthplace of Sam Walton, his wife Helen and the Global Corporate juggernaut – Wal-Mart, Inc.

It is Bentonville, Arkansas. Deep in the scenic Ozark Hills Country. As this is the time of the year when we focus on GIVING from the heart, I cannot help but think what a wonderfully conceived gift Helen gave us especially in the heart of Arkansas’s humble hills where access to something of this grand nature does not exist. As mentioned in other posts – giving back takes on all types of formations. It really can take on the character of the individual giver and can be modest as a donation or something grand that leaves a legacy. What we admire is an example of giving inspires us to see what is possible with our lives?

The story goes as Sam and Helen Walton amassed fortunes for the family, Alice the youngest daughter and her Mother gave birth to a dream. A dream to collect and celebrate American Art and Artists but especially those of the heart of America who may not aspire for the fame and fortune as  those on the coast aspire to achieve. Helen passed in 20017 and Alice picked up the baton. Her vision for building Crystal Bridges Museum was well positioned as there is indeed a gap in such organizations and museums that focus solely on the country best and most talented across a wide breath of media and over time – from historical to contemporary.

After Alice’s, the youngest Walton’s took the vision forward collecting American Art since 2004 and after years of dedicated planning and work, a beautiful architectural structure rises form the earth unlike any other – organic to the environment, compelling.

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I discovered it  opened while living in New York watching a ’60 Minutes’ news program and made note when I was back in Kansas City for Bob and I to drive 3 hours south during Autumns color to see it for ourselves. The New Yorker wrote a great article titled “Alice’s Wonderland” by Rebecca Mead online.

One of Spansita’s Self Care Rituals is to take time to feed the soul through beautiful art – art of all kinds to expand your view and understanding. Art takes you in and allows you to lose yourself in its beauty.

I want to share it with you. If you are traveling though the center of this country through Kansas City or St. Louis, it is worth a side track road trip to see this cultural gem for many reasons.

Over the next two days I will offer views that demonstrate the joy  of the experience as we take a day at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville and then on to a unique town further west called Eureka Springs with a rich history that is full of interesting stories.

Thank you Alice Walton – you have brought much cultural richness to all that visit Crystal Bridges American Art Museum. You are my hero for Spanista Giving Back Rituals.

Come back this week to see what we discovered inside the Museum!

 

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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