It's The Spark

Arkansas is brimming with local and  historical American artistry, especially like that of what we found at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art!

"I never really think about it. I just do it."

 One of the things that we've found really interesting as we travel is to be able to see the connections between the things that we have seen in every state! Like this piece inspired by a soon to come NASA telescope, reminded us of our adventures back at the Kennedy Space Center!

Crystal Bridges not only focuses it's care on the extensive galleries of art that it features, but also on the creative architecture and experience that you get from just walking through the halls.

Named for the natural spring that feeds from the museum's woods and into it's ponds, the eye striking design of the building's bridge like structure was the brain child of Mosh Safdie. Throughout Safdie's constructions he sought to commit to a style that would meet human needs and aspirations of their imaginations!

"I get up because I have goals."

Founded by Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges' art collection is a world class exhibit that has always been sponsored by Walmart and free to the public! :)

A short jaunt down the road, past some of the lovely Northwest Arkansas scenery, and some sculptures of people made out of hay bales (which caught us by such surprise we were too busy gawking that we didn't get a good picture...), you'll find the Walmart Museum hosted in Walton's Five and Dime Store.

One of our favorite parts about the museum was the display of items that customers had returned to the Walmart. Some of our favorite stories of returns included:

*A mixer that was possessed

*A brand of water bottle that had been bought eight years before the first Walmart ever opened

*A pencil sharpener because 'it doesn't sharpen any ink pens'

*A fishing pole returned because it 'didn't work---no fish'

*An outdoors thermometer returned because it 'never told the correct time'

We'd heard tale of a beautiful and one of a kind chapel built in the middle of the woods out near Eureka Springs, intrigued, we loaded the car and started driving! Nearly to our destination we saw signs for quaint little Inspiration Point! Looking out onto the carefully manicured lawns, we felt as though we were glancing into the farm land straight from a princess storybook!

It was quite nippy out, so we slipped back into the car and took to the road once more, excited to explore our destination of Thorncrowne Chapel!

So we drove up the steep and narrow hill to discover a glorious...

...Do Not Enter sign...

...Accompanied by a magnificent "Do Not Attempt Walking, Guard Dog On Duty" warning right next to it.

So we backed down the hill as slowly as our car would maneuver, and went to go meet a few of our Arkansas family's friends!

"I have a wide range of interests and there are many to pursue, particularly if it is aviation related."

"I get up to look after what I have; farm, planes, and people around me. Life is great, enjoy."

Thank you to Bill & Camille for so sweetly helping us to learn more about airplanes and aviation!

 "I get up in the morning because I want to accomplish something meaningful everyday."

 

"I get up in the morning to eat. :)"

"I get up in the morning because my dog sticks his nose in my face to wake me up. :)"

"I get up in the morning out of habit and so I can accomplish something."

"I get up in the morning very early to greet the new day. The sunrise is the earth coming alive and is my favorite time of the day. A time of clear thinking, refreshed from sleep, a time of prayer and reflection, planning and meditation!"

Thank you to our amazing Arkansas family for all of your thoughtfulness and for sharing with us your wonderful art...and for the incredible coffee! :)

Walmart's icon is 'The Spark'. Walton chose this because he knew what this image really means. It stands for what's inside of you that drives you, motivates you...what sets you apart.

Here is to each day that is unique & to each and every reason why we get up in the morning,

Here's to life.

Love,

The Crew