| A significant art museum building project of the twenty-first century, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AK) opened its doors to the public on November 11, 2011. The museum itself, composed of a series of pavilions, classroom spaces, and museum amenities, all of which are accessible to the public six days a week and with sponsored general admission, combines a visual chronology of American history and the development of the nation's artistic culture, with the nation's natural environment. Such an endeavor has elicited discussion amongst scholars, critics, and audiences alike. However, a negative reception of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and founder Alice Walton has placed its collection in the wrong context. This thesis looks at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as an important positive contribution to American art collecting and museum development, by examining the museum's development, collection, and resources. |
