Bentonville was a long-planned trip since Spring quarter. Professor Knowles is the one always recommending these places where I can visit art museums/festivals. I’m pretty sure I’ll revisit South Carolina again for Art Fields, hopefully with Hoya this year (And my puppy Chebom). I think of Arkansas in two directions: Hot Springs and Fayetteville for the University. But I forgot one more thing- yes, Walmart! There was money here in this town where Walmart started, and the Crystal Art museum was a big bang of art. I couldn’t believe I saw Joan Mitchell, Rothko, and Yayoi Kusama. The museum was so modern it’s probably one of the most modern museums I’ve seen in States. I think it seemed so modern because Arkansas does not seem like a State with great modern vibes… Such modern building in the middle of fading colors of winter nature was gorgeous. The whole combination of the arches of building reminded me of Sydney opera house.. The architectural exhibition outside in the woods on the trail was Hoya’s favorite. We promised to come back in Spring, or fall. It would be more gorgeous.
Nature has become a really strong component in my life not only just in art but in my surroundings and the choices I make in travel, interior, and locations to live. I do think living in Oklahoma has influenced me a lot, and the neighborhood state Arkansas definitely does an amazing job taking care of the State as a whole. I do still dream of living in a tiny home in the middle of the woods or by the beach/lake. Surrounded by the cold breeze and blinking deers in the woods was a dream coming true.
To be honest I am still adjusting taking camera out in my daily life and capturing the real faces of me. The actual faces in my real daily lives.. It takes courage to look over and over again through the lens, but this has been easier with someone accompanying all the time. I believe creating art is about seeing and reflecting and finding who I am, which capturing myself in bare camera always helps and gives me a new confirmation every day that I am enough just the way I am today.
I don’t know why but looking at these photos remind me of the airbnb place we stayed- the cozy, warm, ‘bee’ themed yellow colored place- I reviewed and saw these photos in the couch at the end of the day and it was too warm to be true. One of the merits of traveling is to review the photos at the end of the day and see the new adventures that God gave that day for me. Miss going on a trip :)
I thought the little town was so pretty.. Especially the Christmas lights on a big tree on the center of the town, in the middle of the fog that was dreamy. Usually fogs are quite difficult to capture as they don’t seem to be visible enough through camera but these photos turned out actually prettier lol! It was cold, but through the mist families and friends were enjoying the pretty season all together. Even though we did not know each other, just to gather around one tree.. made some unseen connections that I could feel.
The restaurant Hoya found was opened in a closed church which was fascinating; it felt like walking into a night service with some fancy artworks on the wall with some good fine dinner. The pork chop that Hoya had was so soft; especially the sweet potato with marshmellows on top was unforgettable and I thought I would drive 2 hours to eat dish again next time.
We celebrated 300 subscribers of my Youtube and if was definitely meaningful because we made celebration of it. I’ll probably remember 300 subscribers more than 3000 as it was a special celebration. It seemed like ages ago when I had 100 subscribers and I was so looking forward to that number; every supporter means an inch of expansion of my world and it gives me joy and previlege to work on my artworks. Maybe for the next 400 subscribers I’ll come back and celebrate again!
The finale of the trip; the main reason why I chose Bentonville. Yes, when I choose art, no matter where, no matter how… It just makes life more rich and colorful. The museum was huge and surprisingly, all of the amazing artworks were free to see. Howard Finster was in the first room I entered and he was who I just recently learned past quarter who is from Georgia (his house filled with artworks is now a museum I probably will visit next). His work is not my personal favorite but the fact that he started his art journey in his late age when he had white hair with no art education at all, his works are worth to learn and be motivated by. The flat space dimension and child-like qualities of figures are quirky but interesting. My favorite room was definitely the room with all the artworks from different era hung in two spaces cut by a corner; I would design my own house wall like this in the future with my own and fellow artworks… Beautiful works especially from Impression, post-impression era, reminded me of the works I saw in Europe.
Writing his makes me miss traveling again, I’ve actually recently searched some airbnb’s near Panama City beach area which is only four hour drive from Alabama. Looking for the next right timing when my young puppy is a bit more grown and Hoya may come over to travel together.
