More than 121,000 people viewed the “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell” exhibit at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, according to museum officials.
According to data from the Rockwell Museum, attendance at the 11-week exhibit tops visitation numbers from the 12 previous exhibition locations—including cities such as Sacramento, Calif., Detroit, Raleigh, N.C., and Orlando, Fla.
“We believed that this outstanding exhibition of a beloved artist’s work would resonate with our guests, and we’re gratified to see just how meaningful it was to so many people,” said Crystal Bridges Executive Director Rod Bigelow. “All of our staff has been actively involved in making this exhibition a success, and along the way, we’ve been hearing guests’ stories that have left an impression on all of us — from grandparents talking to their grandchildren about a moment in history they remember, to viewers commenting on the impact of Rockwell’s civil rights-era works. That shared experience is our goal in bringing these types of exhibitions to Crystal Bridges.”
During the exhibition, nearly 5,000 participants in school tours and 6,375 participants in group tours were able to visit American Chronicles, as were two area hospice patients who made special requests to view Rockwell’s works.
“Crystal Bridges generously fulfilled what we call an end-of-life wish by providing private tours of the Norman Rockwell exhibition,” Bentonville-based Circle of Life Hospice social worker Meghan Hastings said in a statement. “Viewing the exhibition had been a desire of these patients since they heard the famous artist’s work was coming to Northwest Arkansas. Watching their faces as they viewed the Rockwell paintings was a beautiful thing!”
Situated on 120 wooded acres in Bentonville, Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 by the Walton Family Foundation as a nonprofit charitable organization for all to enjoy. Philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton chairs the Museum’s board of directors. The building was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and opened to the public on Nov. 11, 2011.
In its first year of operation, the museum had more than 650,000 visitors and garnered more than 7,750 households in its membership.