The State of Our Art

The nation's artistic gaze has again turned to Bentonville. This time, the now 3-year-old Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is gaining attention for the "State of the Art" exhibit, compiled from a nationwide search for undiscovered contemporary art makers.

But what about our local artists, those filling the studios and galleries in Northwest Arkansas?

They'll get their moment on Saturday during an event designed to discuss contemporary art and contemporary topics. The two-day symposium begins today and continues through Saturday evening. Today's events focus on national topics; Saturday features several inward-looking discussions.

Fayetteville Underground executive director Samantha Sigmon was tasked with assembling both an open session highlighting the area and also a panel discussion featuring prominent members of the creative community. Included are artists in several mediums but also in several disciplines, among them theater.

Many of those present will speak to the area's emerging scene, where artists are sometimes forced to create their own space, or to the region's opportunity for artistic growth.

"There's been a history of DIY (do-it-yourself)," Sigmon says. "We're looking for people who influence the community."

Several galleries occupy a role in the art ecosystem here. Among them are Fayetteville Underground, a large, long-running arts collective with monthly shows; Bottle Rocket, an eclectic space for cutting-edge artists; and Backspace, which serves as an art space and gathering spot. Sigmon, in addition to her duties at the Underground, also helps coordinate events at Backspace. So too does local artist and panel participant Ben Flowers, who moved to the area in 2009 to attend art school at the University of Arkansas and stayed after he graduated last year. He believes institutions such as Crystal Bridges and the University of Arkansas, with their influence and capital, can go a long way toward giving artists living in the area the recognition they deserve.

But that relative anonymity also is a benefit now.

"I think a strength is that it's still emerging," Flowers says. "It's a free, open place without any presumption."

Sigmon wants to capitalize while the gaze is hot.

"'State of the Art' is in Northwest Arkansas, too. We want to align with that, but show our individuality," she says.

The symposium also includes discussion opportunities with about a dozen of the 100-plus artists selected for the show, which runs through mid-January.

For a full schedule and description of symposium events, visit stateoftheart.crystalbridges.org/symposium.