Roland David Smith, born in 1906 in Decatur, Ind., might be described as a man's man -- or a man's artist. His father was a part-time inventor; he started his art career as a cartoonist while still in high school; his first job was for the Studebaker automobile factory in South Bend, Ind., where he did riveting, soldering, spot-welding and worked a lathe; and he later sailed the seas on an oil tanker. In the 1930s, he started creating "constructions" of wood, wire, stone, aluminum rod, soldered metal and "found" materials.
What better artist to study in a new studio program at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art? "Craft Squared: Heavy Metal" isn't just for men, says associate museum educator Moira Anderson, but it is a departure from "Art By the Glass." Instead of pairing art making with wine, "Craft Squared" offers craft beer from Saddlebock Brewing Co. and tonight, a scrap-metal sculpture -- no welding required -- inspired by David Smith's "March Sentinel," part of the museum's permanent collection.
FAQ
‘Craft Squared: Heavy Metal’
WHEN — 6:30-8:30 p.m. today
WHERE — Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville
COST — $44
INFO — Register at 657-2335
FYI
‘Craft Squared’
All Summer
July 29 — “Nineteenth Century Paint-By-Numbers”: Inspired by the “American Made” exhibition, learn the art of theorem painting, a step-by-step technique and a popular style of painting in the early 19th century, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $44.
Aug. 26 — “Stenciled Steins with Ben Edwards”: Experiment with a variety of painting and stenciling techniques to create a personalized stein inspired by the decorated wares of the 19th-century artists in the “American Made” exhibition, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $55.
Sept. 30 — For the final “Craft Squared” of the year, focus on a piece from the permanent collection. More information to be announced.
"It's just to shake things up and draw in a different crowd," says Anderson, who has been with Crystal Bridges for three years. "It's really aimed at beer lovers; I'm a a beer lover myself.
"We do have our regulars, of course," Anderson says. "It's still a class. It's just less intense than a four-hour Sunday afternoon workshop.
"I come up with the themes," she adds. "I want to tie it back to a work of art, so it's either a fun twist on something or we'll learn a technique represented in it."
This time, she says, the project will focus on taking "scrap metal and creating a new work of art by putting pieces together. There's also a wonderful treatment on the surface of [Smith's] sculpture, so we'll talk a little bit about that, too. Don't be intimidated! We're not going to be creating giant 8-foot sculptures. Ours will be very small but very experimental."
Anderson's own art couldn't be further from Smith's. She favors drawing, with occasional forays into painting and sculpting.
"I've always loved art," she says. "I got my degree in art history and really started focusing on museum education while still in my undergrad. I love art, but I really love interacting with people and art and discussing art with people and getting different perspectives.
"For a class like this, you don't have to be an intense artist. You can come in with a ton of experience or no experience at all and walk away with a new perspective or maybe a new love.
NAN What's Up on 06/24/2016