WINTER AT CRYSTAL BRIDGES - My Home Away From Home
In the effort of giving Faerie Tech-Geekery its own day in the spotlight--and because the sheer mass of pixels was becoming ridiculous--I didn't show you everything from when I went into the woods to assuage my post-book depression and my despondence over the North Forest Lights closing.
Moment Factory may have taken their toys and gone home but it looks like the dine-in Snow Global Village is here to stay alongside Chihuly's Sole d’Oro. (2, 3) Although it doesn't look like they're currently serving dinner there. I would guess that's because it's winter and there are no more faerie lights luring people into the forest at night. We'll see if they resume when the weather warms up.
There was, however, plenty of other magical light as the sun went down behind all that glass and the trees.
This area is one of the more popular spots in the North Forest, where a lot of people hang out on the nearby picnic tables or on the lawns. One of the main draws is the sculpture that dances however the wind tells it to:
An exit from the North Forest wouldn't be complete without that final wave goodbye from Chihuly and a view of the museum buildings. I am forever enamored with viewing my favorite sights through the lens of all the different seasons. One of these days, when I've collected enough photos, I'll do a seasonal time log of these slow, steady, and dramatic changes.
For now, here is the Fiori Boat in winter. And yes, in spite of all that green on the ground, this is January in Arkansas:
We do actually get snow here, and occasionally it stays on the ground for more than a couple days. But not often, which I prefer. I like the pretty snow days. Then I like for it to go away. Especially when we get ice storms, which are never any fun. This last week, it was miniature ice balls ( I won't quite call them hail), sleet, freezing rain, and snow on top. They made sheets of ice on my car, as well as a five-inch hard-packed surface I could walk upon and barely leave a footprint. The last of it finally melted today in the 70 degree temps.
Welcome to NW Arkansas. Teens and single-digits up to 70s in the same week.
Hmmm...methinks I see a pattern. (As I cast a suspicious glance into the mirror.)
Speaking of mirrors, here are the Chihuly Reeds and the mirror balls of the Narcissus Garden draped in sunset and snow like I'd never gotten to see them before. The balls migrate around the pond all year, and they emit a soft pinging song as the water jostles them against each other.
These balls, as well as the fabulous polka dot faerie flower, "Flowers That Bloom Now" are by Yayoi Kusama. She is also the artist who created that awesome psychedelic room of polka dots floating in the black that Mom and I only got to admire once before they closed it for Covid. We're hoping they reopen it soon. (4)
I'll leave you for now with some unexpected connections I made during my last visit to Crystal Bridges.
Do you know about my faerie princess thing? Some of you do. Some of you have been with me when these things have happened. For example...my thing with deer. They don't just find me in the woods either. But sometimes it's quite magical when they do.
Not that being found by deer up in this neck of the forest is difficult. Go outside and you're likely to trip over three. The ones at Crystal Bridges are also undoubtedly accustomed to being part of the art, but still. I've had this thing with deer ever since I started dancing around campfires and spending so much time in the woods during my SCA days.
I'm not always in faerie princess mode, but when I am, butterflies flutter onto me. Dragonflies flock around me. Birds jump into my hands while bathing on the sidewalk, and they seem to think my computer is bird perch when I write outside on my patio in the summer. (They swiftly discover that it's not nearly as nifty as they think it's going to be when it wobbles.) My hummingbirds also seem convinced that I'm part of the furniture out there. When I visit zoos, snakes wake up and dance, and tigers cross cages to come lock eyes with me at the edge of their territory. Squirrels race around my shoulders when I'm out sitting on the ground.
And deer don't bother letting me interrupt their dinner as I gawk at them. This night, however, someone else caused quite the stir. That's okay. I found them again later, and then I found the sunset.
Enjoy my home away from home!
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
--UP NEXT: CRYSTALLIZE - The Crystals of Crystal Bridges
--Like my nature adventures? There are many more HERE. The art adventure photo galleries are HERE. Some of them, like this one, fit in both.
--THE NAVIGATION TABLE OF CONTENTS
GEEKY LINKS
--Crystal Bridges & Momentary 2020 - embracing change. Pandemics, social eruptions, contemporary thought, contemporary art with ancient traditions. And of course, ageless nature.
--Outdoors in the winter - art & nature
3) Chihuly at Crystal Bridges
--When they acquired the permanent pieces