This invigorating artwork, the Buckyball, is a consistent visitors’ favorite attraction at the Crystal Bridges. The Buckyball was first brought to the Crystal Bridges on May 1, 2013. Its charm mesmerized various art enthusiasts. It later became one of the most visited arts at the Museum. Since then, the illuminated craft continued to entice many visitors. It became a popular rendezvous for evening social gatherings and events. The management later decided that it was a brilliant idea to keep the sculpture in the museum permanently for public viewing.
The spectacular art was brought to life by the creative mind of artist Leo Villareal, known worldwide for his works involving geometric patterns and dynamic light sculptures. He was fascinated with creating dimensional crafts – those that stand out in public, not simply laying flat on a wall. The addition of the switching light colors further added a powerful effect to his art which resonated with the public. His purpose in creating this magnificent sculpture was not just to showcase public art, but to also redefine it, as well as to enrich and demystify the public’s museum experience, taking it to a whole new level.
The Buckyball, an enormous 30-foot sculpture which can illuminate millions of distinct colors, can be found at 600 Museum Way Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, in Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas. You can visit the place with your family and friends, but you can also go solo. It doesn’t matter. It’s a great place to visit especially at night and watch as the light switch to random sequences while relaxing in the benches directly underneath the sculpture. The colorful light display usually begins at 7:30 in the evening and goes on until almost midnight. The illuminated Buckyball looks magnificent at night. It is highly visible even at the Museum’s entrance. During the daytime, the sculpture’s features are clear and emphasized by a white light.
We all are aware of the fact that family trips usually consist of a visit to a museum. It is considered as one of the core activities in the itinerary! If you are planning your family trips, don’t forget to include visiting the Crystal Bridges Museum to have your own Buckyball experience to share with your colleagues and friends. Museums, as boring as they may sound, can be a worthwhile experience to learn certain things especially the different arts which reflect different cultures of the world.
Take your family with you on a trip to Mount Magazine State Park, another breathtaking attraction for nature lovers!
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